The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-05-22
When the Boys in Blue Came
Home in 1865

WHEN our boys come home and pass
beneath the arches and over the
streets of the city for their last re-
view, there will be varying emotions
that will stir the breasts of those gath
cred to witness the memorial scene,
There will be many who will react only
to the historical significance of the
event and view it with the exaltation
of victory-the homecoming of the
heroes of the battles. There will be
women whose tears will spring from
long pent springs of joy as they find
their loved ones, safe and sound
among the marching files. There will
be sad, dry eyes, straining for the
sight of familiar figures that will not
be there. And here and there among
the welcoming crowds-one, perhaps
among hundred-there may be seen
some lonely veteran of the Civil war,
bent and gray, still proudly wearing
his faded blue uniform, for whom the
pageant will roll back the scroll of
history to the day when he, with two
hundred thousand of the veterans OF
Sherman's and Meade's commands
of the Grand Army of the Republic,
marched down Pennsylvania avenue
in Washington in the last grand re-
view of the Unions conquering army.
That was in May, 1865. Much has
been forgotten in the 81 years that
have passed since then and memories
of that "grand review" long ago be-
came mere echoes in the corridors of
time. The great majority of those
who participated in that momentous
parade have long since passed to an
other last review. 1t may be a fitting
and timely complement, therefore, to
the event in which the present gener-
alton of Americas victorious soldiers
are to participate, to retouch the faded
colors of that long forgotten picture
of the past which once sent its thrill
to every home and freside of the re-
united nation.
To give some idea of the magnitude
of the Union armies of that da
may be stated that in April, 1865,
more than million men were in the
service of the United Safes. A still
larger number had been enrolled and
discharged. To these may be added |
roll of names which at that time |
numbered more than two hundred |
and fifty thousand-the grand army of
the dead. Altogether, throughout the
Civil war, 2,859,132 men had been
called to military service.
To celebrate the closing of the var
and to afford the people an oppor-
tunity to look upon the heroes who
had fought the battles in defense of
the Union, it was suggested by Ed
win M. Stanton, secretary of war,
that the armies of Sherman and Meade
which were then stationed nearest
to the capitol, should be formally re-
viewed in the city of Washington be-
fore their final discharge from service
and return to their homes. The Army
If the Potomac, the Army of Tennes-
see and the Army of Georgia, under
orders issued by General Grant, {
marched to the vicinity of the city pre-
oaratory to entering the city for the
-eview which took place May % and 4
Nay "a, 1865.
Washington was brilliantly decor s
tied for the occasion, both public and 6
private buildings floating flags and s
uniting, and at all prominent points c
here were arches and floral embel- g
ishments of various designs. Four +
lands were erected in front of the I
White House, which were DECORATED S