It symbolizes a “rebirth” in a way. I’m with the new(Grant radical republicans), out with the old(Lincoln Whig Republicans). Ulysses or shall I say Odysseus, had his own heroes journey. Goes on adventure(tour of duty in his own backyard), frees prisoners and is hailed as a hero(freed blacks), fights evil archenemies(democrat slave owning Freemasons) with brutality, returns home, friend and mentor dies(Lincoln), fights his own kind(Republicans/Horace) and wins.