At the greatest moment of his presidency—the fall of the Confederate capital, Richmond—Lincoln chose to write to his wife before writing to any public official. “Last night Gen. Grant telegraphed that Sheridan with his Cavalry and the 5th Corps have captured three brigades of Infantry, a train of wagons, and several batteries, prisoners amounting to several thousands. . . . ” By tragic chance, this would prove to be the last letter he ever wrote to Mary.