The Eggnog Riot: Christmas Chaos at West Point - US History - Extra History

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ธ.ค. 2022
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    Eggnog! The drink that signals the beginning of the holidays, a deliciously coveted Christmas treat, and the starter of riots? That's what happened at the US Military Academy West point back in 1826. Where one Superintendents fight to abolish a holiday tradition turned into a disaster!
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ความคิดเห็น • 756

  • @extrahistory
    @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +225

    If you would like to see other great causes to donate to, check the description for Matt's suggested Tab For A Cause charities!
    Like Tabs for Trees tab.gladly.io/trees/extracredits/

    • @Real_Cheese1
      @Real_Cheese1 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Mathew gave me the rizz

    • @Nerdddestroyer
      @Nerdddestroyer ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Second
      :edit god I love this chanel it feels illegal being this early
      :edit again oh my god I just I don’t know even if it’s just a small bit of recognition it’s still going to make my day

    • @DeathlyThorium
      @DeathlyThorium ปีที่แล้ว +2

      1st

    • @richardhoxha8422
      @richardhoxha8422 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I was waiting for a this for so long I'm so glad it's here! 😁

    • @kadeadams2308
      @kadeadams2308 ปีที่แล้ว

      4th!

  • @Mathmachine
    @Mathmachine ปีที่แล้ว +2716

    No matter how strict or regimented, never doubt the power of teenagers finding a way to get into a drunken debauchery.

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +362

      100%

    • @rc59191
      @rc59191 ปีที่แล้ว +98

      I got pretty popular in high school and college since I knew how to make alcohol using cran grape juice some champagne yeast and a condom lol.

    • @West_Coast_Gang
      @West_Coast_Gang ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @@extrahistory hello sir

    • @allaniadall9686
      @allaniadall9686 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      How crazy.

    • @SirBojo4
      @SirBojo4 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      @@rc59191 What?

  • @iamseamonkey6688
    @iamseamonkey6688 ปีที่แล้ว +321

    davis bursting into a room to warn the cadets about hitchcock only to find him already there sounds like something straight out of a movie

    • @andrewkirch5920
      @andrewkirch5920 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Having gone to a military school, happens all the time. Both when I was a cadet and when I came back to volunteer. As a cadet it was terrifying, as an adult volunteering it was hilarious.

  • @theemries4766
    @theemries4766 ปีที่แล้ว +1537

    On one hand, I feel like this would be humiliating for West Point, but they have to at least give the cadets credit for being able to fully arm themselves and fortify the college in a drunken stupor.

    • @charlieputzel7735
      @charlieputzel7735 ปีที่แล้ว +317

      I know. It's actually a sign of the effects of the strict discipline they were under that, even sloshed as they were, they were able to organize and start setting up defenses.

    • @rokkfel4999
      @rokkfel4999 ปีที่แล้ว +147

      Headmaster:Well…. We trained them at least

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +171

      LOL that's fair!

    • @TheDuelManiacs
      @TheDuelManiacs ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @@rokkfel4999 A little too well it seems

    • @joshuabessire9169
      @joshuabessire9169 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      If Taps and Hero was the same movie.

  • @willsearcy6495
    @willsearcy6495 ปีที่แล้ว +233

    “How dare he try to stop their deep seated and wholesome tradition of celebrating the messiahs birth by getting utterly annihilated on cream drinks laced with cheap rock gut”
    Yeah how dare he! 🤣🤣

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +29

      But HE DARED!!!!!

    • @cafenco.2037
      @cafenco.2037 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@extrahistory "Don't ever step on me or my drunken buddies ever again." (imagine Gadsden flag with a few college fratboy snakes completely sloshed)
      This is absolutely hilarious and amazing, thank you for putting it up. PLEASE grab something crazy like this for the Air Force Academy, as I'll be going there hopefully next year!

  • @darreljones8645
    @darreljones8645 ปีที่แล้ว +942

    Little-known fact about Robert E. Lee: He was such a teacher's pet at West Point, he's the only graduate in history to graduate without getting a single demerit.

    • @eldorados_lost_searcher
      @eldorados_lost_searcher ปีที่แล้ว +94

      He wasn't known as "The Marble Man" for nothing.

    • @Bill_Garthright
      @Bill_Garthright ปีที่แล้ว +108

      Wow, he sure made up for that later, huh? But then, he clearly wasn't the only graduate in history to commit treason.

    • @Fordo007
      @Fordo007 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Bill_Garthright General Thomas was a Virginian who stayed with the Union, he was considered a traitor by his state and family. Treason back then was a two edged sword. Betray the federal government? Or betray the state government you live in and your family? It's also hard for me to condemn 'treason' when we are only a country because a bunch of people committed treason against Parliament and King George III.

