This is a very pleasant day, for which we are all thankful.
We left for Washington City at 8 o'clock, and crossing the Potomac river over
Long Bridge, marched up to the south side of the capitol. Our column was formed
on the east side of the capitol, and at 9 o'clock commenced to move forward
past the reviewing stand. The Army of the Tennessee was in the advance, with
the Army of Georgia following. General Sherman was riding at the head of his
army and he passed down the avenue amidst loud cheering.
The following officers were in command of the different
departments: Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard was in command of the Army of the
Tennessee, Maj. Gen. John A. Logan commanding the Fifteenth Corps, and Maj.
Gen. Frank P. Blair commanding the Seventeenth Corps; the Army of Georgia was
in command of Maj. Gen. Slocum, with Maj. Gen. J. C. Davis commanding the
Fourteenth Corps, and Maj. Gen. Mower commanding the Twentieth Corps.
The reviewing stand was built on the south side of the
avenue, and the army was reviewed by the president of the United States and
Lieutenant-General Grant, together with members of the president's cabinet.
There were about one hundred thousand spectators along the avenue, and there
was great cheering while the army was passing. At times there was hearty laughter,
when some of Sherman's “bummers” would fall in behind their regiments,
displaying some of the articles, as trophies, which they had taken when
marching through Georgia and the Carolinas.
We marched out across Rock creek about four miles northwest
of the city and went into camp. Our knapsacks were brought around by the supply
train.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 276
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