as to SOP, normal procedure, acceptable practice, and normal occurance, it certainly was not in longstreet's class. however if it is true please provide one example of a cadet who did not apply at large but via a vacant district slot, nominated by that district's congressman but said applicant never lived in that district or state.
to clear up post #266...
appointments are all made by the secretary of war, vp, or potus. nominations or recommendations are made by a congressman, and recommendations for nomination or appointment are made by private citizens . when post #266 referred to "promiscuously throughout the Union", it was refering to appointments, not nominations, which are made by secretary of war.
barbour said he would appoint one cadet from every district and two from every state and he said he would "treat with respect" the recommendations of members of congress and private citizens. he would also make appointments "promiscuously throughout the Union" for the "extraordinary cases" needed to maintain sufficient cadet levels. these "extraordinary cases" can only be "at large" appointments and do not require a congressional nomination.
James Longstreet applied through the 1st congressional district of alabama with a nomination or recommendation from that district's congressman, reuben chapman. His appointment was not by way of a "at large" application.
to clear up my position on longstreet's application.
longstreet was only seventeen. although he expressed a desire to pursue a military career from an early age i believe it was his uncle augustus's ambitions for his nephew that was mostly behind this episode.
i believe there was a certain amount of intrigue involved because of the circumstances of the execution of his father's will. most of the players in the case are the same as those involved in longstreet's nomination to west point. it is a good story. this is a small thing but establishes a pattern for the future. i believe that longstreet was a great general, highly ambitious, who cared for his men, but with some flawed character traits . i believe he was in fact made a scapegoat but contributed to his southern unpopularity because he was a scalawag. i also believe his treason was different than every other confederate or was in addition to that same treason, and so was not eligible for pardon but was overlooked or undiscovered.
now i'm done and my rant is over. i find this forum very cliquey and will try to refrain from returning, but i have many forms of OCD. if you don't like me here don't bait me and i will not have a reason to comeback. i just do not like folks to twist my words.