The Sword and Gun: A History of the 37th Wis. Volunteer Infantry

by R. C. Eden

There is no room at last for Lincoln's foe.

The surrender of Lee and Johnston with their entire armies, put an end to the rebellion in Virginia, and left the Army of the Potomac, for the first time in four years, out of employment, with no one to fight and looking round for some one to hit or to "tread on the tail of its coat." Such things could not last, so on the 20th of April we had orders to pack up and move from our camp on the South Side railroad to City Point, there to take transports for Washington. This we accordingly did, and after a tiresome march, arrived at City Point on the morning of the 22d.

A few hours sufficed for all necessary arrangements, and before evening the steamer Daniel Webster, having on board Col. Harriman and staff, Gen. Humphries of the 2d corps, and the 37th and 38th Wisconsin, was steaming slowly down the James river against a strong flood tide. We passed Harrison's Landing, where the 9th corps crossed the James on pontoons in its march from Cold Harbor to Petersburg, during the summer of last year, and just below this point, the last rays of the setting sun were shining on the glorious old stars and stripes floating proudly over Fort Powhattan, the strongest work on the James river. Our boat having no regular government pilot, was compelled to anchor shortly after dark, and wait till morning and daylight should enable us to pick our way along the mazy channel. We passed Fortress Monroe with its "even trench" and frowning embrasures about sunrise, and steamed out through Hampton Roads, past that singularly amphibious locality, part fort, part prison, known as the Rip Raps, into the smooth waters of Chesapeake Bay. The morning was still and pleasant, a light breeze from the northwest created just enough swell to give an easy rise and fall to the vessel, enough to make us feel that we were at sea, and hardly enough to unsettle the internal arrangements of the least nautical of our passengers. Far away on the starboard bow, Capes Charles and Henry were just visible, faint blue streaks in the distant offing. Astern of us were Norfolk, Fortress Monroe, the Rip Raps, several Men of War, including two British and one French steam frigate, and several saucy looking Yankee gunboats, bustling round in a great hurry, making a great swell in the water and a great noise with their escaping steam, as if they had important government business on hand and were anxious to get through with it. Schooners, barques and sloops of all sizes, builds and styles were either dropping easily down before the light wind, their big fore-and-aft sails boomed out on either side and giving them the appearance, as they rose and fell on the swells, of sea-birds, perched on the water, with their wings spread ready to take flight, or with sheets flat aft were working up the bay, passing and repassing one another as they tacked and tacked again. And the huge steam frigates lay there quiet, and, as it seemed, disdainful watchers of the whole scene, models of order and neatness from truck to deck, every rope taut and in its place, every spar and every line clear and distinct against the blue sky behind them, the black muzzles of the guns with their white tompions all in even line, and the boats at the swinging boom, each with its boat-tender aboard to keep it from chafing and rubbing against its neighbor—everything orderly, methodical, neat. (And here a moral. What a pity some people in this world cannot, like a man-of-war's boat, be furnished with a boat-tender, to keep the waves of envy and unfriendliness from causing them to chafe against their fellows.)

But ethics and moralizing have but little to do with the 1st brigade, 1st division, 9th army corps, and still less with the good ship Daniel Webster, which, about this time, was bowling along up the bay, at the rate of ten knots an hour. About noon we passed the light-ship on Wolf Trap Shoals, with the tin-clad lying alongside, to protect her from guerrillas. For, the inference being but fair that those fiends, who would not hesitate to destroy a train containing innocent women and children, would have as little compunction in destroying the often-times only friend of the storm-beaten ship, in her most thrilling hours of danger, all the light-houses and light-vessels along the coast of Virginia are strongly guarded, day and night. Just before dark, we entered the mouth of the Potomac, and, in obedience to a hail from the guard-ship, at Port Washington, made fast to the dock at Alexandria, at sunrise, on the morning of the 24th. Here we disembarked, and were marched out to a very pleasant camping-ground, on the line of the Orange and, Alexandria railroad. We remained here two days, when we received orders to march to Washington. Thither we accordingly went, and the evening of the same day found us encamped near Tenallytown, between Forts Gaines and Simmons, and not far from the Chain Bridge. Here we remained, "possessing our souls in peace," and doing a little picket duty, a little drilling, not a little dress-parading, and, in fact, playing soldiers; with nothing to do, and all day to do it in; and, barring a slight suspicion of monotony, leading a not unpleasant life.

On Tuesday evening, May 9th, we had a very pleasant reunion, at brigade headquarters, the occasion being the presentation to Col. Harriman, by the officers of his staff, of a very handsome sword. The presentation was made, in the name of the staff, by Capt. Charles McCreery, 8th Michigan Volunteers, Inspector General, who in a very neat and appropriate speech descanted on the pleasant nature of the relations that had always existed between the Colonel and his staff, officially and otherwise, during the long time he had commanded the brigade, and speaking in terms of the warmest commendation of the able and efficient manner in which the Colonel had commanded the brigade both in camp and in action. The Colonel responded, briefly and to the purpose, and after an hour or so spent in social chat the party broke up, pleased and gratified at the opportunity that had been afforded them of showing their appreciation of an able and gallant officer.

When the last grand pageant of the war passed through the streets of the capital, and the army, that for the last four years, had been laboring to maintain the existence of the country and to uphold its chosen form of government, received a sincere and hearty public welcome at the hands of a grateful people. Our regiment took a part in the pageant and received its share of the welcome. For two days, Washington was the scene of a military display, the like of which the world has never seen, and God grant may never have occasion to see again. From nine in the morning till three in the afternoon of each day, Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Capitol to Georgetown, was covered with troops, as the armies of the Potomac, Tennessee and Georgia passed along through crowds of their fellow citizens who had turned out to welcome them home.

The long wide street, with its shady sidewalks and handsome buildings, was dressed in its gayest. The fresh spring verdure of the trees, the glorious stripes and stars waving everywhere, the bright glancing bayonets, set off by the dark blue of their bearers, the regimental colors and guidons, the waving of flags and handkerchiefs from every window, the lively strains of the various brigade and regimental bands, the bright clear sky and sun overhead, formed a sight once seen, never to be forgotten, and worth ten years of a man's life for him to be able to say, "I was there."

But the details of this brilliant military panorama are now history, so suffice it to say that the 37th contributed their part to the show and received their welcome from the Washingtonians and their friends.

On the afternoon of the 25th of May, the 1st brigade was reviewed by Colonel Harriman and a large party of distinguished visitors, guests of Colonel H's. The party included Governor Lewis, Gen. Lucius Fairchild, Gen. Gaylord, Brev. Brig. Gen. C. Fairchild, Governor Crapo of Michigan, Major Chas. Hamlin, son of the late Vice President, and his sister, Mrs. Bachelor, Col. Proudfit of Wisconsin, Mrs. Gen. Fairchild, and a large delegation of civilians and soldiers from Michigan and Wisconsin.