His face was stern and sad as he faced his worn and
ragged troops. As he looked at them words failed him. "Men," he
said, "we have fought through the war together, and I have done
the best I could for you." Then he ceased. Tears blinded and choked
him, sobs burst from the hardy men who had followed him joyfully
to death. So they said farewell.
Grant on his side would allow no rejoicing in his camp, no firing
of salutes. "The war is over," he said, "the rebels are our countrymen
again." And indeed this was the end of the war, although for a week
or two the Confederates elsewhere still held out.
When the news was heard throughout the country people went mad with
joy. The great day of peace had come at last, and all the world
went a-holidaying. People who were utter strangers to each other
shook hands in the street, they laughed and cried, bonfires were
lit and bells rung. Never had there been such rejoicing in the land.
And among those who rejoiced none was more glad than the President.
"I thank God," he said, "that I have lived to see this day. It seems
to me that I have been dreaming a horrid dream for five years. But
now the nightmare is gone." And already his thoughts were turned
to the binding up of the nation's wounds.
It was the 14th of April and he had promised to go to the theatre
that evening. He did not want to go, but his presence had been
announced in the papers, and thinking that the people would be
disappointed if he failed to appear, he went.
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