Grand Review Literature

[Benedict]

Dear ACers,

I wondered if there is any literature on the 1865 Grand Review in Washington and so far only found The Grand Review: The Civil War Continues to Shape America. Are there any other books/articles about this topic out there? Any information regarding this topic is greatly appreciated!

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Grand Review Literature

Benedict-

There is a short entry about the Grand Review in Nothing But Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, 1861-1865 by Woodworth (2008) that concentrates on the Western armies reception at the Review, pp. 638-641. Additonally, Chapter 24 of The Memoirs of William T. Sherman mentions Sherman's participation and observations of the review, pp. 865-871. Additionally I include here two letters from a semi-worthless book (from an academic sense) called Iowa Valor by Steve Meyer.

Samuel Mahon, 7th Iowa Infantry (pp. 474-475)
"Near Washington D.C. May 26 '65
I have not written home since arriving at the Capital from the fact of my not having the time to spare[.] Our Corps reached Alexandria and went into Camp on the 20th[,] 10 miles from Washington leaving us only three days to prepare for the grand review after coming off a campaign[.] So you can imagine how much time we had for writing[.] Clothing had to be drawn for the men[,] blacking and brushes procured[,] in fact everything to transform the rugged travel stained battalions into clean and respectable Sunday soldiers[.] it rained too most of the time rendering the renovation more difficult. but despite the shortness of the time and unfavorableness of the weather the review was a splendid success[.] the Army of the Potomac was reviewed on the 23rd and Sherman's on the 24th[.] the Reveille Bugles awakened the Army into activity and at day break the column was rapidly crossing the long bridge into the City and massing in heavy columns east of the Capitol. at 9 O' clock precisely a signal gun was fired and the head of the 15th Army Corps in the advance of the Army wheels into Pennsylvania Avenue and began its grand march[.] We were in close column and looking up the long Avenue[;] for a mile you could see as it were a moving wall of bright blue tipped with glittering steell[.] every man keeping in step the whole looking like on connected living body. the side walks for two miles were crowded with a dense mass of humanity excited and exultant[.] the applause of the crowd would occasionally find vent in cheers as some riddled and torn flag would be born past them[.] the banner of the old 7th attracted considerable attention and "what Regt is that" was asked a hundred times during the march. then the waving of hands of the fair ones was tantalizing for we could not turn our heads to look at them. Most the Genl Officers had wreaths thrown over their horses[.] Genls Sherman and Logan were literally covered with them. even your humble servant as he moved in the grand Ovation on his prancing steel[?] received the affectionate regards of some damsel in the shape of a Bouquet which she tied to his Sabre. I only hope she was young and good looking having no means of judging from personnel observation as it was received through the Medium of a "small boy" with "compliments"[.] It is estimated that 200,000 people were present to see the review[.] Many people from the west came in and wonderful to relate it was the conviction that we eclipsed the Army of the Potomac even on the review...but the discipline a long boasted quality of the A of the P was better the marching better and the general appearance of the man better. physically our men looked larger tougher and sinewy[.] the qualities that go to make a soldier[.] then we marched with heads straight to the front....We were there to be seen and not to see and every man felt it."

From Frank Malcolm, 7th Iowa Co. D, same book, pg. 476.

"Camp near Washington D. C., may 25th'65
....We broke camp on the 23rd and moved up near Washington & Bivouacked for the night. On the morning of the 24th at Daylight the Army was in motion as follows: 1st the 25th Corps; then the 17th, 20th & 14th. Crossed Long Bridge passed through the principle streets of the city & then down Pennsylvania Avinue past the Presidents Mansion, the Treasury Building & Capitoal. I had the pleasure of seeing all the big men of the day...
Washington is a beautiful place. It looks more like a Northern city than any that I hav sen since I left home. The Crowd was the largest I ever saw at one time in my life. Do wish you could have been present....
I am told by those who witnessed both reviews that Shermans Army marched better and was a much finer looking set of men than the Army of the Potomac. We had all of us Drawn new Clothing & fixed up a little, and I flatter myself that our sunburnt hands & faces did not make an unfavorable comparison with the white cotton Gloves and pale faces of the Army of the James. The difference in the two armies is this: they have remained in camp & Lived well; and now they are not willing to admit that we are soldiers - call us Sherman's Greasers, Slouch Hats, &c, & say they ended the war - they took Richmond - when evry sane man knows that if Sherman had not made his Campaign in the Carolinas that Richmond never would have fallen. It was Sherman and Sheridan that did the work, with Genl. Grant to Advise them...."

I'll continue to look for any other references to the Grand Review and pass them along as I find them.

[GermanDraftee]

Re: Grand Review Literature

Guten Tag, mein Herr,

I found this old New York Times article on the web: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstrac...B366838E679FDE

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain also included some reflections on the event in his memoirs. Accounts of the Grand Review would be in The Passing of the Armies: An Account of the Final Campaign of the Army of the Potomac, Based upon Personal Reminiscences of the Fifth Army Corps I would look for the edition that has a Foreword by McPherson. The online version of the book is available on Questia: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=20953501

Some quotes from Chamberlain regarding the parade are also posted on this web page, from a site dedicated to JLC: http://www.joshua.lurker00.com/jlcgrev.htm

These are the accounts I am aware of, other than the book you mentioned (and which I intend to read soon). I hope this helps.

[Benedict]

Re: Grand Review Literature

Vielen Dank, meine Herren.

[Benedict]

Re: Grand Review Literature

I just found these articles here:

http://www.33wis.com/articles/pdf/Big%20Parade%20-%20Grand%20Review.pdf

http://www.33wis.com/articles/pdf/Grand%20Review2.pdf

[GermanDraftee]

Re: Grand Review Literature

Great links Benedict. Until a couple weeks ago, I had the link to the 33rd WI website bookmarked. That computer crashed and Ive been rebuilding my email and website lists ever since then. You saved me several steps while reminding me of some great reading material. Thank you!

(BTW- While reading the order of the units in the parade, I was reminded of two things: 1) why I hate following a cavalry unit and 2)The mess in the streets of West Allis-a Milwaukee suburb- after their "Western Days" parades.):D

[NYCivilWar]

Re: Grand Review Literature

The last chapter in James Royster's The Destructive War details the Grand Review, mainly focusing on Sherman's army.