28-Marching in April and May 1865 North through North Carolina on the way to Washington D.C. for the Grand Review Calvin Day French-43 Ohio Volunteer Infantry Civil War Diaries

Calvin Day French
continues marching north through North Carolina and Virginia nearly 600 miles under
the command of General Sherman in April and May 1865. He marches in April through
the North Carolina towns of Kinston, Goldsboro, Raleigh, Huntsville and
Ridgeway. After the surrender of the Confederate armies by Generals Lee and
Johnston in April 1865, Sherman continues marching his army in May through the Virginia
towns of Petersburg, Manchester and Alexandria arriving in Washington, DC. On
May 26, 1865, Calvin marched with Sherman’s Army in the West of 65,000 in the
Grand Review totaling 165,000 troops down Pennsylvania Avenue from the US Capital
Building past the reviewing stand in front of President Andrew Johnson and his
cabinet concluding at the White House. Sherman’s
Army of the West was loose and lean and sparked fever of enthusiasm among the
spectators. Former slaves followed Sherman’s army as they marched down
Pennsylvania Avenue with southern prizes such as dogs, goats, mules, raccoons,
gamecocks, and even a monkey. The men wore ragged uniforms and hung chickens
and hams from their bayonets to the crowd’s delight. The band played the same
songs they had played when they began the march to the sea, including Battle
Hymn of the Republic. After concluding his Civil War service, Calvin then begins
his travels back to his home in Ohio.