May God bless you for the earnestness with which you have tried to seek out what is right; may He guide both of us in that search during the days ahead of us.

At the end of Chapter 9 Jethro receives a letter back from President Lincoln. These are the closing words. Regardless of Jethro's actions, Lincoln recognizes in them an honest attempt to do the right thing, and he seizes upon that and commends Jethro for it. This reaffirms Jethro's faith that the president is letting the same desire to do what is right guide his actions. The president may make decisions that some disagree with, but this letter represents his humanity, which is something that there is precious little of throughout the war.