Part 4/8:

The tale of the Eggnog Riot doesn't really commence at Christmas but rather dates back to July 4, 1825. Cadets at the United States Military Academy were granted the rare privilege of enjoying alcohol on certain holidays. Superintendent Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, known for his strict enforcement of discipline, initially allowed the cadets to partake in festivities, only to regain control after an unruly celebration led to drunken debauchery.

When the cadets devised a plan to sneak alcohol for their Christmas Eve eggnog, it became a recipe for disaster. A group of cadets—including the future Confederate President Jefferson Davis—collaborated to smuggle alcohol and food into the academy in preparation for their clandestine celebration.