TO THE LIMITS OF THE
SOUL'S IDEAL:
THE GRAND REVIEW, MAY 23,
1865
The Army of the Potomac finally arrived in
the Washington area on May 12, 1865. The Fifth Corps was assigned a
permanent camp on Arlington Heights, near the former mansion of
Robert E. Lee. The next several days were spent preparing for a final
great review of the armies, plus dealing with the many details and
paperwork needed to muster out and transport hundreds of thousands of
men. Chamberlain received a most welcome visitor during this time:
his father-in-law, the Rev. George Adams, who gave him
much-longed-for news of Fannie and the children back in
Maine.
On the evening of May 22, a large farewell
party was held in the Fifth Corps' First Division camp, to honor
General Griffin. Four huge hospital tents had been put together, to
accommodate Division officers and their invited guests. For the
occasion, Chamberlain had designed, and Tiffany's in New York had
created, a pin in enameled gold of a red Maltese cross against a
white background--a miniature replica of the Division's flag. The
cross was outlined in diamonds, with a center diamond costing about
$1000. Chamberlain was chosen by his fellow officers to make the
presentation speech, and he pinned the badge to his commander's
uniform. Griffin was quite overcome by the honor paid, and simply
bowed his thanks to the assemblage.
Not much sleep was had by anyone that night.
The Fifth Corps was awakened at 2:00am on May 23, 1865, to get across
Long Bridge from Arlington Heights, to be in Washington at 4:00 am.
They had to wait several hours for the review to begin for them (they
were proceeded by the Ninth Corps, with a division of the Nineteenth;
the cavalry; and some smaller, specialized units. The Second Corps
would then follow the Fifth Corps, bringing up the rear). Finally, at
9:00 am, the signal gun sounded to begin this, the Last Review of the
Army of the Potomac.
"In my command we were well
aware of quite an anxiety among officers and men of the army
generally to look their very best, and more, too, on this occasion;
for new uniforms, sashes, epaulettes, saddle housings and other gay
trappings almost disguised some of our hardiest veterans...I hesitate
to admit that in the revulsion from this on the part of the officers
and men of my division, there might be a scornful pride more sinful
than that of vanity...We could not pretend to be better,--proud of
our humility...The men brought themselves up to regulation field
inspection...their dress and accoutrements clean and bright; but all
of every-day identity..for officers no useless trappings, rider or
horse; plain, open saddle, with folded gray army blanket beneath;
light, open bridle with simple curb and snaffle-rein; service
uniform,--shoulder-strap, belts, scabbards, boots and spurs of the
plainest,--no sashes, no epaulettes..."(40)
"The Proffered Wreath", by Don
Stivers.
Macrophoto of limited-edition
art print, taken by Cheryl
Pula.
This illustrates an incident
that happened to Chamberlain during the Grand Review, described
below:
"Now a girlish form, robed white
as her spirit, presses close; modest, yet resolute, eyes fixed on her
purpose. She reaches up towards me a wreath of rare flowers,
close-braided, fit for viking's arm-ring, or victor's crown. How
could I take it? Sword at the "carry" and left hand tasked, trying to
curb my excited horse...He had been thrice shot down under me; he had
seen the great surrender. But this unaccustomed vision--he had never
seen a woman coming so near before,--moved him strangely. Was this
the soft death-angel--did he think?--calling us again, as in other
days? For as often as she lifted the garland to the level of my hand,
he sprang clear from earth: heavenwards, doubtless--but was not
heaven nearer just then? I managed to bring down his fore-feet close
beside her, and dropped my sword-point almost to her feet, with a bow
so low I could have touched her cheek. Was it the garland's breath or
hers that floated to my lips? My horse trembled. I might have solved
the mystery, could I have trusted him. But he would not trust
me....All this passed like a flash in act; but it was not quite so
brief in effect. From that time my horse was shy of girls--sharp eyes
out for soft eyes--I dare say, for his master's peace and
safety!"(41)
I can well imagine Chamberlain smiling to
himself, as he wrote that...
When Chamberlain came opposite the reviewing
stand--where the new President, Andrew Johnson, his cabinet,
ambassadors and other dignitaries were situated--he was invited to
dismount and watch the review--which he did. As he watched, he saw in
his mind's eye not only the living, but the dead.
