Across Five Aprils

John is now the only Creighton son still fighting in the Union army, and he regularly sends the family letters. John is serving in the Army of the Cumberland, who were defeated at Chickamauga but were relieved by Generals Grant, Hooker, and Sherman. John chafes at the fact that the other armies seemed to look down on them. The generals planned a strike on General Bragg’s Confederates at Lookout Mountain, and the “easy” part of the battle was given to the Army of the Cumberland. The Cumberland boys took offense at this, and when the time came for them to advance, they made a fierce charge down the center and unexpectedly broke up the line of Confederate soldiers, forcing Bragg to retreat. John is extremely proud of this victory and insists that Jethro compare his story to what’s reported in the newspapers.

Meanwhile, the 1864 presidential election is approaching. Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address, which Jethro reads aloud to his family; Ellen remarks that it “has the ring of Scriptures about it” (164). Lincoln offers amnesty to any Southern states who wish to rejoin the Union, as long as they give up slavery and swear loyalty to the US Constitution. Once again, Lincoln receives criticism from other Northerners for his leniency; meanwhile, the South claims that it’s a trap. Matthew is pleased with the announcement, and Jethro thinks again about what Lincoln said about erring on the side of mercy.

The Democrats nominate Shad’s former commander, General McClellan, as their presidential candidate, hoping that he will run on a platform of ending the war. However, McClellan gives a speech in which he firmly declares that the North will never end the war until the Confederates offer a full surrender. Although Shad does not support McClellan, he writes to Jethro that he admires him for taking a firm stand. As the North wins a few more victories, the peoples’ hopes begin to grow, and Lincoln is reelected in a landslide.

Finally, the family gets another letter from John informing them that he ran into Bill, who was among some Confederate soldiers taken prisoner. They mended their relationship, but both know Bill can never come home. Bill urges John to make sure their mother knows that it wasn’t his bullet that killed Tom.

Around Christmas of 1864, General Sherman wires President Lincoln informing him that he’s captured Savannah, Georgia. The Creightons and their neighbors gradually learn the details of Sherman’s March to the Sea, in which he led his army through Georgia on a “scorched earth” campaign, destroying everything in their path—military and civilian alike. Although people are happy about the victory, some are torn about Sherman’s brutal tactics. Others argue that the Southerners deserve no sympathy. The Creightons’ neighbor Ed Turner worries that his son, who participated in the March, will come home irrevocably changed.

Jethro, now 13, is troubled. He speaks with Ross Milton, who warns him that peace is not going to be a “perfect pearl” (179). Many old scars and resentments will remain when the fighting is over. Although the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution has just been ratified, abolishing slavery, Milton predicts that the freed slaves will have a long road ahead of them before the promises of the amendment are fulfilled. However, he hopes that Lincoln will be able to “control the bigots” and bring peace to the nation. In April 1865, Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee sign the terms of peace in Appomattox State Courthouse, marking the end of the war. Jethro travels to Newton to celebrate with Milton, and they watch a joyful fireworks display. However, only days later, they hear news of President Lincoln’s assassination.

Jethro is especially devastated by this, as he had hoped to one day shake the president’s hand. He wishes to see the funeral procession, but he has too much work on the farm. He goes to Walnut Hill and lies down on the ground, feeling angry about Lincoln’s death. Suddenly, he feels a hand on his shoulder and hears Shad’s voice. Surprised, he greets Shad with joy, and they both marvel at how the other has changed. They share in their sadness over Lincoln, but Shad reminds Jethro there are still good times ahead. John will be coming home soon, and Shad will go back to university. He tells Jethro that he and Jenny want Jethro to live with them, so that Jethro can focus on his studies and one day go to university too. At first, Jethro is reluctant to leave the farm, but Shad reminds him that he won’t be needed as much once John and Eb return, and that the family would want him to pursue his dreams. Jenny calls to them from the house, and as the book closes, Jethro runs happily into Jenny’s arms.