140 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
THE GRAND REVIEW.
It was indeed a rare opportunity for a
boy of fifteen to visit
Washington and witness the grand review
of the victorious
Union armies in May, 1865. Some idea of
what this implied
may be gathered from a communication
describing the event,
written by Mr. Randall's father, Rev. D.
A. Randall, and pub-
lished in a Cincinnati paper. As already
stated the two were
companions on this occasion and seated
side by side opposite
the reviewing stand distinctly saw the
great leaders civil and
military as well as the victorious
troops of the long procession
that marched by. Rev. Randall's
description is in part as follows:
"Tuesday and Wednesday of this week
were proud days for the
American Republic. Never before in the
history of the country has there
been such an exhibition-seldom in the history of the world. It was
worth a long pilgrimage to stand on
Arlington Heights, and see the al-
most endless columns of our victorious
troops, as from their numerous
encampments, by regiments, brigades,
divisions and corps, they came down
from the hills, emerged from the
valleys, and tramped to the cadence of
soul-inspiring music across the long
bridge of the Potomac. Most of
them had crossed that bridge on their
way out to the battlefields of the
South. Then they went with anxious
hearts. A dark cloud hung over
the land-the fate of the country seemed
to hang in a vibrating scale,
and even bold hearts were anxious and
trembled for the result. Now this
great question had been settled. The
enemies of our country had been
discomfited, their armed legions beaten
and scattered, their leaders cap-
tive and in irons. The dark cloud had
lifted upward; through its rent
folds was streaming the sunlight of
peace and prosperity, and over it
hung the golden bow of hope.
* *
*
"After a short pause there was a
bustle in the crowd, and an eager
straining of eyes. 'There comes Sherman,
there comes Sherman,' and
sure enough the hero who penetrated the
shell of the hollow Confederacy,
and marched his victorious army through
its very centre stood before us.
With firm and dignified step, amid the
cheers of the multitude he ascended
to the platform. 'There,' said my friend
again, 'that large, noble looking
man is Major General Hancock, and that
one with a thin, sunburnt face,
and soft slouched hat is Major General
Hunter.'-Major General badges
were thick as stars in a clear night.
Soon I had a list of about twenty
and got tired of keeping the account.
"Again there was a movement in the
crowd. A carriage stopped be-
fore the platform. There's President
Johnson, there is Secretary Stanton,