The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-10-14

Capitol, and the Fourteenth Corps closed
up 10 the bridge. The morning of the
24th was extremely beautiful, and the
ground was in splendid order for our re-
view. The streets were filled with peo-
ple TO see the pageant, armed with
bouquets of flowers for their favorite
regiments or heroes, and everything was
propitious. Punctualiy at a. m. the
signal-gun was fired, when, in person,
attended by Gen. Howard and all my
staff, | rode slowly down Pennsylvania
avenue, the crowds of men, women and
children denselv lining the sidewalks,
and almost obsiructing the way. We
were followed closely by Gen. Logan
and the head of the Fifteenth Corps.
When 4 reached the Treasury Build
ing and looked back the sight was simply
magnificent. The column was compact,
and the glittering muskets looked like a
solid mass of steel, moving with the
regularity of rendulum. We passed
the Treasury Building in front of which
and of The White House was an immense
throng of people, for whom extensive
stands had been prepared on both sides
of the avenue.
As | neared the brick house opposite
the lower corner of Lafayette Square
someone asked me to notice Mr.. Seward,
who, still feeble and bandaged for his
wounds, had been removed there that
be might behold the troops. | moved
in that direction and took off my hat to
Mr.. Seward, who sat at an upper win
dow. He recognized the salute, re-
turned If, and then we rode on steadily
past the President, saluting with our
swords. All on his stand arose and ac
knowledged the salute. Then, turning
into the gate of the Presidential grounds,
We left our horses with Orderlies and
went upon the stand, where l found
Mrs. Sherman, with her father and son.
Passing them, / shook hands with the
President, Gen. Grant, and each men,
Der of the Cabinet.
SHERMAN REFUSES sTANToN's HAND.
As I approached Mr. Stanton he
offered me his hand, but | declined it
publicly, and the fact was universally
noted. then took my post on the left
OF the President, and for six hours and
half stood while the army passed in
the order of the Fifteenth, Seventeenth,
Twentieth, and Fourteenth Corps. 1t
was, in nay judgment, the most magnifi-
cent army in existence-65, 900 men, in
splendid physique, who had just COM
pleted march of nearly 1000 miles in
a hostile country, in good drill, and who |
realized that they were being closely |
scrutinized by thousands of their fellow
countrymen and by foreigners.
Division after division passed, each
commander of a corps or division COM
ing on the stand during the passage Of
his command to be presented to the
President, Cabinet and spectators. The
steadiness and frmness of the tread, the |
careful dress on the guides, the uniform
intervals between the companies, all eyes |
directly to the front, and the tattered |
and bullet-riven flags, festooned with |
flowers, all attracted universal notice.
Many good people up to that time had |
looked upon our Western army as a sort |
Of mob; but the world then saw, and |
recognized the fact, that ii was an army
IN the proper sense, well organized, well |
commanded and disciplined; and there |
was no wonder that it had swept through |
the South like a tornado. For six hours !
and half that strong tread of the Army
OF tie West resounded along Pennsyl- |
vania avenue; not soul of that vast
crowd Of spectators left his place and,
when the rear of the column had passed I
by, thousands of the spectators still /
fingered to express their sense of con-
fidence in the strength of Government
which could claim such an army.
Some little scenes enlivened the day,
and called for the laughter and cheers
Of the crowd. Each division was fol-
lowed by six ambulances, as a repre-
sentative Of Its baggage-train. Some Of
Tie division commanders had added, by
way of variety, goats, mich cows, and |
pack-mules, whose loads consisted Of
game-cocks poultry, hams, etc, and some
Of them had the families Of freed slaves
along, with the women leading their
children.
Each division. was preceded by its
corps of black pioneers, armed with
picks and spades. These marched
abreast in double ranks, keeping per-
feet dress and step, and added much to
the interest Of the occasion. On the
whole, the Grand Review was splen-
did success, and was fitting conclusion
10 the campaign and the war.
] viii now conclude by copy Of my
General Orders taking leave of the
army, which ended my connection with
The war, though l aiterward visited and
took more formal leave of the officers
and men on July 4, 1865, at Louis
vile, Ky:
Special Field Orders, No 76.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF
THE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIELD !
WASHINGTON, ID. C., May 80, 1865.
The General Commanding announces to the
Armies Of the Tennessee and Georgia that the !
time has come for US TO part Our work is |
done orI arpaaf no lxr