The National tribune., 1901-07-11

I1OuSe, NutIe ulfbll II Stduu titNttu IDi
the occasion sat the President, surrounded
by his Cabinet and the Generals of the
war.
Those proud warriors were the sur
vivors of many of hard-contestcd fields
They carried with them the marks of
Gettysburg and the many battlehelds of
Virginia, where the dripping earth told
of their valor. Their work was done and
well done, and they would soon be per-
mftted to go home and rest upon their
laurels.
Long before sunrise Wednesday, May
"a, we were busily engaged in preparing
for the review.
At Z o'clock we were in motion. We
crossed Long Bridge and closed up in
mass near the Capitol Grounds. At 8
o'clock the signal gun was fred, when
the head of Sherman's army began its
march down Pennsylvania Avenue.
In this review of Sherman'S army there
was no great desire on the part of the
officers or men to make an attempt at
military display. However, we moved as
if by machinery, with lines well dressed,
but the long, swinging step of those ac-
customed to long journeys was wholly
maintained, which fact was made the sub
ject of much discussion by military crit
les.
Never before was such scene wit
aessed On the American continent. The
whole length of Pennsylvania Avenue, ex-
tending about one mile, was dense mass
of living, surging humanity.
Suspended over our heads were all sorts
of notices and banners. We felt proud
as we read here and there, ''All honor to
Sherman and his noble men, which
brought up feelings of sadness, as we
thought of comrades who were peacefully
sleeping in Southern graves, and wished
they could be with us to behold this Joyful
day. Oh, that our noble and beloved
martyr, President Lincoln, might have
been spared to see his soldier boys come
marching home.
BuIlet-riddled battle-hags, ragged and
tattered from long exposure, brought
forth loud and prolonged cheering from the
thousands on either side. Thus we moved
on, and the greatest day of our long ser
vice passed into history.
THE GRAND REVIEW
OF this notable event our noble Sherman
speaks as follows:
"PunctualIy at 0 a. m. the signal gun
was fred, when, accompanied by Gen.
Howard and my staff, | rode slowly down
Pennsylvania Avenue, the crowds of men,
women and children almost obstructing
the way. We were closely followed by
Gen. Logan and the head of the Fifteenth
Corps.
when / reached the Treasury Building
and looked back, the sight was simply
magnificent. The column was compact,
and the giittering guns looked like a solid
wall of steel moving with the order Of Il
pendulum.
I'VE passed the Treasury Building, in
front of which was an immense throng of
people, for whom extensive stands had
been prepared ON each side of the Avenue.
''As L neared the brick house opposite
the lower corner of Lafayette Square,
some one asked me to notice Mr.. Seward,
who, still feeble and bandaged for his
wounds, had been removed there that he
might behold the troops l moved in that
direction and took off my hat to Mr.
Seward. He recognized the salute, and
returned it, and then we rode on past the
President, saluting with our swords
''AlI on his stand arose and acknowl-
edged the salute. Then turning into the
gate OF the Presidential grounds, we left
our horses with orderlies, and went upon
the stand, where | found Mrs. Sherman
and son. Passing them | shook hands
with President Johnson, Gen. Grant, and
each member of the Cabinet. l then took
my post on the left of the President, and
for seven hours stood, while the army
passed in the order of the Fifteenth, Seven
1T was in my judgment the most mag
nihcent army in existence; 6J, 900 men who
had just completed q march of nearly O.
900 miles in hostile country, and who
realized that they were being scrutinized
by thousands of their feliow-cOuntryme
The steadiness and frmness of the tread
the careful dress on the guides, the uni
form intervals between the companies
and the 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 a mob. But the world then and there
saw and recognized the fact that it was an
army in the truest sense, well organized,
well commanded and disciplined; and there
was no wonder that it had swept through
the South like 4 tornado.
For seven long hours the steady tread
Of the Army of the West reSounded along
Pennsylvania Avenue. The meantime not
soul of that vast crowd of spectators left
his or her place, and when the rear of the
column had passed by thousands of the
spectators still fingered near to express
their sense of confidence in the strength
of Government which could claim such
an army"
After the review we went into camp on
the Tennallytown road, three miles north
west of the city, where we remained until
June 8.
TIE CAPITAL CITY.
After getting well settled in camp, we
were given permission to visit the city !;
but what a contrast we found. The
countless thousands who were in the city
on the day Of the grand review were gone
and stiffness reigned everywhere, except
the hurried steps OF pedestrians who, like
ourselves, were taking in the sights OF our
Nations Capital.
We visited the public buildings, includ-
ing the Capitol. Patent Office, the Treas
ury, and Smithsonian Institution. Every
where long folds Of drapery met our eyes,
which impressed upon us the severe loss
our country had sustained in the death of
Lincoln.
We gazed in silent admiration upon the
Washington family relics. Here was
WashinGtOn's Bible ard camp chest his
hat, coat, pants and boots, and the bed
upon which he died. There was the sad
die upon which he had ridden when Com
mander-in-Chief of the Army; the holsters,
pistols, sword, and also the tea set, drap-
cry and furniture of the Washington
family.
There was also the table upon which the
Declaration of Independence was written.
Franllin's printing press claimed a con-
spicuouS place, and yonder the reclining
figure in bronze of celebrated Indian
Chief: and many other things which |
would tire my readers to enumeratc
We also visited Ford's Theater, and
saw the box where sat our beloved Presi-
dent when the assassin stealthily crept
upon him and delivered a shot that
plunged our country into the dapneSt aor-