Show IN C aw V A last review rin armies HOUGH the designation of 0 the trial THOUGH thirtieth day of may as memorial day is officially attributed to the general order issued in 1868 by commander in chief john A logan of the grand army of the republic there was a historical event that occurred in washington ton three years previously which foreshadowed foreshadower fore shadowed the custom followed ever since logans proclamation la of setting aside a day for the strewing with blowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country the south had haa already chosen may alay SO 30 for this purpose observes a writer in the kansas city times several of the southern states having set aside this day for honoring their dead but the grand spectacle of the last review of the northern armies at washington ton which took place may alay 23 and 24 may 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 the most solemn and moving celebrations that washington or the nation had 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 or 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 T grants address to the army was a memorable one month before lincoln had been assassinated sina ted at the very time the parade of the veterans was taking place preparations were being made tor for the trial of mrs harold atzrodt and payne charged in the booth conspiracy sp iracy and at that time confined in the old penitentiary near the arsenal their trials before a military commission were concluded june 30 one mouth month and 6 a few days after the review of the army throughout the nation there was a tense feeling which was reflected in the silence of ahe the vast crowds that watched the parade with a variety of emotions in their hearts many of them mourners for lost sons on the battlefields many proud of the heroes that had survived two hundred thousand veteran troops trained on a hundred battlefields and commanded by the leading generals ene rals of the service were there to be reviewed by grant the lieutenant general who commanded them all by johnson the president of the united states by his cabinet by the dignitaries of our own and other nations and by an innumerable throng of private citizens in the columns marched the veterans of the army of the potomac the army of the james the army of the tennessee and the cavalry of the indomitable phil sheridan thou though h sheridan himself was far away on Z N k if eating their breakfast around the bivouac fires duty in mexico on the of slay may the army of the potomac arid 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 depicted in the cold words of more than seventy years after let us recall the glowing words of ebe e e witnesses and others the ni night lit 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 ana the large plain east of that building was warlike and interesting brigades marched arched in at route steps bivouac ores fires around which groups were eating their breakfast orderly sergeants insisting in very naughty but impressive Ian language guage on the use of sandpaper on muskets ets 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 at tired aids de carlp camp galloping like 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 reviewing in stands along pennsylvania avenue few of those that marched in that great parade of veterans and first day 1 of war memories are alive today to rz rz Z 11 3 IQ 1 i Z rz rz rz 13 for our hero heroes es M by mrs J E leslie in detroit news new 8 the taps tap softly S SOUND for heroes asleep strew flowers richy richly our loyalty keep sing their songs bravely were tenting tonight marching through georgia and justice and right songs for or the riders ridera who took san juan hul hill A hot time and douy dolly were sinking singing them still songs of the laddies who marched over there keep the fires burning and pack up your cart care songs for our heroes sweet flowers for them too soldiers in khaki and brave boys in blue banners wave oer them and tears for them shed from shiloh to flanders our loved honored dead most of us the names of those captains and colonels and commanders so glowin glowingly ly mentioned by that old chronicler mean but little other days other wars and other heroes of wars cut but tt it was a national 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 loryle lory ln in the end mindful of their battles battle 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 the movement of disband ment began and from then on until the autumn of that year all officers and men were mustered out of service and returned to peaceful pursuits grants address to the army was si memorable one napoleonic in its eloquence and fervor lie ile said soldiers of the army ot of the united states by your patriotic devotion to your country in the hour of 0 danger and alarm your magnificent fighting bravery and endurance you have maintained the supremacy of the union and the constitution overthrown all armed opposition to tho the enforcement of the laws 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 on every foot of american soil your marches sieges and battles in distance duration resolution and brilliancy of results dim the luster of the worlds past military achievements and will be ba the patriots pain ats precedent in defense of liberty and right in all time to come in obedience to your count rys call you left your homes and farni families lies and volunteered in her defense victory has crowned your valor and secured the purposes of y your 0 ur patriotic hearts and with the agrati gratitude tude of your countrymen and the highest honors a great and free nation can accord you will soon be permitted to return to your homes and families conscious of having discharged charged Is the highest duties of american ican citizens to achieve these glorious triumphs tens of thousands of your gallant comrades comrade have fallen and sealed the priceless legacy with their blood the graves of these a grateful nation bedews bedecs with tears honors their memory and nd will ever cherish and support their stricken families wa 0 |