    • @williamlydon2554
      @williamlydon2554 ปีที่แล้ว +78

      *"NERD!"*
      -Homer Simpson.

    • @MrNoidannuoli
      @MrNoidannuoli ปีที่แล้ว +46

      According to Wikipedia, there were five others who share this distinction in his class alone.

  • @Swishy_Blue
    @Swishy_Blue ปีที่แล้ว +1360

    It will never stop making me laugh that Jefferson Davis was a drunken dunce.

    • @michaelbarnes5223
      @michaelbarnes5223 ปีที่แล้ว +82

      Almost makes his (fake) story of fleeing from US troops in 1865 while dressed in women's clothing believable!

    • @Cadmann778
      @Cadmann778 ปีที่แล้ว +40

      I'm not convinced he ever stopped

    • @ForgottenHonor0
      @ForgottenHonor0 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      To be fair, he was a war hero during the Creek Indian Wars. He and his scouting party were ambushed and as they tried to outpace the pursuing canoes he ordered his men to strip their jackets and tie them to their own oars as sails and managed to escape the Creeks.

    • @crimsonterror5795
      @crimsonterror5795 ปีที่แล้ว

      Legend has it he was never drunk. He was just such an idiot everyone thought he was drunk.

    • @catcharide56
      @catcharide56 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      Reading about his military career, I get the sense Davis would have been a better Confederate general than president. IIRC he outfitted his regiment during the Mexican war with superior weapons and performed quite well overall.

  • @silenceisgolden6097
    @silenceisgolden6097 ปีที่แล้ว +76

    I lost it when the drunken threat was delivered exactly like you'd expect a drunk person to sound like.

  • @harveyholmes9533
    @harveyholmes9533 ปีที่แล้ว +648

    That line about the reoccurring themes in Robert E Lee and Jefferson Davis’ lives was really well done, love it

    • @advanceringnewholder
      @advanceringnewholder ปีที่แล้ว +13

      I'm not from the US, what's the recurring theme?

    • @harveyholmes9533
      @harveyholmes9533 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@advanceringnewholder Lee’s reputation as a noble gentlemen stayed with him his whole life even during and after his time as a confederate general, and this personal image has been used to defend the confederates. Davis’ managed to avoid consequences despite being the instigator, in the same way he was president of the confederate states during the war but never faced trial for his obvious treason.
      Just to clarify I am also not an American nor an expert in the civil war this is just my understanding of it

    • @beeaggro2593
      @beeaggro2593 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@advanceringnewholder Jefferson Davis basically committed high treason and got off scott free, after like, instigating the Civil War. Robert E Lee always tried to use his reputation to bail people out and was eventually a general for the confederacy and pushed for less brutal terms for surrender

    • @kingddd3527
      @kingddd3527 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@advanceringnewholder Robert E Lee and Jefferson Davis were loyal for the Confederacy a breakaway state from the US

    • @nickjohnson1997
      @nickjohnson1997 ปีที่แล้ว +56

      @@advanceringnewholder After the Confederacy lost the war, Jefferson Davis was captured and sent to prison, but then the Union let him go after only two years.
      And Lee helped ensure that the men who served with the Confederacy were not charged with treason.

  • @cocorevolution1
    @cocorevolution1 ปีที่แล้ว +290

    As a former cadet of VT, love to see how things never change and nobody is ever held accountable

    • @silkyz68
      @silkyz68 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Golf Company will take all the blame, because its probably our fault anyway. G'11

    • @EvilPaladin11
      @EvilPaladin11 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      As a former cadet of Texas A&M, it's probably for the best that weapons and booze were banned from our dorms.
      Historically, the worst that our cadets got up to, were losing a WWI field gun in a ditch (found and restored decades later, and is now fired at football games when we score a touchdown), and kidnapping and branding the winning score (13-0) onto UT's steer mascot. UT worked to save face, by naming it BEVO (Add some lines, and you can turn 13-0 into BEVO).

    • @doctorzed7706
      @doctorzed7706 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Its just preparing them for the real military

    • @ronmaximilian6953
      @ronmaximilian6953 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Seven students were expelled and the president got involved

    • @derekpeace3138
      @derekpeace3138 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@EvilPaladin11 You forgot the time the Corps robbed a national guard armory and used the rifles to put a small town under martial law because we were hunting some Rice students who had stolen their own owl mascot back that we had stolen first, and the commandant had to call out the Texas Rangers to disperse us lmao

  • @sryan5512
    @sryan5512 ปีที่แล้ว +325

    Yeah, as a current WP cadet, this makes complete sense. I could see this still definitely being a thing today. Hell, during covid, there were the Printer Riots, where cadets would throw their printers off of roofs and down stairwells to protest covid restrictions. Even today, Christmas dinner here is absolutely crazy with singing, cigar smoking, dancing, running naked across The Plain, and climbing on top of George Washington's statue to touch his horse's balls. We've got some weird things that happen here, and I'd love to see you guys make more videos about our rock-bound highland home, which is definitely not a prison.

