This Site:
Civil War
Civil War Overview
Civil War 1861
Civil War 1862
Civil War 1863
Civil War 1864
Civil War 1865
Civil War Battles
Confederate Generals
Union Generals
Confederate History
Robert E. Lee
Civil War Medicine
Lincoln Assassination
Slavery
Site Search
Civil War Links
Civil War Art
Revolutionary War
Mexican War
Republic of Texas
Indians
Winslow Homer
Thomas Nast
Mathew Brady
Western Art
Civil War Gifts
Robert E. Lee Portrait
|
GRAND CAVALRY AND ARTILLERY REVIEW AT
WASHINGTON ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1861.
GRAND CAVALRY REVIEW
AT
WASHINGTON.
ONE of the finest displays
of cavalry and artillery ever witnessed upon this continent was made on Sept. 24
on the parade grounds one mile east of the
Capitol. There were two
thousand cavalry and eight batteries of artillery in line. Each battery consists
of six pieces, making forty-
eight pieces. About an
equal proportion of 32-pound howitzers, Parrot
rifled cannon, James's
rifled cannon, and Napoleon guns constituted the character of the ordnance. The
cavalry was under the command of
General Stoneman, and the
artillery under the command of General Barry, both aids to
General McClellan, and
detailed to the several services named. The whole was reviewed by Major-General
McClellan at four o'clock. The General was accompanied by General Van Vleet,
Quarter-
master of the Department of
the Potomac, Inspector-General Marcy, Captain Sykes and Captain Hudson, of
General M'Clellan's staff,
General Mansfield and
staff, General Andrew Porter and staff,
General Fitz-John Porter,
General Meigs,
General Keyes, General Smith, General Blenker and staff,
including Prince Salm-Salm, and the Prince de Joinville and son and two nephews.
This entire party accompanied the commanding General in the grand review. It was
witnessed by at least five thousand people, and was
highly satisfactory to General
McClellan, to guests, and to the spectators generally.
The Prince de Joinville, Prince
Salm-Salm, and other experienced military gentlemen from the classic fields of
Europe, who have witnessed many military displays in their own countries,
express their admiration of the appearance of our men, especially when they
learned how short a time they had been mustered into service, and do not
hesitate to say that they never witnessed a spectacle
equal to it in Europe. The
character of the ordnance and precision of manoeuvres of our men elicited their
enthusiastic applause.
The companies of regular cavalry
on the ground, though indifferently equipped, showed good drill, and the raw
volunteer regiments evidenced much improvement upon their condition when brought
here a month since.
|