It has been already stated that Mr. Lincoln returned to the Capital on
the 9th of April; from that day until the 14th was a scene of continued
rejoicing, gratulation, and thanksgiving to Almighty God who had given
to us the victory. In every city, town, village, and school district,
bells rang, salutes were fired, and the Union flag, now worshiped more
than ever by every loyal heart, waved from every home. The President was
full of hope and happiness. The clouds were breaking away, and his
genial, kindly nature was revolving plans of reconciliation and peace.
How could he now bind up the wounds of his country and obliterate the
scars of the war, and restore friendship and good feeling to every
section? These considerations occupied his thoughts: there was no
bitterness, no desire for revenge. On the morning of the 14th, Robert
Lincoln, just returned from the army, where, on the staff of General
Grant, he had witnessed the surrender of Lee, breakfasted with his
father, and the happy hour was passed in listening to details of that
event. The day was occupied, first, with an interview with Speaker
Colfax, then exchanging congratulations with a party of old Illinois
friends, then a cabinet meeting, attended by Gen. Grant, at which all
remarked his hopeful, joyous spirit, and all bear testimony that in this
hour of triumph, he had no thought of vengeance, but his mind was
revolving the best means of bringing back to sincere loyalty, those who
had been making war upon his country. He then drove out with Mrs.
Lincoln alone, and during the drive he dwelt upon the happy prospect now
before them, and contrasting the gloomy and distracting days of the war
with the peaceful ones now in anticipation, and looking beyond the term
of his Presidency, he, in imagination, saw the time when he should
return again to his prairie home, meet his old friends, and resume his
old mode of life. In fancy, he was again in his old law library, and
before the courts: with these were mingled visions of a prairie farm,
and once more the plow and the ax should become familiar to his hand.
Such were some of the incidents and fancies of the last day of the life
of Abraham Lincoln.