Show I Wv s W q ii r y f ry t try ry rY g i r. r G. G h 1 gl V ki M I I Last Review of Armies w r l 1 f the designation of the THOUGH j thirtieth day of May Mayas as Memorial Memorial Memo Memo- rial day is officially attributed to o the general order issued in 1863 1868 by Commander in Chief John A. A Logan Logan Logan Lo Lo- gan of ot the Grand Arm Army of the Republic Re- Re public there was a historical event that hat occurred in Washington three years previously which foreshadowed foreshadowed owed the custom followed ever since Ince Logans Logan's proclamation of oC set- set I Ing Ung aside a day for the strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating decoratIng Ing ng the graves of ot comrades who died lied In defense of their country The he South had already chosen May 30 0 for this purpose observes a writ- writ writer er r In the Kansas City Times several several sev- sev eral ral of ot the Southern states having set et aside this day for honoring their dead lead But nut the grand spectacle of the Uie last re review of ot the Northern armies at Washington which topic tool place May 23 3 and 24 4 ISCo may be be regarded as ns the first movement to toay pay ay honor to the living soldiers and ando to o preserve the memories of their missing comrades des who had died in defense of the Union It was one of f the most solemn and moving celebrations that Washington or orbe orthe orthe the be nation had ever witnessed Thousands of eyes were dimmed with tears as the procession of veterans veterans vet- vet erans rans passed the reviewing stands and nd hundreds of thousands throughout through- through out ut the land shed their tears by vacant va- va cant ant firesides ns as they read the accounts accounts ac- ac counts of that last grand review In the pages of at Harpers Harper's s Weekly ot of f that date and in the reminiscences of ot Ben Perley the veteran Journalist and other contemporary contemporary con- con temporary chronicles graphic accounts accounts ac- ac counts by eyewitnesses are given of ot the he thrilling spectacle The he review was vas staged at nt one of ot the darkest moments of the nations nation's history A month before Lincoln had been as ns- At the very time tImo the parade arade of ot the veterans was taking place preparations were being made for or the trial of Mrs Harold Har- Har Harold old Id and Payne charged In n the Booth conspiracy and at that time inie confined in the old penitentiary near ear the arsenal Their trials beti be- be ti i 1 Gr Grants Grant's Address to the Army W Was Wasa a Memorable One tore fore ore a military commission were concluded June 30 one 30 one month and anda a few days after the review V of or the army Throughout the thc nation there was a tense tens feeling which was reflected reflected re re- re in the silence of the vast crowds that watched the parade with a variety of ot emotions in In their many hearts many of ot them mourners for tor or lost sous sons on the battlefields many manY proud of ot Uw Ua hei that had 1 Two hundred thousand veteran troops trained on a hundred battlefields battlefields battle battle- fields fi and commanded by the leadIng lead lend lendIng Ing generals of the service were there to be reviewed by Grant Giant the lieutenant general who commanded a ar r tl i t l. l t t. t Eating Their Breakfast Around the Bivouac Fires them all by Johnson the President of ot the United States by his cabinet But Bat the scene cannot be fitly depicted depicted depicted de de- de- de in the cold words of or more than seventy years after Let us recall the glowing words of eyewitnesses eyewitnesses eyewitnesses eye eye- witnesses and others The night before the grand review review re reo re- re view of the army of oC the tho Potomac wa was wet and dr dreary nry enough but as day dawned the thc clouds disappeared and the scene In Maryland avenue ll between the Long bridge and the Capitol Capital and the largo large plain east of that building was warlike and in in- Brigades marched at nt route steps bivouac fires around which groups were eating their breakfast fast orderly sergeants Insisting InsistIng Insist Insist- ing lag In Ln very ery naughty but Impressive language on the use of ot sandpaper on muskets already bright musicians musIcIans musicians musi musI- rehearsing some new march little bo boys s 's bracing up drums half halt as high as ns themselves es Important adjutants riding to and fro to hurry up the formation of or their respective regiments elegantly attired aids do camp galloping like mad and endeavoring endeavoring en en- del to avoid mud puddles batteries thundering along A few words from one Olle man reduced confusion contusion con con- fusion to order When General Meade gave the order Forward the he apparent snarl of ot humanity and horses began to be unraveled In a single unbroken line and the column column column col col- moved from the tho Capitol toward the reviewing stands along Pennsylvania Penn Penn- s sylvania l avenue a Few of ot those that marched In that great parade of veterans and first day of ot war memories are alive to to- day du- du duTo To most of us the names of ot those captains and colonels and commanders so glowingly mentioned mentioned men- men by that old chronicler mean but little Other days davs other oilier wars and other heroes of ot wars But It was a national thrill an thrill an epochal thrill that last review of ot the armies of ot the tIte Union For five e years the nation had been divided millions mullions mil mul- lions had been under arms hundreds hundreds hundreds hun hun- of thousands slain and as many more disabled for life For Forthe Forthe Forthe the first time the armies marched In peaceful review glorying in the end mindful of or their battles and of ot those who fell in them A month afterward the general order disbanding disbanding dis US- banding the armies was given by Lieutenant General Grant On June 1 1 1865 the movement of or dIsbandment disbandment dIs- dIs began and from then on on until the of that autumn year officers and men were mustered out of ot service ser and returned to peaceful pursuits Grants Grant's address to the army was wao wasa waca a memorable one one Napoleonic In Its HII eloquence and fervor He said Soldiers of tho the Army Anny of the tho United States By your patriotic devotion to your country In fn the hour of danger danier and alarm your magnificent fighting bravery and nd endurance you have bave maintained the supremacy of the Union Union UnIon Un Un- ion and the Constitution overthrown z nil all J armed opposition to the enforcement of tho laws law and of tho the proclamation forever forever for for- ever abolishing slavery slavery the the cause and pretext of the rebellion rebellion and and nd opened the way for Cor the rightful authorities to restore order and nd inaugurate peace ace ona ona on ona a permanent and enduring basis basta on every foot of American soil Your marches s sieges and battle battles In distance duration resolution and brilliancy of results dim the luster of the worlds world's past put military achievements and will be the tho patriots patriot's precedent in defense of h liberty erty and right in all time timeto to come coma In obedience to your nur country's country's country's coun coun- try's call cill you left your hom homes s and families and volunteered in her beT de de- de- de Victory has crowned your va valor valor va va- lor and 8 secured the purposes of your patriotic hearts hems and with the tho gratitude gratitude gratitude tude of your countrymen and the tho highest high est ut honors a great and nd free nation con can accord you will soon be bo permitted to return to your homes bomes and families conscious conscious con con- of having discharged the th highest high est eat duties of American Amerl citizens dozens To achieve th these ao glorious triumphs tens tena of thousands of your gallant canant comrades have fallen Callen land hand and ae sealed led the priceless legacy with their blood The Tho graves of these those a grateful nation bedews with tears teus honors their ther memory and willever will willever ever cherish and support their stricken strick strick- en families |