Although he claimed that he was 22 years old, he was actually 18.
Poe served for two years, attaining the rank of Sergeant Major for Artillery, the highest rank that a non-commissioned officer could achieve. He then sought to end his five-year enlistment early.
Poe revealed his real name and his actual circumstances to his commanding officer, Lieutenant Howard, who promised to allow Poe to be honorably discharged if he reconciled with Allan.
Perhaps softened by his wife’s death, Allan agreed to support Poe’s desire to receive an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.[26]
Poe was finally discharged on April 15, 1829, after securing a replacement to finish his enlistment.
Poe traveled to West Point and matriculated as a cadet on July 1, 1830.[32] In October 1830, Allan married his second wife Louisa Patterson.[33] This marriage and the bitter quarrels with Poe over children born to Allan out of extramarital affairs led to the foster father finally disowning Poe.[34] Poe then decided to leave West Point by intentionally getting court-martialed. On February 8, 1831, he was tried for gross neglect of duty and disobedience of orders for refusing to attend formations, classes, and church. Knowing he would be found guilty, Poe pleaded not guilty to the charges in order to induce dismissal.[35]
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