The American War

To do right requires time, and more patience than I usually possess

General Grant had good reason for telegraphing to General Halleck,

on the 1st of October, that his position was precarious,

"but I hope to get out of it all right."

Behind us lay Atlanta, smouldering and in ruins,

the black smoke rising high in air, and hanging like a pall over

the ruined city.

When I reached the Treasury-building, and looked back, the

sight was simply magnificent. The column was compact, and the

glittering muskets looked like a solid mass of steel, moving with

the regularity of a pendulum.

Some little scenes enlivened the day, and called for the laughter

and cheers of the crowd. Each division was followed by six

ambulances, as a representative of its baggage-train. Some of the

division commanders had added, by way of variety, goats, milch-

cows, and pack-mules, whose loads consisted of game-cocks, poultry,

hams, etc., and some of them had the families of freed slaves

along, with the women leading their children. Each division was

preceded by its corps of black pioneers, armed with picks and

spades. These marched abreast in double ranks, keeping perfect

dress and step, and added much to the interest of the occasion. On

the whole, the grand review was a splendid success, and was a

fitting conclusion to the campaign and the war.