Members of Lincoln’s Cabinet were well accustomed to his idiosyncrasies. He had a habit of telling jokes just when the mood was most solemn, for example. But on April 14, 1865, he surprised them a little by telling them of a dream he had—perhaps the night before—of a mighty ship under full sail. He told them he was certain that great and good news would soon arrive because he had had this dream before each of the major Union victories of the war.