    • @beeaggro2593
      @beeaggro2593 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Was there, got out. I feel you. Keep your head up! You're almost out!

    • @lorddoof3370
      @lorddoof3370 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      based

    • @williamcarter1993
      @williamcarter1993 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      to protest covid restrictions? god damn

    • @MrRezRising
      @MrRezRising ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@williamcarter1993 Hey, today it's printers, tomorrow it's hand grenades. 🤘

    • @alexstamp5482
      @alexstamp5482 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Current USAFA cadet. The printer thing happened at Air Force and Annapolis as well. 2020 was a weird year.

  • @evanlucas8914
    @evanlucas8914 ปีที่แล้ว +113

    You have to remember, at the time the US military academy at West Point was rapidly becoming like the British Army where rich and powerful individuals put their sons there to earn a officers commission for the sake of maintaining prestige and power. Discipline was before Thayer was not the order of the day per se. Rather they would try their hardest to ensure everyone graduated and the parents would be in the commandant's debt. It was a semi corrupt system that produce semi effective officers.

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +17

    • @beeaggro2593
      @beeaggro2593 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      And some of the names that went through it are hilarious. Edgar Allen Poe!

    • @blueberry1vom1t
      @blueberry1vom1t 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      this kinda explains how the pig war and most civil war blunders happened.

  • @SnazBrigade
    @SnazBrigade ปีที่แล้ว +480

    this sounds like it would make a great pseudo-period college comedy movie.

    • @nathankinkade5210
      @nathankinkade5210 ปีที่แล้ว +87

      Ferris Bueller’s day off Christmas special

    • @whathell6t
      @whathell6t ปีที่แล้ว +14

      @@nathankinkade5210
      Nah!
      National Lampoon’s Christmas at School
      or
      Judd Apatow’s Sword Swishing

    • @nathankinkade5210
      @nathankinkade5210 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I dunno about national lampoon’s Christmas at school, but the second one is definitely better

    • @charliefarmer4365
      @charliefarmer4365 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      I imagine a sitcom based off of this would also have a dash of Blackadder mixed in.

    • @Kaloapoele
      @Kaloapoele ปีที่แล้ว +4

      With Seth Rogan

  • @malachiphoniex8501
    @malachiphoniex8501 ปีที่แล้ว +418

    I'm so happy that we're getting treated to Christmas history videos. The Christmas Truce short series is still one of my all time favorites... (and since we're getting this one off video so early we might get another one next week, fingers 🤞).

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +60

      We did a sweet Holiday short on the Dark History of Good ole St. Nicholas too!

    • @malachiphoniex8501
      @malachiphoniex8501 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@extrahistory I'm curious: was this episode planned for awhile or is the splitting of channels already freeing you up a bit? I know you guys have in the past regularly put out one off videos and shorts but it seemed to slow down for awhile until recently. Now you guys seem to be ramping up both one off episodes and your shorts, (which I'm stoked for since your one-offs are usually on stuff I never heard of), so I'm just curious if there's a reason behind it. Thanks and happy holidays.

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@malachiphoniex8501 95% of the stuff we do is planned about 3 months in advance because of the time it takes for the writer and artists to do their thing. For the split we worked lots of extra hours to get extra content done for both channels. As well as working extra time to get ahead on videos before the holiday break. By the time the holiday comes around we all will be very thankful for the break

  • @SenMysrana
    @SenMysrana ปีที่แล้ว +66

    I love how you can pretty much hear the massive grin plastered across Matt's face as he tells this particular tale.

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +7

      We can't help watching it again and again!

  • @googamp32
    @googamp32 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I can only imagine Sylvanus Thayer lamenting the whole ordeal by saying "That Jefferson Davis hooligan will NEVER amount to anything!"

  • @georgeromo3506
    @georgeromo3506 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    "Corruption used to be super affordable, freaking inflation."
    Best line!

  • @magicnote2103
    @magicnote2103 ปีที่แล้ว +302

    Nice to see that getting completely sloshed during the holidays has always been a longstanding tradition 👍

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +46

      Some of us will be helping carry that tradition over this year.

