Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/373

 Last Salute of Army of Northern Virginia. 361

inscribed with all the battles of the army of the Potomac from the first clear through the long list down to the last.

" In the course of those four eventful years the makeup of the brigade had naturally changed considerably, for there had been not alone changes of men, but consolidations of regiments as well. Yet the prestige of that history made a remarkably strong esprit du corps.

" In that Third Brigade line there were regiments representing the States of Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, regiments which had been through the entire war. The Bay State veterans had the right of line down the village street. This was the 32d Massachusetts Regiment, with some members of the gth, i8th, and 22d Regiments. Next in order came the First Maine Sharpshooters, the 2oth Regiment, and some of the 2d. There were also the First Michigan Sharpshooters, the ist and i6th Reg- iments, and some men of the 4th. 'Pennsylvania was represented by the 83d, the gist, the n8th, and the i55th. In the other two brigades were: First Brigade, igSth Pennsylvania, and iSsth New York; in the Second Brigade, the iSyth, i88th, and iSgth New York.

'The First and Second Brigades were with me then, because I had previously commanded them and they had been very courte- ously sent me at my request by my corps and division commanders.

"The arrangement of the soldiery was as follows: The Third Brigade on one side of the street in line of battle; the Second, known as Gregory's, in the rear, and across the street, facing the Third; the First Brigade also in line of battle.

" Having thus formed, the brigades standing at 'order arms,' the head of the Confederate column, General Gordon in command, and the old ' Stonewall ' Jackson Brigade leading, started down into the valley which lay between us, and approached our lines. With my staff I was on the extreme right of the line, mounted on horseback, and in a position nearest the Rebel solders who were approaching our right.

" Ah, but it was a most impressive sight, a most striking picture, to see that whole army in motion to lay down the symbols of war and strife, that army which had fought for four terrible years after a fashion but infrequently known in war.

"At such a time and under such conditions I thought it eminently fitting to show some token of our feeling, and I therefore instructed