While his lack of income was certainly a factor, Poe may have been driven to join the Army because of the example of his grandfather. During the Revolutionary War, David Poe served as a quartermaster under George Washington. The grandson also had been a lieutenant in a junior militia group that escorted the Marquis de Lafayette on his visit to Richmond in 1824, when Poe was 15.
In 1829, Poe was released from his five-year enlistment in the Army so he could become a cadet at West Point, securing an appointment from President Andrew Jackson — this time under his legal name. After reconciling with his foster father, he reported for duty on July 1, 1830, at the military academy overlooking the Hudson River.
At first, Poe did well, but his fondness for West Point soon waned. Some historians speculated he failed to make the grade at the academy. Fellow cadet Thomas Pickering Jones later wrote that “Poe was a brilliant student, but had an aversion to mathematics, and that his inability to do well in that subject made him decide to leave West Point.”
Other factors may have led to his departure, however. Poe had another argument over money with Allan, who removed his foster son from his will. In addition, Poe, who had thought he would receive a commission as an officer after only six months at the academy because of his previous enlistment, learned he would have to remain at West Point for a full four years.
According to Howard, “Poe then purposely set out to gain a discharge.” He stopped attending classes and ignored commands from superiors. According to one legend, Poe was ordered to show up for drill “with cross belts and under arms,” which he did — but wearing nothing else, as reported in “Last in Their Class: Custer, Pickett and the Goats of West Point” by James S. Robbins.
Au naturel or not, Poe’s dereliction had the desired effect. He was dismissed from West Point on March 6, 1831, after a court-martial for neglecting duties and disobeying orders.
Soon after moving to Baltimore, he published another book of poetry — partly funded by his West Point classmates — with the inscription, “To the U.S. Corps of Cadets this volume is respectfully dedicated.”