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as it was made。 My brother； Senator Sherman； who was Mr。 Stanton's neighbor； always insisted that Mr。 Stanton had been frightened by the intended assassination of himself； and had become embittered thereby。 At all events； I found strong military guards around his house； as well as all the houses occupied by the cabinet and by the principal officers of Government； and a sense of insecurity pervaded Washington； for which no reason existed。
On the 19th I received a copy of War Department Special Order No。 239； Adjutant…General's office； of May 18th； ordering a grand review； by the President and cabinet； of all the armies then near Washington； General Meade's to occur on Tuesday； May 23d； mine on Wednesday； the 24th； and on the 20th I made the necessary orders for my part。 Meantime I had also arranged （with General Grant's approval） to remove after the review； my armies from the south side of the Potomac to the north； both for convenience and because our men had found that the grounds assigned them had been used so long for camps that they were foul and unfit。
By invitation I was on the reviewing…stand； and witnessed the review of the Army of the Potomac （on the 23d）； commanded by General Meade in person。 The day was beautiful； and the pageant was superb。 Washington was full of strangers； who filled the streets in holiday…dress； and every house was decorated with flags。 The army marched by divisions in close column around the Capitol； down Pennsylvania Avenue； past the President and cabinet； who occupied a large stand prepared for the occasion； directly in front of the White House。
I had telegraphed to Lancaster for Mrs。 Sherman； who arrived that day； accompanied by her father； the Hon。 Thomas Ewing； and my son Tom； then eight years old。
During the afternoon and night of the 23d； the Fifteenth； Seven… teenth； and Twentieth Corps； crossed Long Bridge； bivouacked in the streets about the Capitol； and the Fourteenth Corps closed up to the bridge。 The morning of the 24th was extremely beautiful； and the ground was in splendid order for our review。 The streets were filled with people to see the pageant； armed with bouquets of flowers for their favorite regiments or heroes； and every thing was propitious。 Punctually at 9 A。M。 the signal…gun was fired； when in person； attended by General Howard and all my staff； I rode slowly down Pennsylvania Avenue； the crowds of men； women； and children； densely lining the sidewalks； and almost obstructing the way。 We were followed close by General Logan and the head of the Fifteenth Corps。 When I reached the Treasury…building； and looked back； the sight was simply magnificent。 The column was compact； and the glittering muskets looked like a solid mass of steel； moving with the regularity of a pendulum。 We passed the Treasury building； in front of which and of the White House was an immense throng of people； for whom extensive stands had been prepared on both sides of the avenue。 As I neared the brick…house opposite the lower corner of Lafayette Square； some one asked me to notice Mr。 Seward； who； still feeble and bandaged for his wounds； had been removed there that he might behold the troops。 I moved in that direction and took off my hat to Mr。 Seward； who sat at an upper window。 He recognized the salute； returned it； and then we rode on steadily past the President； saluting with our swords。 All on his stand arose and acknowledged the salute。 Then； turning into the gate of the presidential grounds； we left our horses with orderlies； and went upon the stand； where I found Mrs。 Sherman； with her father and son。 Passing them； I shook hands with the President； General Grant； and each member of the cabinet。 As I approached Mr。 Stanton； he offered me his hand； but I declined it publicly； and the fact was universally noticed。 I then took my post on the left of the President； and for six hours and a half stood； while the army passed in the order of the Fifteenth； Seventeenth； Twentieth； and Fourteenth Corps。 It was； in my judgment； the most magnificent army in existencesixty…five thousand men； in splendid physique； who had just completed a march of nearly two thousand miles in a hostile country； in good drill； and who realized that they were being closely scrutinized by thousands of their fellow…countrymen and by foreigners。 Division after division passed； each commander of an army corps or division coming on the stand during the passage of his command； to be presented to the President； cabinet； and spectators。 The steadiness and firmness of the tread； the careful dress on the guides； the uniform intervals between the companies； all eyes directly to the front； and the tattered and bullet…riden flags； festooned with flowers； all attracted universal notice。 Many good people； up to that time； had looked upon our Western army as a sort of mob； but the world then saw； and recognized the fact； that it was an army in the proper sense； well organized； well commanded and disciplined； and there was no wonder that it had swept through the South like a tornado。 For six hours and a half that strong tread of the Army of the West resounded along Pennsylvania Avenue； not a soul of that vast crowd of spectators left his place； and； when the rear of the column had passed by； thousands of the spectators still lingered to express their sense of confidence in the strength of a Government which could claim such an army。
Some little scenes enlivened the day； and called for the laughter and cheers of the crowd。 Each division was followed by six ambulances； as a representative of its baggage…train。 Some of the division commanders had added； by way of variety； goats； milch… cows； and pack…mules； whose loads consisted of game…cocks； poultry； hams； etc。； and some of them had the families of freed slaves along； with the women leading their children。 Each division was preceded by its corps of black pioneers； armed with picks and spades。 These marched abreast in double ranks； keeping perfect dress and step； and added much to the interest of the occasion。 On the whole； the grand review was a splendid success； and was a fitting conclusion to the campaign and the war。
I will now conclude by a copy of my general orders taking leave of the army； which ended my connection with the war； though I afterward visited and took a more formal leave of the officers and men on July 4； 1865； at Louisville； Kentucky：
＇SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS NO。 76＇
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI； IN THE FIELD； WASHINGTON； D。C。 May 30； 1865
The general commanding announces to the Armies of the Tennessee and Georgia that the time has come for us to part。 Our work is done； and armed enemies no longer defy us。 Some of you will go to your homes； and others will be retained in military service till further orders。
And now that we are all about to separate； to mingle with the civil world； it becomes a pleasing duty to recall to mind the situation of national affairs when； but little more than a year ago； we were gathered about the cliffs of Lookout Mountain； and all the future was wrapped in doubt and uncertainty。
Three armies had come together from distant fields； with separate histories； yet bound