Here came the First Division, Fifth Corps,
beginning with the Third Brigade:
"For me, while this division
was passing, no other thing could lure my eyes away...These were my
men; and those who followed were familiar and dear. They belonged to
me, and I to them by bonds birth cannot create nor death sever. More
were passing here than the personages on the stand could see. But to
me so seeing, what a review--how great, how far, how near! It was as
the morning of the resurrection."(42)
"These are of the men I stood
with at Antietam, and Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville and
Gettysburg. Of that regiment--the 20th Maine--a third were left on
the slopes of Round Top, and a third again in the Wilderness, at
Spotsylvania, the North Anna, Cold Harbor and the Chickahominy;
to-day mingling its ranks the remnants of the noble 2nd and 1st
Sharpshooters. Beside it still, the 118th Pennsylvania...More
Pennsylvania veterans yet; the storied 83rd and 91st, and brilliant
155th Zouave, and the shadow of the stalwart 91st, gone, and 21st
Cavalry passed on. With these the 1st and 16th Michigan...the
keen-eyed 1st and 2nd Sharpshooters and proud relics of the 4th, left
from the Wheat-field of Gettysburg...the trusted, sorely-tried 32nd
Massachusetts, with unfaltering spirit and ranks made good from the
best substance of the 18th..."(43)
"Now Gregory's New York
Brigade,--the 187th, 188th, and 189th, young in order of number, but
veteran in experience and honor; worthy of the list held yet in
living memory, the 12th, 13th, 14th, 17th, 25th, and 44th, one by one
gone before. (44)
"One more brigade yet, of this
division; of the tested last that shall be first; the splendid 185th
New York, and fearless, clear-brained Sniper still at their head; the
stalwart fourteen-company regiment, the 198th Pennsylvania, its
gallant field-officers gone,--brave veteran Sickel falling with
shattered arm, and brilliant young adjutant Maceuen shot dead--both
within touch of my hand in the sharp rally on the Quaker Road; and
Major Glenn since commanding, cut down at the height of
valor....leading a charge I ordered in a moment of supreme need..Each
of these brigades had been severally in my command; and now they were
mine all together, as I was theirs. So has passed this First
Division,--and with it, part of my
soul."(45)
Chamberlain also watched the passage of the
Second Division of the Fifth Corps. Of that division's three
brigades, only two regiments were left: the 140th and 146th New York,
led by General Romeyn Ayres:
"Where are the regulars, who
since 1862 had been ever at our side?--the ten iron-hearted regiments
that made that terrible charge down the north spur of Little Round
Top...and brought back not one-half of its deathless offering...Their
places had been taken by two brigades from the old First Corps..the
thrice-honored Maryland Brigade, 1st, 4th, 7th and 8th...and the
gallant little Delaware Brigade..."(46)
Then lastly, the Third Division. Chamberlain
sees the 5th, 140th and 146th New York regiments, along with the 15th
Artillery; along with commanders such as Henry Morrow (of the famous
"Iron Brigade") and Richard Coulter of the 11th Pennsylvania. But he
also notices that some are missing:
"But where are my splendid
six regiments of them which made that resolute, forlorn-hope charge
from the crest they had carried fitly named "Fort Hell", down past
the spewing dragons of "Fort Damnation" into the miry, fiery pit
before Rives' Salient of the dark June 18th. Two regiments of them,
the 121st Pennsylvania...and 142nd Pennsylvania...alone I see in this
passing pageant,--worn, thin hostages of the mortal.
"(47)
Chamberlain is so moved by seeing these
men--those who fought with him that June 1864 day when he was so
badly wounded--that he does something unorthodox:
"...I violate the courtesies
of the august occasion. I give them salutation before the face of the
reviewing officer--the President himself--asking no permission,--no
forgiveness."(48)
And so it went. At the end of this momentous
day, he could not seem to accept that this part of his life was
over:
"Have they all passed,--the
Fifth Corps? Or will it ever pass? Am I left alone, or still with you
all?"(49)
"The pageant has passed. The day
is over. But we linger, loath to think we should see them no more
together,--these men, these horses, these colors afield."
(50)
The Army of the Potomac was officially
disbanded as of June 28, 1865, but Chamberlain remained in camp,
chosen as a brigade commander in the new Provisional Corps--it was
rumored these "Provisionals" would be sent to Mexico with Phil
Sheridan to help the French get their army out of that country. But
as things turned out, they were not needed, and Chamberlain returned
home to Brunswick in late July 1865--just in time for Bowdoin's
commencement. He learned that General Grant was to be visiting
Portland at the same time, so he invited his former commander to
attend the commencement--causing quite a bit of
excitement!
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was officially
mustered out in August 1865, but applied for reinstatement, due to
needed surgery for his Petersburg wound. His reinstatement was
accepted, and he was finally mustered out January 15, 1866.
This is a new portrait of Major
General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, by artist Andy Amato. I thank
him again for his wonderful generosity, in letting me use it on my
site.
Please do not copy, without express
written permission from the artist.
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