Evening star., 1936-09-20
By John Clagen Proctor.

OV JUHV AkUSCkt OC'Os
TINE presence here Of the Grand
Army of the Republic this
week and the historic review
4 on Wednesday, September %,
Of a few of the remaining soldiers OF
the once powerful Union Army will,
no doubt, carry the minds Of those
who participate in this encampment,
and the older residents of Washing
ton, back to that greatest of all grand
reviews, which took place here on
May % and "a, 1865, II years ago.
Naturally, the march will not be so
long as the one that took place at the
close of the Civil War, for the step
Of the veterans of today is not so spry
and elastic as it was when they had
just finished up the four long years
of the greatest of American wars,
long, long ago. Indeed, few of these
men can possibly be under 80 years
of age, and many of them even older,
and Just how many of them will
actually march the short distance
planned is uncertain, and the
chances are that most Of them will
avail themselves of the opportunity
Of riding in automobiles.
An idea of the physical condition
Of the members of this once numerous
body may be had when it is known
that within the Department OF the
Potomac, of which John M. Kline Is
commander, and which takes in the
District OF Columbia, there are but IA
remaining members, of which but 3
are said to be able to get out OF doors
There are, however, equally as many
Union survivors of the Civil War liv-
ing in washington who are not now
identified with the Grand Army OF
the Republic, which was organized
April 6, 1866, though all, or nearly all,
are former members. But, regardless
of present affiliations, all veterans
will be keenly interested in the con-
vention, and in what will quite likely
be the last parade of the Grand Army
along Pennsylvania avenue, and, in
cidentally, those who march will find
O much smoother and better roadway
to walk upon than did the boys who
marched along this notable thorough
fare in 1865.
MAY % and "a, 1865, will never
N'A be forgotten as an epoch in the
history of the Republic of the United
States of America, when the veteran
armies of the Union, in returning to
their homes, particularly in the North
and West, were so routed that
they entered Washington and were
marched along Pennsylvania avenue,
to be reviewed from a stand in front
Of the White Houese by Andrew john
son, President of the United States;
Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton,
Lieut.. Gen. U. S. Grant, Gen. Han
cock, other generals who had led
them to victory and distinguished
citizens. Elsewhere along the Ave-
nue. many other stands were erected
by the Government and private par
ties to accommodate the multitude
OF people who wished to see these
veterans before they were disbanded
and again entered peaceful pursuits.
To appreciate what this grand re-
view really meant to a heartsick but
grateful people Of a great Nation,
one must be at least somewhat famil-
lar with the Civil War, though the
casualties sustained should, in them
selves, convey an idea of the intense
anxiety and grief through which the
people of the country must have gone
during the four long years of bitter
civil strife, and the joyous end Of
which they were now celebrating.
The casualties in the Federal Army
numbered 359,528; 110,072 men were
killed in action or died of wounds
and 249, ,458 died from disease, ac-
cident or other causes. The Con-
federate loss in killed and wounded
during the war was about $4,000
men; that from disease, accident and
other causes probably amounting to
$4,000.
Upward OF 100000 men in all
marched in the two days OF the re-
view.
The first day, the Army of the
Potomac, of about 10000 men, in a
dense column which filled the wide
Avenue from curb to curb, marched
by from early morn to late at night.
At its head rode Gen. George Gordon
Meade, who was in every battle but
two fought by the Army Of the Poto-
mac and who as commander of the
Army had checked, at Gettysburg,
Gen. Lees invasion Of Pennsylvania.
SHERIDAN, the whirlwind of battle,
was missing from the glorious
Cavalry Corps, which he had awak-
ened to Its strength, and fashioned
IN the forge Of war into the might
lest mounted force that ever drew
saber. He had been rushed of to
the Rio Grande, to throttle an exotic
empire planted in Mexico by Napo-
leon III. Sheridan was well spared.
however, for ere long the Emperor
was taken out and shot.
In Sheridan's stead rode Gen. Wes-
ley Merritt In front of the Cavalry.
Gen. George A. Custer was also In
the first days parade and gave an
example Of his wonderful horseman-
ship.
There are probably quite q number
Of people In Washington who still
remember this notable event, for the
public school children Of the city not
only took part In the exercises on
the sidelines, but had the thrill of
their lives in seeing Gen. Custer ride
his horse in cowboy fashion. The
children were in the place assigned
them on the northern portico of the
Capitol and all down the grassy slope
Of the part In front, extending to the
line Of march.
These children, who were to par
ticipate in the grafton, composed
an immense chorus, led by their in
structor, Joseph H. Daniel.
"On the north end Of the Capitol"
according to an account by ]. Or
mond Wilson, "the scholars of the
intermediate and grammar schools
took their places, the boys on the
hill and the girls on the Capitol steps.