Today there was a grand review, with Major General U.S. Grant presiding.
Charles Johnson described the future president like this:
As my place was not then in the ranks, and as I had never seen that officer, I managed to get a good view of him while he sat on his horse, attended by a few staff officers. As each regiment passed the officers presented their swords, and the men their guns, in salutation; and Grant, in recognition, raised his hat. During the following three months General Grant became a familiar figure. At this time he appeared a little heavier than the average man of his height, and was, moreover, a little stoop-shouldered. He wore a short, stubby, slightly reddish-brown beard, and his whole appearance was modest and unassuming.The men of the 130th learned from seasoned troops in other regiments that these reviews meant active service was not far away. They saw this as a good thing…anything was better than the monotonous camp life inside the levee. And between rumors and truth, they knew what this meant…they were soon going to be in a fight for Vicksburg.
