The conclusion of the American Civil War brought with it a period of national transition, marked by both solemn remembrance and triumphant celebration. A pivotal event in this transition was the Grand Review of the Armies, a massive military procession held in Washington, D.C., on May 23–24, 1865. This event not only honored the Union forces but also served as a public declaration of the war's end and the Union's victory. The participation of key
Union armies and their distinguished leaders underscored the magnitude of their achievements and their collective role in preserving the nation.
Assembling the Victorious Forces
Following President Andrew Johnson's declaration on May 10 that the rebellion was virtually over, plans were quickly made for a formal review to honor the troops. A primary goal was to uplift the mood of the capital, which was still reeling from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln a month earlier. To achieve this, three of the most significant Federal armies, instrumental in the Union victory, were brought to Washington, D.C. Their presence was a testament to the widespread effort and sacrifice that had secured peace.
Among these forces was the Army of the Tennessee, which arrived in the capital via train. This army represented the Union's successes in the Western Theater. Also present was the Army of Georgia, commanded by General William T. Sherman. This army had just completed its arduous Carolinas campaign and had accepted the surrender of Joseph E. Johnston's Confederate army, which was the largest remaining Confederate force. Sherman's troops arrived from North Carolina in mid-May and established camps around the capital city. Across the Potomac River, the Army of the Potomac, fresh from its decisive victories over Robert E. Lee in Virginia, arrived in Washington, D.C., on May 12. The convergence of these powerful armies, many of whose officers had not seen each other since before the war, led to renewed acquaintances and, at times, spirited debates among the common infantrymen in local taverns about which army was superior.
Leaders on Display: Meade and Sherman
The Grand Review was a showcase for the Union's most prominent military leaders. On May 23, at 9:00 a.m., Major General George Gordon Meade, the celebrated victor of Gettysburg, led the estimated 80,000 men of the Army of the Potomac. His troops marched with remarkable precision, 12 men across, down Pennsylvania Avenue from Capitol Hill. The procession included divisional and corps artillery, followed by cavalry regiments that stretched for seven miles. The mood was festive, with crowds and soldiers often singing patriotic songs. Meade himself, upon reaching the reviewing stand in front of the White House, dismounted and joined President Johnson, General Ulysses S. Grant, and other dignitaries to salute his men as they passed for over six hours.
The following day, May 24, at 10:00 a.m., General William T. Sherman took center stage, leading the 65,000 men of the Army of the Tennessee and the Army of Georgia. Many in the admiring crowds had never seen Sherman before. For six hours, under bright sunshine, the soldiers who had marched through Georgia and defeated John Bell Hood's army in Tennessee paraded before joyous throngs. Unlike the Army of the Potomac's military precision, Sherman's force was notably followed by a vast crowd of freed blacks, laborers, adventurers, and scavengers who had accompanied the army from Savannah, as well as a large herd of livestock. This unique aspect of Sherman's parade highlighted the profound social and economic changes wrought by the war and the army's long journey.
Disbandment and the Dawn of Peace
Within a week of these grand celebrations, the two armies were disbanded, and many volunteer regiments and batteries were sent home to be mustered out. While some minor guerrilla actions and racial violence, including the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, would persist in the South, the large-scale military conflict on land between the North and the South had concluded. The sight of Union soldiers returning home signaled to the general population that they could begin to resume normal lives, marking the definitive end of the American Civil War. The Grand Review, therefore, was not just a parade; it was a powerful symbol of national healing and the triumph of the Union.
