The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-17
THEGRAND REVIEW OF '65
REcoLLECTIONs OF THE GREAT
SPECTACLE BY A Participants.
An Event Whose Significance Has Sell
dom Been ParaIIeIed-Recept
of the Different Heroes.

Cyrus @. Shepard, In New YORK Eost.
The grand review of the grand armies of
the Republic. on May % and "A, 1861 in
Washington. D. c., was, without doubt the
most imposing military pageant ever seen
in this country Every man who marched
in that parade was not only soldier but
veteran, and not only veteran but a hero.
Every army corps had made a record TO go
down into history to its renown. Every di-
vision had its great general and had fought
it's great battles Every brigade was cele-
brated for great valor and great victories.
Every regiment, with it's torn. bullet-rid-
died. tattered coIors, with its long list of
battles emblazoned in gilt, but torn and
blood-stained was q martial host of war
worn, victor-crowned veterans. 1t was
gathering of the faithful, an assembly of
the tried and true These soldiers had
fought good fight, and now, the victory
won. they were to pass In review before
the admiring gaze of loyal Nation, and
royalty did the Nation welcome them.
1t seemed as If every part of the loyal
North We'd with the other which should
excel in doing honor to their returning sol
diers. The multitude poured from every
direction into Washington, until tire city
was crowded to it's utmost capacity. There
have been many demonstrations in this
country upon many noted occasions, but
none like this. 1t was a spontaneous ova-
ton, fresh from the heart of a grateful
Nation. 1t was not parade simply; it
was pageant. The end had come, and as
these citizen soldiers were to melt away
into a great army of citizens, it was fitting
that this great celebration should occur to
give vent to the emotions OF the people,
and that they be allowed to pour out their
gratitude and show their appreciation of
the splendid armies about to be disbanded.
Our regiment rode along Pennsylvania
avenue on the morning of the first day,
followed by the tramp of the great armies
Of Grant and Sherman We were thus
among the fortunate ones, as we were soon
over the line of march, dismissed, and then
had the opportunity from very favored
point near the grand reviewing stand, OPP
posite the White House, OF Witnessing the
review. In our march we had passed
through the cheering, shouting thousands
who filled every inch of space along the
avenue, blocked up the cross streets. filled
the windows, covered the roofs, and, in
short, occupied completely every point from
which a view of the passing troops could
be obtained. 1t was a proud day for US.
Our company guidonS, our regfmental col
ors, our saber hits, were all gaily decked
with ribbons, and for the first time in our
three years service we were In full uni
form, white gloves and all.
JOINED THE SPECTATORS.
AS soon as we were dismissed we hurried
to secure our places to see our comrades
Of other armies pass in review and join in
the cheering and shouting.
1t is not the purpose of this paper to give
a systematic description of this great
scene, but simply to record personal ex-
periences, recalled after the thirty-two
years that have interviewed.
I stood opposite the Treasury Building,
on Pennsylvania avenue. and had a mag
nificent point of observation. 1 had four
great desires: First, to see the old Sixth
Army Corps, of the Army Of the Potomac,
a member of which was my brother, who,
with so many others of that excellent
corps. was killed in the battle of the Will
Corps had reached the ears of ali the
army, and l was especially anxious to wit
ness the march OF these brave men. Then,
through Georgia, and, If possible, to see
the old warrior himself, with his great staff
see how my own special idol, the soldier
I admired more than all for his gallant
bravery, George A. Custer, would be
ceived by the people; and then last of all,
wanted a good look at those wrecked
and ruined regiments, or rather remnants
Of regiments, that had fought all through
the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Har-
Dor. Petersburg. and were in at the end at
Appomattox. We had heard that there
were hardly enough in some of these regi-
mcnts to form a company front, as, In
deed, was the case.
Near me I noticed an old lady and gen
tleman who evidently had come from some
distant point, and who were intently
watching the colors of the different regf-
ments. evidently looking for some special
one The gentleman asked me If certain
Ohio regiment had passed. / was unable
to give him the information but soon aft
EDWARDS was startled by hearing the lady
cry out, "Oh. father there 1t isl This was
his regiment" and she burst into a pas
sion OF tears. crying as if her heart would
break None of US who witnessed that
scene needed interpreter, for we all
knew what it meant; and. with my hat in
hand, gently asked if their son had be-
longed to this Ohio regiment and had been
killed IN battle, and informed that
such was the fact. Amid all the splendors
of the scene, we knew that Pennsylvania
avenue was then actually thronging with
thousands OF broken-hearted mothers and
sorrow-stricken fathers whose boys were
who had been covered up in those long
deep trenches in the Wilderness. or Cold
Harbor, or. perchance, in those deeper,
heroes, after all, of the war.
GREETING FOR CUSTER
When the noisy demonstration seemingly
was &C its height. and our voices were
husky and our threats sore with shouting.
there came a short break in the glittering
line of steel. and then around the corner.
below the Treasury Building. there came
such volley of cheers that we knew some
great hero had been recognized and was
approaching. We eagerly watched for the
head of the column, and saw, mounted on a
prancing black horse. followed by glitter
ing staff. young-looking. slightly built.
rather tall officer. wearing the shoulder
straps Of a major general. Instantly the
cry was caught up. Custer! Custerr'
Then came the greatest shouting of the
(tuEfRrf Hat
tossed high, arms thrown in wild gestures
until the generals horse, that had gone
through battles without running away
was frightened as to be uncomfortable.
and dashed ahead. General Custer was a
magnificent horseman. and even as his
steed dashed by the Presidents stand he
saluted with his sword, recovered control
of his steed, rode back. and then passed i'm
review in more orderly, but not more
gallant. manner.
The cavalry. consisting OF the divisions
of Generals Custer and Merritt, that had
swept the Shenandoah valley, and, under
Sheridan. had become an arm of the serv-
ice more feared, perhaps by the foe than
any other; that had charged at Cedar
Creek. when all seemed lost and at Fish
er's Hill had carried all before them and
then. led by Custer. at Woodstock had
swept like a whirlwind through the rebel
lines--these soldiers soon all passed nv
announced the approach of another army.
With that long, swinging gait so peculiar
to Them and with great, glitterinr lines
OF steel that filed the avenue from one
end to the other the Army of the West
led by Uncle Billy himself, comes into
army thai had marched to the sea Sher-
mans i9 landl Here arc tba