It was a scene of manhood at its height.
It was a great love-act of breaking hearts.
'Twas bravery once to follow where he led
Into war's furnace flames. 'Twas bravery now,
Of sort the larger, to obey his hest
And back return into the ways of peace.
Some saw the Morning Star across the dark,
And the New Day beyond the gray dawn's rim.
Some caught a vision of the future years,
The red way of the past become the white,
Love's very white — no more nor North nor South —
The exalted way of one America.
But they were all the Army of Virginia,
Lee's men, and love for him did all his will,
And God's — for Lee was God's — and they obeyed.

And there was silence half an hour in Heaven
Among the Watchers at the Gates of Light —
The Martyr Watchers from earth's crowded fields —
As once again, midst Lee's surrendered host,
The two great Captains on their battle steeds —
The issues of the South and of the North
And the World's destiny upon their lips —
Conversed, and parted understandingly.
And each was nobler for the other's mood,
And gentleness of soul that makes men great;
And a new song of praise arose in Heaven
From the vast throngs of war's ascended Ones
And the White Angels playing on their harps.