'1 think you did all that you could, Hunt" "It was not enough."

Lincoln smiled. "I think I can be a better judge of that at this moment, sir." Henry nodded.

"The men we led, sir, they are the soul of this country; they still are, and always wi]l be. Do not let them die in vain."

Lincoln stood as if struck and then slowly shook his head. "No. And this last battle will not be in vain either, sir."

Henry came to attention and saluted.

Lincoln reached out, extending his hand again, putting it on Henry's shoulder, and slowly walked him to the door.

"May you sleep well tonight, Hunt Do not blame yourself; the blame is mine now, not yours."

"No, sir, it's not"

Lincoln smiled.

"Don't argue with your president, Hunt They were my commanders, and in the end their failure was my failure. I'll have orders waiting for you in the morning."

Lincoln looked into his eyes, a look that Henry knew he would carry for the rest of his life. It was a look of a weariness that transcended the mere physical. It reached to the very soul.

"God bless you, sir," Henry said softly, and then he was alone, walking down the stairs and out into the street.

Alone, in his office, President Abraham Lincoln sat down at his desk and looked at the simple five sentence order he had just written out, an order that would go out by telegraph this very evening.

Lt Gen. U. S. Giant

Sir,

Congratulations on your capture of the Confederate fortress of Vicksburg. It came at a decisive moment. Now we need you here. As of this date, you are hereby appointed to the rank of lieutenant general in command of all armies of the United States. With all possible speed I am ordering you to take whatever steps are necessary to defeat the Army of Northern Virginia and end this war.

A Lincoln