Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-06-01

swinging step that does not belong TO
the Eastern boys, aud their faces were
more intelligent, selfreliant and de.
termined. One could not distinguish
officers from men except by the mi.
forms, and they seemed equal in intel.
ligence aud bearing. On the other
hand the Eastern troops showed more
drill. There was a marked distinc.
ton between officers aud men in point
of culture.
As the regiments moved mp to the
stand displaying their ragged. latter.
ed banners an involuntary burst Of
applause, Joined in by men, women
and children, broke from the assem-
bled masses and even drowned the
music Of the band. Such a wealth
and profusion Of roses never before
carpeted the feet of an army. The
street was strewn at times with bon.
qnets, thrown at some favorite by the
admiring crowds, and the bayonets
and gunbarrels Of the troops were all
in bloom with the floral tributes OF
the people.
So eager were the spectators to
look upon the faces Of the great men
who have won in this struggle i'm
pcrishable honors, and engraven their
names indelibly by their great deeds
in the hearts Of the people. that they
forced the guards and crowded in.
shouting Ivy hundreds around the main
stand. Every General was called
for, and compelled to offer his acknowl.
rdgmcnts. The most popular were
Grant, Sherman. Howard, SIocum and
Logan. Several ladies accompanied
the column, riding in review with
their husbands ut the head Of the
troops, aud being welcomed at every
point with enthusiasm.
That which attracted most atten-
ton during the review of the army of
Georgia, which was the occasion of
considerable mirth, was the passing in
review of pack mules, captured cats,
dogs, donkeys, chickens, &c. These
were led or carried by negroes, and
presented just the appearance that
they do on the march. The review
closed at $3.50 P. NJ, making six and a
half hours consumed in passing Civ
en- point.
The armies represented all branches
and divisions of the service-cavalry,
artillery and infantry, with sufficient
variety in trimmings and appoint.
ments to relieve the general sameness
of uniform, and several regiments OF
zouaves contributed to produce the eff.
feet. Sections of pontoon bridges and
ambulances, stretchers and even heavy
wagons were features in the process.
sion. There was also fair represen-
tation of the spade and axe depart
ment, the implements being carried on
the shoulders of both white and black
soldiers.
Thus has passed off the great re-
view of the grand army of American
freedom, Az army comprising a sol
diery unrivalled in the worlds history.
All honor and praise to our brave
boys in blue.
They are coming home How the
heart leaps with JOY to meet them
The survivors of so many battles.
such dreadful scenes, such unaccus-
toned tolls, voluntarily encountered
that they, and we, and our children
forever might have a country. Their
labors are ended, their devotion has
triumphed, they are coming to their
reward. Marching past the beautiful
temple of American liberty and great
ness, which they have saved, they go
each to his home in the city and coun-
try to find the dear ones whom they
love. They have fought the good fight
of the Union, they have finished the
course, they have kept the faith
henceforth there is laid up for each of
them crown of glory in the graft
tude of their countrymen. Soldiers
once, citizens now, they come among
us laden with honors which will never
die. Their great leader has gone to
his rest, as they too must 60, but his
fame will be not more imperishible
than theirs. Multitudes of their COM
rades have fallen or distant fields, or
in distant prisons, precious sacrifices
upon the altar of the Republic. They
too are immortal as the principles for
which they gave their lives. Nor
would we forget those who have here
tofore served their allotted time and
been discharged with equal honor,
wounded or otherwise. Posterity
shall rise up and call them all alike
blessed. No prouder title can descend
to the children of the next generation
than the right to say, Ny father was
a soldier of the Union" No prouder
legacy can fall to the American peo-
pie than the example of their citizen
soldiers who conquered the great re-
bellion.