The Carriage Ride of April 14th VIDEO

[RJNorton]

Here is a little more from the letter to Carpenter:

"The Friday I never saw him so supremely cheerful. His manner was even playful. At three o'clock he drove out with me in the open carriage. In starting I asked him if any one should accompany us. He immediately replied: 'No. I prefer to ride by ourselves to-day.' During the drive he was so gay that I said to him laughingly, 'Dear husband, you almost startle me by your great cheerfulness!' He replied, 'And well I may feel so, Mary, for I consider this day the war has come to a close;' and then added, ' We must be more cheerful in the future. Between the war and the loss of our darling Willie we have been very miserable.' Every word he then uttered is deeply engraved on my poor broken heart."