Washington D.C.
Camp of the 105th
May 26
th
, '65
Dear Parents Bro, and Sister,
... I must tell you a little about our grand review the 24
th
. We broke Camp
near Alexandria at 5 in the morning and started en Route for the Capitol reaching
there about 10 oclock, crossing the long bridge which spans the Potomac River (1
1/4 miles). We left the sacred soil of old Virginia and soon came near the Capitol
building after halting a little while we commenced the reviewing march down
Pennsylvania Avenue to the front of the President's Mansion where the receiving
stand was, thence around on another street where we proceed to camp 4 1/2 miles
from Washington on the Baltimore Pike where we now are and will probably stop
until we leave (as the boys say)
To undertake to describe the enthusiasm of the immense gathering to
witness a sight (it is probable they will never see the like again) would be
impossible for any one in a few words. They were perfectly astonished at the
good appearance of Sherman's army supposing we were nothing more than a set
of freebooters and marauders who knew how to fight but had lost all good
discipline instead thereof (though not as gaudily attired as the Army of the
Potomac) we laid them entirely in the shade which is conceded by the
Washington Papers and its gay inhabitants. The streets were literally festooned
with wreaths of flowers every state of the North had her delegates with huge
mottoes of Welcome to the Western heroes of Gen. Sherman's Army. there
seemed to be no end to the gratefulness they Displayed towards us. Cheer upon
cheer went up as we passed....
My love to each,
Your Son & Brother, Lysander
