The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-09-08

oSJe9Eals at Campfire at Gunlson, Coio,,
2sAAs July 2 by ]. W. Anderson. Go. g,
oSSai5>v0 10th H., Assistant Adjutant-Gen-
eral, Department of Colorado:
What fitting finale to the brilliant achieve
ments of this victorious army after its five
years of campaigning, marching, manuverlng,
and fighting which covered almost the entire
theater of the war, commencing in the West,
passing through and over all the Southern
States, save two, winding up with its march
through northern Virginia, where the Army of
the Potomac so long and faithfully contended
with the rebel hosts, then welcomed to the
Capital City and received by the President,
Cabinet, and the Commanding General of all
the Armies.
few days before the Review we arrived at
Alexandria, and the army settled down along
the nights overlooking the Nations Capital.
Word had been heraded throughout the conn
try that the review of the two armies, Meades
and Sherman's, would take place in Washing.
ton City on the 23d and Oath days of May.
Consequently the city was full of people who
had come to witness these two last great war
pageants.
On the morning of the oath. rs the lances of
light began to shoot upward in the east and
the splendor of dawn increased as the sun sent
its shining rays over the nights of Alexandria,
the shrill blasts from thousand bugles rang
out on the morning air, reverberated along the
hillsides, and the echoes were borne away on
the still waters of the Potomac, as for the last
time this great army as unit responded to
the sound of reveille.
In response to the call the army rose as one
man. and soon the nights were alive with men
commencing preparations for the day. The
murmur of voices, merry greetings, and cheer
full songs of $1,000 happy men produced
a din the volume Of which was like the sough
ing of the wind amid the leaves Of the forest or
the rythm of the rolling sea.
The hour Of o'clock found four long, blue,
bending lines winding along down the uneven
hillside heading for Columbia. at we crossed
the Long Bridge, which spans the Potomac,
and entered the city. finding that ample prepa-
rations had been made for our coming. Flags,
banners, and streamers everywhere swelled to
the breeze. Barrels of ice water stood at inter
walls on either side Of the street, while the shady
walks were lined with people bearing buckets
and pitchers of water, inviting and urging us
to drink with them. Tho corps to which |
belonged (the Seventeenth) marched out east
of the Capitol, halted, stacked arms, and
awaited the arrival and passage of the Fifteenth
Corps As far as this eye could reach on every
street and avenue bayonets cleaned in the sun
light as troops went filing by. The bright,
balmy air of the beautiful May morning,
ladened with sweet, patriotic strains of music,
seemed quite enchanting 1t was as the rock
in the weary land, and we realized as never
before that we were in Gods country.
At 10 o'clock we moved down PennSyl lyania
avenue at company front, close column of COM
pany in perfect silence save the music from
our bands, with no attempt at style or frills,
but marching with military precision, taking
our long, swinging step, and we soon captured
the hearts of the great throng of people who
had come from far and near to see Johnny
come marching home"
The first place of note on our march came
the Capitol Building. which was adorned from
base to dome with flags Of every nation. As we
moved down this great thoroughiare we found
the sidewalks, doors, windows, balconies, and
house-tops lined with seething mass of peo-
pie, cheering, shouting, and strewing our path
with flowers The ovation was wildly grand.
Some cheered themselves hoarse, others raised
their hands to heaven in prayer; sobbing
mothers held their little ones aloft while gray
haired fathers wept with childish joy. The
world had seen before gorgeous military pa
geants, flashing with giIded trappings and
pomp of war but the eyes of man never rested
on scene of such thrilling grandeur as the
onward and endless march of these dust
stained, war worn men, fresh from the heart of
the Confederacy, every man of whom had been
tried in the fire of many battles. Tho very
air seemed freighted with gadness, as though
responding to the Joyous emotion OF the great
multitude that witnessed and welcomed this
triumphal procession. Numerous banners were
suspended over the street; On the first was
written, "All hail to the Western heross!" on
the next, Champions of Belmont and Donel-
son. and at intervals along the line came all
the battles fought by this army; then The
Pride Of the Nation" and last, "The Nation
welcomes her brave defenders"
Comrades, picture in your minds if you can,
one of the most beautiful streets in the world,
two miles long, 170 feet wide, blooming in Ma
tional colors, and banked on either side from
Al. G., E,,,t
ings with an unbroken mass of people, all
cheering. shouting, and wildly beating the air
with hats and handkerchief, and you may
then partially realize the magnificenee of the
scene that greeted us all along that line of
march. To men who had been SO long on the
front lines and who had just emerged from the
dismal swamps of the Caroiinas the change
was very great and the effect almost intoxicat-
ing, and thought as looked down that broad,
beautiful avenue over the inspiring scene
spread out before u.s. and upon the great pha-
lanx of veterans, as column after column NOV
ed on and under the Tapping folds Of our war
worn battle flags, and listening to the inspir
ing music from the many military bands, that
it was the proudest day of my life, my cup of
Joy was filled to overfowing, and / felt that
the pleasures of that day, yea that hour, fully
repaid ME for all the hardships, privatiOns
dangers and suffering that had endured dur
ing all those years of strife and carnage.
AS we neared the White House, regiments
that were doing their best were required to do
little better, in order that we might make a
good impression upon the great heads Of the
Nation before whom we were now to appear.
AS passed the reviewing stand the shouts
and cheers were deafening and almost shook
the earth. The eyes of the Nation were upon
us, and "we felt the swelling Of the heart we
neer can feel again."
After passing the reviewing stand we moved
out on to q side street. halted, and were served
with water by thousand sweet young ladies'
all dressed in red, white, and blue, who, to
soldiers who had been so long removed from
refined society, looked like a band of angels.
Col. III. and the Roman BeGgar.
Harper's Magasinel
Col. H., of Baltimore settled in Rome some
years since, and for time received his mail at
the bank, to which he always walked morning
and afternoon passing en- route through the
Piazza di Spagna, where venerable beggar sat,
and to whom he gave aims each time he passed.
But after a few months knowledge of Roman
besgardom he suddenly ceased to drop the ac-