    • @magicnote2103
      @magicnote2103 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@extrahistory Absolutely 🍻

    • @andrewweitzman4006
      @andrewweitzman4006 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      And also that other American tradition, public disorder and random gunfire.

    • @ferretyluv
      @ferretyluv ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It’s been tradition in the Anglosphere for centuries. That’s why the Puritans banned Christmas. It was getting WAY too out of hand in England. After the interregnum, it got a lot more subdued.

  • @drmajalis1583
    @drmajalis1583 ปีที่แล้ว +36

    Ah, good ol Jeff Davis, a man famous for making correct and helpful decisions throughout his entire life

  • @jrm78
    @jrm78 ปีที่แล้ว +168

    The parallels to Animal House are impressive. Sylvanus Thayer is your Dean Wormer, Hitchcock is Niedermayer, and playing the role of Bluto Blutarsky is Jeff Davis.

    • @weldonwin
      @weldonwin ปีที่แล้ว +16

      And now I can't help but picture Jefferson Davis, wrapped in a Bed-Sheet, chanting "States Rights! States Rights! States Rights!"

    • @wilsonli5642
      @wilsonli5642 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      All the more appropriate since Sylvanus Thayer is a graduate of Dartmouth College, the real-life basis for Animal House.

    • @ronmaximilian6953
      @ronmaximilian6953 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      That's Senator Blutsrsky. Oh, wait.

  • @sebastiantrost6409
    @sebastiantrost6409 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    'Corruption used to be so affordable ... frickin inflation'.
    That made it phrase of week for me!! XD

  • @woodenlake9629
    @woodenlake9629 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    "I'm the show runner I can do whatever I want" my favorite line of the episode. XD

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Matt gets real sassy on that eggnog! lol

  • @Cadmann778
    @Cadmann778 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    Getting pissed on Xmas isn't just an American tradition, it's the most traditional way to celebrate across much of western Europe. That's why Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas under his Puritanical rule as Lord Protector of England

    • @pegmay7209
      @pegmay7209 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Ah, that stick in the mud.

    • @cam4636
      @cam4636 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@pegmay7209 Never liked Mr. WartsandAll, myself

  • @BestOfTsars
    @BestOfTsars ปีที่แล้ว +147

    Ya know Davis kinda strikes me as that one classmate who nearly always not punished for his trouble because his mother was good friends with the principal and faculty. And 2nd note Robert E Lee should had a moment with Davis during the civil war like “Do you I remember back in the academy?”

    • @krankarvolund7771
      @krankarvolund7771 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      It would be more, all the confederate generals sharing anedoctes from the academy, except Robert E Lee, because he was the teacher's pet everyone hated XD

    • @beeaggro2593
      @beeaggro2593 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Everyone in that war basically went to West Point together. Iirc, Lee actually taught Grant

    • @50TNCSA
      @50TNCSA ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@beeaggro2593 he was commandant of the point when grant was there if i recall correctly .. the civil war is truly a sad war friend fought friend and brother killed brother

    • @Kaiserboo1871
      @Kaiserboo1871 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@50TNCSA When Lee was at Appomattox, Grant tried to cheer up Lee (who was feeling defeated, humiliated, and all around depressed) by telling Lee about how Grant admired him for the skill he displayed during the Mexican-American War. Told him about how he inspired him during that war. Lee’s response was something along the lines of “That’s nice.”
      Grant never had any hard feelings for Lee. That’s why it wasn’t hard for him to offer Lee amnesty for himself and his soldiers in return for his surrender. And Grant honored that agreement. Later on President Andrew Johnson was talking about possibly arresting Lee and trying him for Treason, Grant went right up to Andrew Johnson and told him that he would protest such a move with the strongest of words.

  • @maxalberici9965
    @maxalberici9965 ปีที่แล้ว +70

    As a kid from West Point and having grown up living on Worth road, thank you for talking about this! I learned about this all through middle school we thought it was hilarious!

  • @RapidFire396
    @RapidFire396 ปีที่แล้ว +86

    As a current cadet, I believe the same thing would happen if they try to make WP a dry campus
    Also have been loving your channel for years!

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Thanks so much for watching!

    • @akihide.uchida
      @akihide.uchida ปีที่แล้ว +7

      They made it dry for a year (I think) in 2012 or 13 while I was there... all I'll say in a public forum is that shenanigans happened...

  • @exiledadrian103
    @exiledadrian103 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    As the son of a late Point Graduate, this brought a smile to my face. I don’t know if he even knew about this.

    • @beeaggro2593
      @beeaggro2593 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      He probably did. It's like day 2 of orientation.

