In a cruel irony, it was not the Union army that laid waste to the city.
Source: Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that changed America Forever
In this sentence, irony means:
incongruity between what might be expected and
what occurs
O defiance of authority; disobedience
the quality of being consistent with or based on
logic
O a military offensive against an enemy

2

explanation:

the word that best matches the meaning of the expression "went to the big ocean" is died.

the goldfish died, which is why the father looks at the children mournfully. the "big ocean" is the father's way of saying fish heaven. he could have just said that the goldfish died, but this way, the children imagine the fish in a bigger, better place instead of just picturing a dead fish.

explanation:

man i love you so much

have a good day

and add me as friend