The siege was raised.  The rebels recognized that cross, and, knowing what it betokened, fell back rapidly before it, and prepared for a hasty retreat.  Confidence was restored to the people.  The President thanked the troops and went home in the very best humor.  The Secretary of War and the Chief of Staff stopped issuing orders; and the quartermaster’s bushwhackers hung up their bill-hooks.  The major and brigadier-generals went to congratulating each other on the part they had taken in the defense.  At two o’clock on Wednesday morning, an advance was ordered with the two divisions of the Sixth Corps; but when the skirmish line took possession of Silver Springs, there was not a rebel in arms to be seen.  General Early had made good speed during the night, and was making the best of his way across the Potomac, and home to his master.

Thus ended the most remarkable siege history has any account of.

And now, my son, I cannot close this history without a few words on the character and conduct of Mr. Jefferson Davis, to whose ambition this siege of our capital was due.  It has been said by several of his friends, who have access to the newspapers, that he went into this war not only very reluctantly, but with green spectacles on.  Willing as I am to deal generously with him, and to forgive him each and every one of his sins, and to send him out into the world to seek atonement for them, I cannot share this opinion.  And for the reason that I happened to know Mr. Davis in the summer of 1850, when he was the moving spirit of a convention of “Fire-Eaters,” that assembled together at Nashville, Tenn.  And I have a slight recollection of a speech he made on that occasion, in which separation by arms was urged, and no love for the Union advanced.  I remember also that that speech was rewarded with hisses, notwithstanding the strong dis-union element of the convention.  His dislike of the Union and plan for separating the nation, it is well known, had been the besetting sin of his brain for twenty years.  How, then, he could have engaged in this gigantic rebellion with green spectacles on, I cannot just exactly see.  It was the ignorant, unreasoning masses of the South who were led into the rebellion with green spectacles on, not men like Mr. Davis.  But, my son, never strike a man when he is down; that is the work of cowards.  Let us give Mr. Davis credit for such virtues as he had, and for the manner in which he exerted them in keeping life and strength in the government he attempted to set up.  In connection with the rebellion, we had to deal with Mr. Davis more in his character as a soldier than a statesman.  Mr. Davis was undoubtedly an able soldier.  He was the head and front, the very life and soul of the men in the South.  Born to those qualities of pride, self-esteem, and self-will, all of which produce confidence in the possessor, he grew up feeling himself superior, as he was, to the ordinary men of his age.  He inherited at the same time great fixedness of purpose and determination; and so prominent were these traits of his character, that they impressed every one who came in contact with him.