  • @idklolz5418
    @idklolz5418 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Hilarious how Davis was a drunkard and Lee was discussing trigonometry ta the crack ass of dawn😂😂😂

  • @charliefarmer4365
    @charliefarmer4365 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    This would make an excellent Christmas Comedy film! I imagine it would have some references to what happens later, such as: “That Lee’s a good Cadet. He’ll do well in life! Be a credit to his country!”

  • @oilybat3269
    @oilybat3269 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    3:14
    I HAVE A SITCOM IDEA

  • @Fisher97
    @Fisher97 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Jeff Davis walking in was just chef’s kiss on this

  • @VloggingThroughHistory
    @VloggingThroughHistory ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Another fantastic episode. Loved it!

  • @johnnybadboy3475
    @johnnybadboy3475 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    This should be made into a movie like _The Death of Stalin._

    • @Toonrick12
      @Toonrick12 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hell yea!

    • @iamerror1699
      @iamerror1699 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      This should be made into a movie like any movie.

  • @19billdong96
    @19billdong96 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    "... tries to hide his identity behind a hat"
    Hitchcock: "Do I look like Lois Lane to you?"

  • @bigj1905
    @bigj1905 ปีที่แล้ว +58

    I legit haven’t laughed this hard in a while.
    Absolutely hilarious episode.

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Thanks so much! We had a great time making it. We're still giggling.

  • @luisandrade2254
    @luisandrade2254 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    Davis and Lee story is the best example of “C students end up bossing A students”

  • @thefrogbert6295
    @thefrogbert6295 ปีที่แล้ว +279

    Imagine being stuck with a drunk college roommate and finding out years later he’s the one attempting to overthrow the government
    Only in America 😵‍💫

    • @skipperwarp9
      @skipperwarp9 ปีที่แล้ว +46

      You could be talking about either the civil war or like 2 years ago lmao

    • @harrisonwilkinson4986
      @harrisonwilkinson4986 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Is it overthrowing if you’re trying to break away from it altogether though?

    • @tavernburner3066
      @tavernburner3066 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      You have clearly never been to Russia or Germany.

    • @K9TheFirst1
      @K9TheFirst1 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      For the Confederacy, it was an independence war however. "Civil War" is a bit of a Misnomer, as only one of the participants was trying to (re)establish political and military dominance.

    • @BoxStudioExecutive
      @BoxStudioExecutive ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @@K9TheFirst1The difference between a civil war and a rebellion is a matter of perspective

  • @xiphoid2011
    @xiphoid2011 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    A toast to all of us! To the fun we had outside of liquor stores sheepishly asking strangers to buy beer for us, and the stupidity hilarity that resulted after drinking only 2 bottles. We are only young once, I hope everyone can enjoy it both sober and sloshed!

    • @matthewmccoy7437
      @matthewmccoy7437 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      lmao basically my highschool years in a nutshell. my friends and i bribed a liquor store owner 100 bucks to let us buy there whenever we wanted and his only rule was we couldn’t come inside if there were customers in the store. went there for two years straight and must’ve given that man over 4 grand in sales with all of the booze we bought for parties.

  • @CaptainKillroy
    @CaptainKillroy ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Twis the night like no other,
    I can attest,
    Where I saw multiple West Point soldiers holding a drinking contest.
    The eggnog was great,
    And the spirts greater,
    All till some soldiers heard a meander.
    I could continue but you get it.
    Kilroy was here

  • @colinmerritt7645
    @colinmerritt7645 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    So the Confederacy can be traced to a drunken binge? I can work with that.

  • @jaydoggy9043
    @jaydoggy9043 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    The closing words were particularly touching. Cheers to the whole crew.

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Thank you! Matt's such an awesome and caring guy. We think we will keep him around for a bit.

  • @HKBronc
    @HKBronc ปีที่แล้ว +17

    These upper crust military academies, worldwide, are little more than frathouses.

    • @sethmaxfield6658
      @sethmaxfield6658 ปีที่แล้ว

      😂there are more than a few similarities... but there are definitely some minor differences lol

    • @diarradunlap9337
      @diarradunlap9337 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@sethmaxfield6658 Yes. They're "frat houses" that turn out men who can lead armies and nations into war and win (and sometimes lose) said wars.

    • @sethmaxfield6658
      @sethmaxfield6658 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@diarradunlap9337 there's definitely a close-knit aspect and rivalry at the company level that would be familiar to a lot of people. As far as the second part, the focus is more on junior leadership - but you're right, ultimately the objective is to develop leaders to win our nation's wars.

  • @michaelramon2411
    @michaelramon2411 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    "Turns out getting blitzed for the holidays was kind of an American custom."
    Presumably, this was how Washington knew how to exploit this weakness to defeat the Hessians in the Battle of Trenton.

