The answer to this can be found in Chapter 22 of To Kill a Mockingbird. We are not told exactly how Atticus felt at the moment the verdict was announced, though Scout describes him as "tired" several times in the hours before the verdict is given. Indeed, this is how he describes himself to Aunt Alexandra as he goes to bed after returning from court on the night of the verdict: He is "not bitter, just tired." His remarks to his children demonstrate that he is disappointed, though, being thoroughly aware of the realities of race in Maycomb County, not surprised. He acknowledges to Jem (who if anything, takes the decision harder than Atticus) that the decision is "not right" and when asked how the jury could have arrived at such a verdict, says with resignation that "they’ve done it before and they did it tonight and they’ll do it again."
But Atticus is not totally without hope. The next morning, before he encounters the mountains of food brought to the house by several sympathizers, he reassures Jem that the case will be heard on appeal. We learn in Chapter 24, of course, that Tom is shot and killed supposedly trying to escape. At this point, Alexandra observes that the news, and his role in the trial in general, "tears him to pieces." Throughout the book, and especially in Chapters 22 through 24, we see that Atticus, though a stoic figure, bears a heavy burden in the form of the trial. This is not a surprise to him--as mentioned before, he is well aware of the social and racial dynamics in Maycomb, but it clearly takes a toll on the man.
You can find the quotes above in the Warner Books edition of To Kill A Mockingbird (1988), pages 215-221.
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