Eggnog Riot

Eggnog, whiskey, and rebellion—what could possibly go wrong?

In this episode, we dive into the wild and chaotic tale of the Eggnog Riot of 1826 at West Point. What started as a covert Christmas celebration turned into a full-blown riot, complete with drunken cadets, smashed furniture, and a near miss with total catastrophe. Join us as we uncover how a seemingly innocent holiday tradition challenged authority, tested discipline, and left a lasting mark on one of America’s most prestigious institutions.

Grab your eggnog (spiked or not), and let’s relive this historical holiday chaos!

By Christmas of 1826, the cadets at the United States Military Academy were desperate for some holiday cheer. West Point was no picnic. Colonel Sylvanus Thayer had transformed the academy into a model of discipline and rigor, laying the foundation for what would become one of the most esteemed military institutions in the world. But to the cadets enduring his strict reforms, Thayer was a tyrant. His rules reached into every corner of their lives, including the prohibition of alcohol, a particularly bitter pill in an era when spirits were as common at gatherings as the company itself. For years, cadets had found ways to keep the spirit of Christmas alive with eggnog, heavily spiked with whiskey or rum. In 1826, Thayer’s prohibition threatened to snuff out even this small tradition. It was one rule too many, and a group of cadets decided to take matters—and liquor—into their own hands.

The trouble began when cadets smuggled gallons of whiskey into the academy, bribing a local guard with a paltry 35 cents. Rum was also secured from nearby taverns, and the contraband was hidden in the North Barracks. As Christmas Eve settled over West Point, the cadets concocted their illicit eggnog and gathered for their secret celebration. What began as a small act of defiance quickly spiraled out of control. The singing and laughter soon grew so loud that it woke Captain Ethan Allen Hitchcock, the officer on duty. Hitchcock, already wary of trouble brewing, set out to restore order. He confronted several cadets in a single room, ordering them back to their quarters. But the party, fueled by liquid courage, was far from over.

As Hitchcock made his rounds, he became the target of the cadets’ ire. Some openly defied him, brandishing swords and bayonets, while others barricaded themselves inside their rooms. One cadet, caught in the heat of drunken indignation, even threatened Hitchcock’s life. The chaos spread like wildfire. Windows shattered, furniture was smashed, and banisters were ripped from stairways. The North Barracks echoed with the sounds of rebellion. In one of the more terrifying moments of the night, a pistol was fired, narrowly missing Hitchcock. Rumors flew that Hitchcock had summoned the artillery unit to put down the uprising, and in response, cadets fortified their positions with makeshift barricades.

Lieutenant William Thornton, trying to assist Hitchcock, was met with violence, struck down by a drunken cadet wielding a piece of wood. Hitchcock, realizing the futility of his efforts, sent word to Commandant William Worth, who arrived with reinforcements. By dawn, the riot had been quelled, but not before leaving the North Barracks in ruins. Broken windows, overturned furniture, and shattered spirits marked the aftermath of what was supposed to be a night of celebration.

As the sun rose on Christmas morning, West Point stood at a crossroads. Of the 260 cadets enrolled, up to 90 were implicated in the riot, a staggering number that threatened the academy’s very existence. Colonel Thayer faced a dilemma: punish the entire student body and risk the academy’s reputation or identify and court-martial the ringleaders. Ultimately, 19 cadets and one enlisted soldier faced court-martial, and 11 were expelled. Among the riot’s participants was a young Jefferson Davis, who would later rise to infamy as the president of the Confederate States. Davis, quick to comply with orders during the chaos, managed to avoid expulsion.

The Eggnog Riot, as it came to be known, left a lasting scar on West Point. Colonel Thayer’s response included architectural changes to prevent similar uprisings. Future barracks were designed with narrow hallways, discouraging large gatherings. Thayer’s reforms continued to shape the institution, instilling the discipline that has since become synonymous with the academy. Yet the riot is more than a tale of misbehavior; it is a window into the tensions of the time. The cadets, many of whom would go on to fight in the Civil War, were young men grappling with the rigid confines of military life and the age-old impulse to resist authority.

In reflecting on the riot, it becomes clear that it was both a failure of discipline and a triumph of human nature. The cadets’ rebellion, while reckless, underscores the limits of control and the resilience of tradition. The riot stands as a cautionary tale for those who would impose order without considering the need for balance. For West Point, it was a moment of reckoning, one that ultimately strengthened the institution. And for the rest of us, it remains a story worth telling—a reminder that even the most disciplined among us are not immune to the allure of rebellion, especially when eggnog is involved.