  • @tylerboyce4081
    @tylerboyce4081 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    OMG, I love random history mini-episodes like these. 😂

  • @kidzbopified
    @kidzbopified ปีที่แล้ว +3

    A someone who used to go to military school, I often wondered what would happen if we all just stopped listening. I imagine it would be something like this with less shooting.

  • @Vill-e3v
    @Vill-e3v ปีที่แล้ว +6

    The fact that Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy doesn't subtly play in the background is CRIMINAL

  • @Araian85
    @Araian85 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This was a hoot and a half! 🤣🤣🤣 I did fear for Hitchcock for a second there.
    Also I lost it with Rob's "USA! USA!" and then sipping on the eggnog again.
    No idea that this happened at WP, and that the cadets have continued the shenanigans for one reason or the other... It's endearing actually 🤣

  • @shinkoryu14
    @shinkoryu14 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    These sorts of shenanigans are a fun reminder that people have always been people, and even major names in history were once the same sorts of idiot teenagers a lot of us were.

  • @Daemonworks
    @Daemonworks ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Tangentially, on the subject of rules-breaking at West Point and similar institutions and the almost pathological need for students to pursue Hijinks has been turned into a feature. Turns out that that flexible thinking is very valuable when you prefer achieving objectives over simple robotic obedience, and letting the students think they're getting away with stuff, within limits, is pretty good training for creative problem solving. You don't want folks who are trained too solidly to stick to procedure in situations where the procedure is actively detrimental to getting the job done due to the situation on the ground.

    • @cn2848
      @cn2848 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Yep, it's called "take-life" where we trained.. and you're encouraged to just not get caught with whatever is restricted.. it's justified as practice when you find yourself as a POW and need to get creative to survive 😅

    • @iamerror1699
      @iamerror1699 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Or just hire people that y'k, don't drink, makes you stupid and overall not worth the day after.

  • @MungkaeX
    @MungkaeX ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The mid-video ad break for booze was quite hilarious…😂

  • @jdfigs5916
    @jdfigs5916 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Who knew historical figures could get into such hilarious situations 😂

  • @craigkdillon
    @craigkdillon ปีที่แล้ว +7

    BTW...this is why I love history.
    Things that really happened are better than what is thought up by writers for movies.

  • @LonesomeRhody
    @LonesomeRhody ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Maybe I'm mistaken but $0.35 in 1826 should be equivalent to around $10.50 today. Meaning that, despite the inflation, Matt was completely right. Corruption used to be SO affordable!

  • @edselasencio841
    @edselasencio841 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    As someone who lives near West Point and visits very frequently, I didn’t know any of this, and this is amazing for me to know

  • @LuinTathren
    @LuinTathren ปีที่แล้ว +23

    Happy holidays to the entire Extra Credit family. Thank you for improving my life one video at a time. ❤

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Thank you!!! Have a wonderful holiday season!

  • @alcalavicci6483
    @alcalavicci6483 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I first started watching EC when the pandemic hit. The sires on the 1918 flu pandemic was what brought me to the channel but the library of content, not in just history but literature, mythology, and politics has been a delightful, educational, and entertaining part of my life ever since. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication and Happy Holidays.

  • @catcharide56
    @catcharide56 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    9:36 John Archibald Campbell was actually the Assistant secretary of War for the Confederacy. He also tried to negotiate the surrender of Fort Sumter and attended the Hampton Roads peace conference in the last months of the war.

  • @omegamkx588
    @omegamkx588 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Between this and the Christmas Truce, y’all tell us about all the coolest Christmas stories!

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Christmas Truce was SUCH a good one too! We're hoping to continue the yearly trend.

  • @SaltyRADC
    @SaltyRADC ปีที่แล้ว +49

    Have a good christmas, keep up the good work

  • @anniel6479
    @anniel6479 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The fact that no one has made this movie yet causes me great spiritual pain.

  • @comediccomrade5716
    @comediccomrade5716 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    2 EH videos in just a days? What kind of early Christmas is this?!

  • @Kyerishrose
    @Kyerishrose ปีที่แล้ว +18

    This was an amazing story and this should be mentioned and studied more in American history. 😂

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It would liven up the history books!

  • @beoweasel
    @beoweasel ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Of note, Mercer along with several other members (though not Humphreys) were pardoned by John Quincy Adams and readmitted to West Point. Mercer graduated from the Academy in 1829. Other thing to consider is that on the eve of the Civil War, both the Union and the Confederacy were DESPERATE for officers. Unlike today, in the 19th Century, the American military service wasn't really seen as something you made into lifelong career (there's really only one major figure during this period that did, Winfield Scott, who served in the US Army from 1808 until 1861). Before Lincoln's call to the states to start recruiting volunteers, the US Army was only 10,000 men (compared to the overall population of 31 million). So that Mercer and Humphreys ended up generals in the CSA isn't that big of a shock.

