Show last review of nort X T rn armies OUGH the designation of the T thirtieth day of slay may as memorial rial day Is officially attributed to the general order issued in by in chief john A logan tot of the grand army amy of the republic there was a historical event that occurred in washington three years rears previously which foreshadowed foreshadower fore shadowed the custom followed ever since logans proclamation te la of setting aside a day for the strewing with lowers flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country the south bouth had already chosen tiny may 3 SO 00 for this purpose observes a writer la in the file city times several of the I 1 southern states having set aside this day for honoring their dead but the I 1 grand spectacle of the last review of the northern armies at washington took place may 23 and 24 may inay be regarded as the first movement to pay honor to the living soldiers and to preserve the memories of their missing comrades who had died in defense of the union it was one of t the most solemn and moving celebrations that washington or the nation had bad ever witnessed thousands of eyes were dimmed with tears as the procession of veterans passed the reviewing stands and hundreds of thousands throughout the land shed their tears by vacant fi resides as they read the accounts of that last grand review in the pages of harpers weekly of that date and in the reminiscences of ben perley the veteran journalist and other contemporary chronicles graphic accounts by eyewitnesses are given of the thrilling spectacle the review was staged at one of the darkest moments of the nations history A month before lincoln had been assassinated sina ted at the very time the parade of the veterans was taking place preparations were being made for the trial of mrs harold atzrodt and ellid payne charged in the booth conspiracy sp iracy and at that time confined in the old penitentiary near the arsenal grants grant address to the army was a memorable one their trials before a military commis lon were concluded june SO 30 one month and a few days daya after the review of the army throughout the na pon there was waa a tense feeling which wa vas reflected in the silence of the vast crowds that watched the parade with a variety of emotions lu in their hearts many of them mourners tor for lost sons on the battlefields many proud of the heroes that had bad survived two hundred thousand veteran troops trained on it a hundred battlefields and commanded by the leading rene general rals of the service were there to be reviewed by grant the lieutenant general who commanded them theio 7 1 by johnson the president of the united states by his cabinet by the dignitaries of our own own and other nations and by an innumerable throng of private citizens in the alie columns marched the veterans of the army of the potomac the army of 0 the james the army V 14 1 1 eating their breakfast around the bivouac fires of the tennessee and the cavalry 0 or f the indomitable phil sheridan though sheridan himself was tax far away on duty in mexico on the of may the army of the potomac and on the the division of the mississippi swept through the streets of the capital for hours while hundreds of bands made the air ring with patriotic music but the scene cannot be fitly depleted in the cold words of more than seventy years rears after let us recall the glowing words of eyewitnesses eye witnesses and others the night before the grand review of the army of the potomac was wet and dreary enough but as day dawned the clouds disappeared and the scene in maryland avenue between the long bridge and the capitol and the large plain east of that building was warlike and interesting brigades marched arched in at route steps bivouac tires fires around which groups were eating their breakfast orderly sergeants insisting in very naughty but impressive language on the use of sandpaper on muskets already bright musicians rehearsing some new march little boys bracing up drums half as high as themselves important adjutants riding to and fro to hurry up the formation of their respective spec tive regiments elegantly attired aids de camp galloping like ilke mad and endeavoring to avoid mud puddles batteries thundering along A few words from one man reduced confusion to order when general meade gave the order forward the apparent snarl of humanity and horses began to be unraveled in a single unbroken line and the columns moved from the capitol toward the review ing stands along pennsylvania avenue few of those that marched in that great parade of veterans and first day of war memories are alive today to most of us the names dames of f those cap calil bains and colonels colonel and ad commanders als so 10 glowingly mentioned by that old chronicler mean but little other days other wars and other heroes of wars but it was a national nat thrill an epochal thrill that last review of the armies of the union for five years the nation had been divided millions had been under arms hundreds of thousands slain and as many more disabled for life for the first time the armies marched in peaceful review glorying in the end mindful of their battles and of those who fell in them A month afterward the general order disbanding the armies was given by lieutenant general grant on june 1 1805 the movement of disbandment began and from then on until the autumn of that year officers and men were mustered out of service and returned to peaceful pursuits grants address to the army was 8 9 memorable one napoleonic in its eo ela quence and fervor he said soldier evo of the army of the united states stat e aoby by your patriotic devotion to your coun country try in the hour of danger and alarm your magnificent fighting bravery and en durance you have maintained the ou u prelacy of the union and the constitution overthrown all armed opposition to the enforcement of the laws law and of the proclamation forever abolishing slavery the cause and pretext of the rebellion and opened the way for the rightful authorities ties to restore order and inaugurate peace on a permanent and enduring basis bas so oa every foot of american soil your tour marches sieves sieges and battles battle in distance duration resolution and brilliancy of results resul tx dim the luster of the worlds world past military achievements and will be the p patriot precedent in defense of lbert liberty IF and right in ia an all time to come jo ja decd ence to your count country rys call you left your homes home and fa millea and volunteered la in her ber defense victory has crowned your valor and secured the purposes purpose of your patriotic hearts and with the gratitude of your countrymen and the highest honor a great creat and free nation can accord you will soan be b permitted to return to your homes and families conscious of having discharged the highest duties of am american ican citizens to achieve these glorious flori oua triumphs tens ten of thousands of your gal lint lant comrades have fallen and sealed the priceless pricel cM legacy with their blood tie the traves of the these a grateful nation beele heileg with tear honors their memory and will ever cherish cheri fth and support their stricken trick ca families |