Chapter I
- Parentage and early life -- appointment to West Point -- Virginian room -- Mates -- acquaintance with General Winfield Scott -- character of the West Point training -- importance of learning how to obey -- a trip to New York on a wager -- the West Point Bible -- class -- dismissed from the Academy without trial -- intercession of Stephen A. Douglas -- restoration to Cadet duty -- James B. McPherson -- John B. Hood -- Robert E. Lee.
I was born in the town of Gerry, Chautauqua County, New York, September 29, 1831. My father was the Rev. James Schofield, who was then pastor of the Baptist Church in Sinclairville, and who was from 1843 to 1881 a ‘home missionary’ engaged in organizing new churches, and building ‘meeting-houses,’ in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. My mother was Caroline McAllister, daughter of John McAllister of Gerry. We removed to Illinois in June, 1843, and, after a short stay in Bristol, my father made a new home for his family in Freeport, where he began his missionary work by founding the First Baptist Church of that place.
In all my childhood and youth I had what I regard as the best possible opportunities for education, in excellent public schools where the rudiments of English were