    • @erraticonteuse
      @erraticonteuse ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yeah, Grant even wrote in his memoirs about how he probably wouldn't have been able to rise as far as he did during the war if he hadn't been *dismissed* from the Regular Army in the 1850s. He would have been shoved into some random role probably around DC instead of being out in the Midwest actually fighting and leading troops.

    • @ianhomerpura8937
      @ianhomerpura8937 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Isn't Winfield Scott the one involved in the Pig War?

    • @beoweasel
      @beoweasel ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@ianhomerpura8937 As a negotiator, yes, but not in a military capacity. That was William S. Harney,

  • @annepageturner
    @annepageturner ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Glædelig jul from Denmark. May Zoey stay ever fluffy and may the shows never lack in insightful funniness 🍻😊 SKÅL!

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thank you! Have a happy holiday!

  • @taylordice823
    @taylordice823 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Extra History has truly helped make me aware of how awesome history can be. Thank you so much for continuing to make education fun!

  • @Thefostapug
    @Thefostapug ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Imagine dying because you told people to stop drinking eggnog.

  • @erraticonteuse
    @erraticonteuse ปีที่แล้ว +3

    9:52 I imagine sending the cadets home for Christmas had more to do with the proliferation of ye olde planes, trains, and automobiles rather than any lessons actually being learned.

  • @davidvansickle5850
    @davidvansickle5850 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    LOL!!! Reminds me of the Christmas Eve party in the permanent stationed enlisted barracks at Lowry AFB... Being the senior enlisted man in the barracks, I had a beer with the crew, and then had to break up the party because of a fight breaking out, resulting in one person going out of a second story window. Hmmm.... Bein a Sergeant, I ordered all the Airmen to go to their rooms, and then have a chat with the Base Police, saying the broken window was from someone too drunk trying to get out of the room (Base Police are going "yeah, right"), yet the party was over, after having another chat with the Base First Sergeant. It was late after all the questioning, so I checked in with fthe remaining partiers holed up in one room, with a bottle of Southern Comfort, and finished out Christmas Eve. The best part, I show up late the next morning, hungover, and was promptly sent back to the barrack. A few days later, I get thanks from all the airmen in the barracks for bailing them out Christmas Eve.

  • @sethmaxfield6658
    @sethmaxfield6658 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    This definitely reminds me of some of my favorite memories as a cadet... the night Bin Laden was killed was absolutely wild

    • @javieraravena5345
      @javieraravena5345 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      To be fair, I think the entire military celebrated that night in the wildest way possible

    • @sethmaxfield6658
      @sethmaxfield6658 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@javieraravena5345 I have no doubt about that!

    • @sryan5512
      @sryan5512 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      As a current plebe, I can only imagine how that night would've gone.

    • @sethmaxfield6658
      @sethmaxfield6658 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@@sryan5512 I can remember a lot of fun times as a cadet but that one stands out. I would've loved to have been there when we broke the Navy streak in 2016 too - I imagine that was wild

  • @Balon-Breakspear
    @Balon-Breakspear ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I used to live across the Hudson from West Point and today cold springs prices on anything would be much higher then the West Point side

  • @Artur_M.
    @Artur_M. ปีที่แล้ว +1

    What a merry episode!
    Fun fact: the fortifications at West Point were constructed by Polish military engineer - Tadeusz Kościuszko, who previously contributed to the victory at Saratoga and later became the leader of the resistance against the empires ganging up on the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and partitioning it. Although ultimately unsuccessful, he is basically honoured as the greatest Polish national hero ever, and also considered their hero by many Lithuanians and Belarusians.
    Yes, I will use any excuse to write about Kosciuszko.

  • @morgangallowglass8668
    @morgangallowglass8668 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Thank you all AND a very Happy Holidays to you all! Donation sent!

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      AMAZING!!! Thank you so much and we hope enjoy your Holiday to the fullest!

  • @justin9202
    @justin9202 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Soldiers love a good drink. This isn't even half as bad as some of the crap we got into in my unit. And I think there is a time for revelry and debauchery especially during the holidays

  • @EllpaFox47
    @EllpaFox47 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Can we talk about how good Matt is with the voices

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      He just keeps getting better!

  • @alienworm1999
    @alienworm1999 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Look at all of these cadets, living in the moment. Not a phone in sight.

