Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-08

~ 20 more than a third of a century now
since those two memorable days IN May
1861 when the victorious armies OF TIE
+on,ac of Tennessee and of Georsla-lhe
fighting forces of the two great generals
Grant and Sherman-swung up hlstoiio
PENNSYLVANIA avenue from the Capltoi 10
the White House and passed In grano re-
view before the President OF the Unite"
States. Andrew Johnson had Out ialeiS
succeeded the martyred Lincoln "heh INC
tread of the triumphant troops was hearo
throughout the capital city. Mr.. Johnson
surrounded by the high officials or the gov
eminent, by valiant officers of the army ana
navy by the war governors OF many states
the foreign ENJOYS to this country anu
other distinguished guests without NUMBER
viewed the passing pageant with intense
interest and, on the part of the Americans
feelings of pulsing patriotism anu ,,, sl"o "
which the world has never witnessed hao
come to a satisfactory end
There are not few veterans In the
marching hosts now in the city VINO VlVldly
remember their participation In that clos
ing military vancouver of the war. Ihey
can hardly imagine that the beautiful
Washington of today is the same city
through which they passed just alter the
close of the civil strife. Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. now a broad expanse of smooth as
phalt dII not present in Go, with its prlml-
tive roadway, the marching advantages
that now exist. But then the grizzled vete-
rams of today were young and hardy. They
had tramped over rough and tangled coun-
try had climbed mountains and swept
through valleys in their ever onward
march. To them the Pennsylvania avenue
of the sixties a beautiful thoroughfare
Today Washington is as a magical city to
those who visiting it for the first time
since the grand review.
Ten years ago, on the occasion of the first
encampment of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public held in tliS city, there were hundreds
of men in line who were making their sec
ond historic march up the avenue, following
the route of so many notable national dis
plays. Some of these are here today and
are therefore for the third time marching to
the rhythm of military music in the capital
of the nation which they SO CALAMITY de-
Tended.
The review Of the troops In 1865 was the
result Of a suggestion made to the Presi-
dent by the great War Secretary, Edwin NJ.
Stanton. There was a double purpose in
the idea of a great pageant here at the
home Of the federal government. In the
first place 1t was desired to give to all the
soldiers possible glimpse Of the capital
city Of their government; and, secondly, to
give a thankful people an opportunity of
paying tribute to its citizen soldiery. The
people be 1t said to their credit grasped
the opportunity with alacrity. They came
mated that fully $4,000 spectators from
other cities were here to witness the march
ing of the troops and to participate in the
ovation which marked the entire stay of
the men in tattered blue within Washing
tons gates.
1t was a matter Of some regret to the
officials of the government, as we'll as to
the people, that all the army could not be
brought to Washington for the mighty
movement. But only The Army of the Poto-
mac, the Army of Tennessee and the Army
of Georgia were in easy marching distance
of the capital, and SO the orders by the
President were confined to the members Of
these commands. The Army of the Poto-
mac was then under the personal command
of Meade, while Sherman was still actively
in command of the Tennessee and Georgia
forces. Had the transportation facilities
of the country at that time been what they
are today 1t is more than probable that
many additional armies and corps would
have been brought here and that fully half
a million men would have been in the line.