The Grand Review and Demobilization of the Armies (Lecture)

The American Civil War ended in April of 1865 ... or did it? Ranger John Hoptak takes us through the war's final months, looking at the politics of the Grand Review parade, the experiences of prisoners of war on both sides, and what the final moments of the war were like for soldiers of both Union and Confederate armies.

[@The_PaleHorseman]

I served 13 years, I remember coming home for the first time at the end of my first 4 years in the military, this really brought that feeling back toward the end of this video around the 50 min mark, made me reflect on my unit and my friends I lost. I remember coming home to Kentucky and just seeing my dad, this was 7 months before he would pass away from Lung Cancer, also at the same time the economy crashed in 2008, I remember I was a mess when I came home, I was lost, I stayed around to help my mom with my dad being sick, once things settled down and my sister came to help my mom, I didn't have much left at home and felt lost, I went back to the recruiter and asked to be taken back in, would go on to do 6 more years before finally coming home in 2015, I look back now 5 years later and watching this, just brings all them emotions back, from 155 years ago to now, not much changes, I remember seeing the town names coming home and being excited to see my home, driving home from Virginia to Kentucky, just seeing the state signs as I crossed the border into Kentucky from Ashland, I got out of my car and just kissed my hand and touched the ground. I was just glad to be home. Anyways, don't want to make this sad and stuff, I just appreciate this aspect of it. I still am trying to learn on how to be home, I smile alot but I still feel like a piece of me isn't home.

[@williambagley5415]

Please look into a VFW unit or some other vet group. You need to be around your brothers. Its a very common feeling you're experiencing 😎

[@travisclack4734]

Hey man just so you know I watch videos so people like you never die in memory y’all deserve at least that in this aspect confederate or union they need remembered

[@wernerulrich1830]

VFW 😮

[@colewilder2146]

One of the best ever of this lecture series! It was an unexpectedly emotional and moving story hearing these soldiers' bittersweet accounts of leaving their comrades and returning home. As Ranger Hoptak states, this part of the American Civil War is so often overlooked. Thank you for bringing more attention to it!

[@marshja56]

My Grandfather's Grandfather was in Sherman's army and was in the Grand Review. His unit was efficiently disbanded just a few days later on June 1, 1865. He had fought for three years including at Vicksburg, Missionary Ridge, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Savannah and Bentonville. All that and he was only 20 years old at the end. Half his unit became casualties during the war. He must have been so glad to finally go home.

[@manothoughts4451]

Was fortunate to make it to this lecture, the first I've attended of the winter series. Very well put together and a great topic. Any excuse to drive all the way to Gettysburg is a good one in my book! 😁

[@dantankboy4155]

Great speech. I reenact with the 49th Ohio, a volunteer regiment, and those poor boys were sent to Texas after the war to scare the French.

[@francissullivan6400]

John Hoptak is Incredible..Great job sir

[@williambagley5415]

Great presentation on a topic I've been curious about. Thank you.

[@CaptainHarlock-kv4zt]

Bravo Sir ( from a Greek history -and unfortunarely not only- junkie ) for this excellent presentation !!!

[@CocoaBeachLiving]

I think that since time changes all perceptions, I choose to both recognize the suffering of these soldiers with the value of such a Review. Presentation is excellent 👌👍👏👏👏 for the youtube title, I would have lead with the demobilization first 😉

[@michaelnewton5873]

I was at Wilson's Creek 150 the west is always forgotten by you Eastern parks.

[@enoswebster9013]

Well done.

[@CapComMDb]

Although there were no colored infantry in the Grand Review, according to Walt Whitman, there was a Pioneer Corps of black troops who marched along with pickaxes and shovels. He also mentions they followed a solid hour of cavalry and another solid hour of artillery. SOME poor bastard had to march after that through all that horse poop.

[@markbauer3937]

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's: The Passing of the Armies

[@josephknapick5307]

Question: How were Union soldiers selected to serve occupation duty in the South during early reconstruction?

[@kidmohair8151]

there is perhaps no better lecture than this one to say the confederacy lost the war, but was allowed to win the peace

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

Think of it this way; With no more 3/5ths clause, the entire population of the newly freed slaves were counted for, so the southern states increased their number of seats in the House. However, with the failure of reconstruction and the laws and local practices in the south of suppressing the vote of the newly freed slaves, the interests of the aristocratic planter class now had more power in Congress with more reps. Reconstruction was such a missed opportunity.

[@SandfordSmythe]

The Union troops were not happy about having to stay and march in that parade. They just wanted to go home.

[@jamesporter1123]

it would've been nice to hear about the confederacy troops returning home and how they felt, especially as they had given their all but we're defeated. much like the Vietnam vets I guess

[@frednesbittjr.7862]

Aw shucks...

[@hodors6496]

#CoalRegionPride

[@mobilechief]

I bet those Union Officers were wondering if they fought on the right side after those demotions, Dam

[@Joseph-eh4rs]

Hardly. In comparison to confederate former US officers, they still had commission and pension waiting on them. And, what kind of man would betray your nation for money.

[@briansass4865]

Not really demotions. More like reversions. Officers held two ranks: volunteers and regular army. Volunteer ranks only lasted as long as the volunteer army was mustered in. Once they mustered out, only the regular army rank remained. For example: George A Custer achieved rank of Major General in the volunteer army, but only Lt. Colonel of the Regular army. They were still entitled to be addressed by the honorific. But it was their regular army rank, which they were aware of and they were not demoted arbitrarily to a rank.

[@mike89128]

@@Joseph-eh4rs Sorry! No pension legislation from Congress until 1883. Officers and enlisted retired on their savings. Until 1883 officers had no retirement dates by law. After the war there was a weeding out of injured, ineffective, incompetent officers by so called "Benzene Boards." Paid off and sent on their way. By 1871 army was down to 40 regiments: 25 infantry, 10 cavalry and 5 artillery. Foreign military attaches referred to this army as a 'constabulary." Service in post war army was brutal, which resulted in desertion rates of up to 20%.

[@Greenfield-yf1wh]

@@mike89128 Sorry! The pension law was passed in the congress as early as in 1862 for those badly injured during the war or widows and dependents of deceased US soldiers. The Republican Party and GAR (Grand Army of the Republic - the civil war Union veteran organization) made sure the veterans would be well-taken care of. They even made a provision in the 14th amendment to the US constitution explicitly stated that "the validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned". Adding insult to injury, the 14th amendment also stated that "neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave". Therefore, the biggest spending by the Federal government by 1890s was the pension payment to Union veterans.

[@1TruNub]

It's really sad to think of the confederates especially those from Texas and Arkansas and Louisiana in places like North Carolina and Virginia who had to walk sometimes 1800 miles just to get home

[@JohnnyRebKy]

Jose Wales never surrendered lol