    • @scottanos9981
      @scottanos9981 ปีที่แล้ว

      Good times. Internet has ruined us

  • @camelfilters3224
    @camelfilters3224 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Reminds me of a story from WWII where a detachment of seabees tactically acquired a train full of booze.
    Why?
    Because they could.

    • @eldorados_lost_searcher
      @eldorados_lost_searcher ปีที่แล้ว +5

      "Tactical redeployment of resources for the purpose of raising morale."
      Fixed it for you.

    • @enderpup9289
      @enderpup9289 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I thought it was the Korean War

  • @joinmarch76
    @joinmarch76 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Hey Matt, I admit this may never happen anytime soon, but have you ever considered guest-starring in Drunken History? I think you'd make for a solid host. Also, and I edit this in forgetting to do it last time, but I'm genuinely surprised this ain't another story penned by Duncan Fyfe, this seems like a perfect story for Something True.

  • @logy7
    @logy7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you so much, Extra Credits Team!!!
    Your content is always entertaining and well put together!!
    Happy Celebrations to all! 🥰

  • @kevint1929
    @kevint1929 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Hearing about the drunken 'festivities' of the US Army makes me deeply happy

  • @colejameson7700
    @colejameson7700 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This needs to be a movie

  • @TnT_shadow9
    @TnT_shadow9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    That joke at the end and the USA chant literally made my morning. 😂😂 I cried laughing. Great content.

  • @valritz1489
    @valritz1489 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    3:42 I cannot stress this enough, cadets had been FILCHING ingredients and food. FI, not FE.
    It's, uh. Kind of an important bit of pronunciation.

    • @ferretyluv
      @ferretyluv ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I know, right? I mentioned that. Drinking beer out of each other’s asses, while it sounds like a good time, is not exactly family friendly storytelling.

  • @Noah_Levy
    @Noah_Levy ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Best episode in a while! Can't stop laughing.

  • @Kinghedgehog
    @Kinghedgehog ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I been watching since I found you all on the escapist it’s been a real treat watching all your hard work. Thanks for the edutainment and happy holidays!

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks so much for watching and Happy Holidays to you too!

  • @komradechampa348
    @komradechampa348 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Cheers guys. Thanks for all the content for all the years. Happy holidays.

    • @extrahistory
      @extrahistory  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you! Have a fantastic Holiday!

  • @icomment9898
    @icomment9898 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Glad to catch something early

  • @19billdong96
    @19billdong96 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    No nog on hand but here's a glass of water to the amazing crew at EC, drunk Matt, and the amazing Zoey 🍻

  • @theguardsman1043
    @theguardsman1043 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Beautiful episode beautifully told! Amazon animation and narration on this one EC team :)

  • @Dinuial
    @Dinuial ปีที่แล้ว +6

    If anyone would like a... NOT plantation party proportions size version of Washington's Eggnog recipe, Max Miller over on Tasting History AND Jas Townsends have recently done period eggnog videos.

  • @escritora84
    @escritora84 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I think this has been the funniest episode I've watched. Thank you for such an entertaining story!

  • @vault42overseer91
    @vault42overseer91 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Every branch sends the junior enlisted home too if they're still in their MOS school.

  • @GMoneyGonz
    @GMoneyGonz ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Cheers and Merry Christmas!!! I write this as I unknowingly watched this episode while sipping on a beer. Hilarious!!!

  • @sevenguardians7517
    @sevenguardians7517 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I’m currently sloshed sitting on my couch watching this
    Merry Christmas and
    Happy holidays to all
    🍻 cheers EC!

  • @Koffee_Kake1941
    @Koffee_Kake1941 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Ahhh, nothing like booze, the Christmas spirit, and a good story!

  • @alexp2608
    @alexp2608 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    That went from Christmas wholesome to 100 real quick

  • @mikepug6588
    @mikepug6588 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    I love your videos I look forward to watching you

  • @robertaylor9218
    @robertaylor9218 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    That opening poem and comic was so good I not only clicked the thumbs up (before the essay started), but you could’ve just rick-rolled the rest of the video and I wouldn’t have taken it back.
    Incidentally, the rest of the video was also great.

  • @vertigq5126
    @vertigq5126 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This was an excellent story, thanks a lot for sharing! It made for some very comfy holiday viewing. Merry Christmas and God bless you! :)

  • @EricTheKei
    @EricTheKei ปีที่แล้ว +5

    3:39 PLEASE tell me you meant "filching" instead of what it sounded like o_O

  • @MuriKakari
    @MuriKakari ปีที่แล้ว

    Loved all the night before christmas style rhyming/references. Thanks!