The Washington herald., 1914-04-22
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
April r. lS6-eu Gen. Grant Reviewed Second Corps Of the Army
Of the Potomac which Embraced More Than $4,000 Men, Was
Commanded BY Maj Gen. Winfield HaneokRsgnent, that Won
Distinction e..
Written Expressly for The Herald.

Fifty years ago today Lieut.. Gen
Grant reviewed the Second Corps OF
the Army of the Potomac, which en-
braced more than 10000 men and was
commanded by Maj. Gen. Winfield s.
Hancock.
The review of the Second Corps
formed a fitting finale of Grants max
ing his official acquaintance with tht
Amy of the Potomac. He had re-
viewed the Sixth Corps on April Is.
and the Fifth on April 81. Although
not fond Of reviews, Grant believed
this the best method of inspecting
troops he had never seen until his
arrival at the camps of the Army OF
the Potomac, on March 10.
In the interval of Grants taking
command at the front, on March "a.
and the review of the Second Corps
a process of change had been going
on in the army. The reorganization
of the old corps formations had re-
duced the number of corps from five
to three. The old First and Third
Corps had gone out of existence, hav-
ing been merged with the other three
Divisions, brigades, and regiments had
been rearranged-
This change had been undertaken
because of the depleted condition Of
many OF the commands. The various
regiments in the army were being filled
with recruits. The strength of each
regiment as filed was represented by
about 20 per cent veterans and 80
per cent recruits.
Since the reorganization of the army
on March % the Second Corps had EN-
braced more men than either of the
other two. The Third and Fourth Di-
visions of the old Third Corps had been
combined with the original two divi-
sions Of the Second Corps, making an
organization which, when fully re-
cruited and ready for the field, was
to number 43,O35 men.
Each of the first three divisions OF
the Second Corps was larger than
whole army corps had been at the be-
ginning of the war, and the Fourth,
the smallest, numbered 1858 men,
which in the earlier days of the re-
public would have been considered an
army in numbers.
The four division commanders under /
the new organization were Brig. Gen.
Francis c. Barlow. who had distin-
RuiShed himself in the first days fight I
ing at Gettysburg and was wounded
there when leading a brigade OF the
Eleventh Corps; Brig. Gen. John Glib
bon. who had led a division of the .
Second Corps at Gettysburg and had
commanded the COrns after Hancock .
was wounded; Mai. Gen. David B. Bir-
Corps in the great battle. and Brig.
Gen. GershOm Mott, who led brigade
OF he Second Corps at ChancellOrs-
y lie and was severely wounded there.
March in Bright Sunlight.
The Second Corps was favored by the
v ea ther on the day of its review.
long period OF storm had passed. The
cav was bright and sunny. the ground
a N-aG
Of Early blossoms and general fra
GRANGE OF spring in the air.
The corps not Vet having attained its
fIlI stIcnsth, and many men being on
GGty. about 800 turned out for the re-
NieW.
The soldiers shouldcred their arms that
morning with the vivacity of schOolboys
Ia for a spring holiday. They showed
Ia their bearing that they were among
-he nIest ami most Intelligent troops ever
Eh IhrI ed for a review. Furthermore. they
" re eager TO see their new commander,
0l whom they had heard much.
The review was held on a gently roll
ng plain near the headquarters of the
Second Corps. about two miles from
Brandy Station. The ground was ad-
nirably adapted to such a review, as the
.ntire mass of troops could be seen at I
single sweep of the eye from the ele- &
.ated position chosen for the reviewing 7
,hicers. (
In the early forenoon the corps formed Q
n a great mass described as lin divi- 8
ion lines of battaliOns." with the COlors u
2 'front.' the artillery on the right of the I
first Division. and the Third Division v
4 Cavalry. numbering about 1900 men. =
n the right Of the artillery. The trans
'Ortation of the corps. numbering more o
han loo wagons and ambulances, all t
With their teams in the best condition, t.
.as displayed in an adjacent field. il
The mere presence OF such great force I
nth its equipments of war. standing h
nmObilc in the open country, was in IT. L
elf deeply impressive.
In Magnificent Array. :.
The troops were displayed in mag d
ifcent array" wrote a correspondent Il
no witnessed the review, forming s
Iur imposing lines Of battle. when Lieut q