Today In Western History: John Wilkes Booth Is Killed

April 26 –

John Wilkes Booth is killed today, in 1865, when Union soldiers track him down to a Virginia farm 12 days after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.

John WIlkes Booth, assassin of President Abraham Lincoln
John Wilkes Booth, assassin of President Abraham Lincoln

Twenty-six-year-old Booth was one of the most famous actors in the country when he shot Lincoln during a performance at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C., on the night of April 14. Booth was a Maryland native and a strong supporter of the Confederacy. As the war entered its final stages, Booth hatched a conspiracy to kidnap the president. He enlisted the aid of several associates, but the opportunity never presented itself.

After the surrender of Robert E. Lee‘s Confederate army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9,

Robert E. Lee, General CSA, Hero of the Confederacy
Robert E. Lee, General CSA, Hero of the Confederacy

Booth changed the plan to a simultaneous assassination of Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson,

Andrew Johnson, 17th President, alcoholic Reconstructionist and fanatical anti-southerner
Andrew Johnson, 17th President, alcoholic Reconstructionist and fanatical anti-southerner

and Secretary of State William Seward. Only Lincoln was actually killed, however.

William Henry Seward, Secretary of State under President Lincoln
William Henry Seward, Secretary of State under President Lincoln

Seward was stabbed by Lewis Paine but miraculously, he survived with multiple injuries and damage, while the man assigned to kill Johnson did not carry out his assignment.  

Lewis Paine (Payne), Lincoln assassination plotter
Lewis Paine (Payne), co-conspirator in Lincoln assassination, he targeted Seward

After shooting Lincoln, Booth jumped to the stage below Lincoln’s box seat. He landed hard, breaking his leg, before escaping to a waiting horse behind the theater. Many in the audience recognized Booth, so the army was soon hot on his trail.

Booth and his accomplice, David Herold, made their way across the Anacostia River and headed toward southern 

David Herold (after arrest): co-conspirator in Lincoln assassination, he took Payne to Seward's houseassassination, he took Payne to Seward's house
David Herold (after arrest): co-conspirator in Lincoln assassination, he took Payne to Seward’s house

Maryland. The pair stopped at Dr. Samuel Mudd‘s home, and Mudd treated Booth’s leg. This earned Mudd a life sentence in prison when he was implicated as part of the conspiracy, but the sentence was later commuted.

Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, physician and accused accomplice to John WIlkes Booth
Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, physician and accused accomplice to John Wilkes Booth

 It also led to Dr. Mudd’s name going down in history as the originator of the phrase, “your name is mud” to denote someone as a scapegoat.nd refuge for several days at the home of Thomas A. Jones, a Confederate agent, before securing a boat to row across the Potomac to Virginia.

Booth found refuge for several days at the home of Thomas A. Jones, a Confederate agent, before securing a boat to row across the Potomac to Virginia.  After receiving aid from several Confederate sympathizers, Booth’s luck finally ran out. The countryside was swarming with military units looking for Booth, although few shared information since there was a $20,000 reward. While staying at the farm of Richard Garrett, Federal troops arrived on their search but soon rode on. The unsuspecting Garrett allowed his suspicious guests to sleep in his barn, but he instructed his son to lock the barn from the outside to prevent the strangers from stealing his horses. A tip led the Union soldiers back to the Garrett farm, where they discovered Booth and Herold in the barn. Herold came out, but Booth refused. The building was set on fire to flush Booth, but he was reportedly shot by trooper Thomas P. “Boston” Corbett while still inside. 

Boston Corbett, the soldier who is said to have shot John WIlkes Booth through the slats of a burning barn.
Boston Corbett, the soldier who is said to have shot John Wilkes Booth through the slats of a burning barn.

He lived for three hours before gazing at his hands, muttering “Useless, useless,” as he died.

 

 

To purchase a signed copy of Larry Auerbach’s novel “COMMON THREADS”, Click Here

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.com