Civil War 150th Anniversary Events Come to End With Civil War Parade

May 2015 marks the end of the 150^th Anniversary commemorations of the battles and events of the American Civil War. The Sesquicentennial Anniversary events started in the spring of 2010 with an exhibition at the National Archives and will end with a reenactment of the Grand Review Parade on Sunday, May 17^th. The National Park Service, State Park Services and historical reenactment groups have been honoring the Civil War’s 150^th Anniversary with events at the many battleground sites  including both Bull Run battles, Gettysburg, Antietam, Vicksburg, and Atlanta, over the past four years. The Civil War’s first battle was outside of Washington D.C. at Bull Run Creek on July 21, 1861 and the last battle was during a series of battles called the Appomattox Campaign in April 1865 in Virginia.

Over the past few months, there have been events commemorating the end of the Civil War, the surrender at Appomattox and the assassination and death of President Lincoln. This weekend, there will be many events spotlighting the end of Civil War’s 150^th Anniversary including the Civil War Parade, workshops and seminars, an officer’s ball, prayer breakfast and candlelight vigil.

Civil War Parade

Step back in time to May 1865 at the Civil War Grand Review Parade in Washington D.C. on Sunday, May 17^th. The parade is an educational event to honor those that gave “the last full measure” while fighting in the Civil War. The Civil War Parade honors those soldiers that marched in the United States Army Grand Review Parade 150 years ago. Over 10,000 parade participants and spectators are expected to be at the event.  The parade runs noon to 4pm and kicks off at 3^rd St., NW between Constitution and Independence Avenues in front of the Capitol Building and Ulysses S. Grant Memorial. The parade travels down Pennsylvania Avenue and passes the reviewing grandstand at Freedom Plaza.  The parade is sponsored by the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum (AACWM) .

Civil War Grand Review of 1865

The Civil War Parade commemorates the end of the battles of the Civil War and the Grand Review Parade of the Union troops that took place on May 23^rd and 24^th 1865 in Washington D.C.  Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General U.S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. The surrender of General Johnson and the Confederate Western Army to General William T. Sherman was official on April 26, 1865. On May 10, 1865, President Andrew Johnson declared the rebellion and armed resistance nearly over and started making plans for a formal review of the troops in Washington D.C. The city was in mourning because of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and needed to have some sort of diversion and he hoped that cheering for the victorious Union troops would help lift the somber mood.  Over 150,000 troops from the Army of the Potomac, Army of Tennessee and Army of Georgia were expected to take part in the parade.

On May 23, 1865, General George Meade led an estimated 80,000 men of the Army of the Potomac down Pennsylvania Avenue past cheering crowds and dignitaries include President Johnson and General U.S. Grant. The parade included infantry, artillery and cavalry regiments. The parade lasted 6 hours. The next day, General William T. Sherman led 65,000 men of the infantry, artillery and cavalry of the Army of Tennessee and Georgia past the same crowds of spectators and dignitaries. This parade also took 6 hours to pass down Pennsylvania Avenue. One week after the Civil War Grand Review parade, the two Union armies were disbanded and the volunteer soldiers were sent home.

ezStorage is proud to be located in an area that is so full of history. There are so many historical places and battlefields that can visited in just a short trip from Baltimore. Stop in to see how ezStorage’s 45 Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. area locations can help you with your storage needs. We offer a variety of self storage units to help with personal to business storage needs.