Summary
Highlights
In 1864, John Wilkes Booth and his conspirators planned to kidnap President Lincoln for the release of Confederate prisoners. As the Civil War neared its end, Booth’s plans escalated to assassination. His goal was to destabilize the Union by killing Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, Secretary of State William Seward, and General Ulysses S. Grant. On April 14, 1865, Booth shot Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, proclaiming "Sic semper tyrannis" (thus always to tyrants) before escaping with a broken leg.
After shooting Lincoln, Booth fled on horseback to Maryland, meeting co-conspirator David Herold. They stopped at Surratts Tavern for supplies and then at the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd at 4:00 AM on April 15. Mudd set Booth's broken leg, though his involvement in the conspiracy remains debated. The fugitives then sought help from Samuel Cox, a Confederate sympathizer, who directed them to hide in a pine thicket to avoid being caught with him.
Booth and Herold remained in the pine thicket for four days, receiving food, drink, and newspapers from Thomas Jones, Cox's friend. Booth was shocked to learn he was widely condemned as a villain, not a hero, as he had imagined. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., thousands mourned President Lincoln, whose body was transported to the Capitol and later by train to Springfield, Illinois.
Six days after the assassination, Booth and Herold left the thicket and attempted to cross the Potomac River into Virginia. Due to Booth's injury and heavy fog, they got lost and ended up back in Maryland. After obtaining supplies, they mysteriously delayed their escape for a full day, spending another night in Maryland rather than moving further down the river as planned.
On April 22, aided by fog, Booth and Herold finally crossed into Virginia. However, Union forces were closing in, having arrested others involved in supporting the fugitives. In Virginia, they were refused shelter by Dr. Richard Stuart and later by William Lucas. Booth, angry and desperate, forced Lucas and his family to spend the night on their porch.
On April 24, after being unable to find lodging with Willie Jett, Booth and Herold arrived at Richard Garrett's farmhouse. Booth, using his acting skills, convinced Garrett they were Confederate soldiers. However, the Garrett family grew suspicious and made them sleep in the barn. This would be Booth's last night of freedom and sleep.
In the early hours of April 26, Union troops, tipped off by Willie Jett, surrounded the barn where Booth and Herold were sleeping. The Garretts had locked the barn, trapping the fugitives. Herold surrendered, but Booth refused. The soldiers set the barn on fire, and as Booth charged out, he was shot by Boston Corbett. Booth's dying words were, “Useless. Useless." He died at 7:15 AM.