The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-05-05
Capture of Booth and Harold.
BOOTH SHOT AND KILLED,

WASHINGTON, April 27.-Tbe follow
ing account of the pursuit of Booth and
Harold is more correct than that so far
published; On Monday, 24th inst, de-
tachment of the 10th New. York cavalry
were ordered by General Hancock to re-
port to Lieutenant Colonel Baker, special
detective Of the War Department. This
detachment numbered % men, under CON-
mand of Iieutenat Dougherty.
On the afternoon of the same day Col
onel Baker detailed Lieut.. Colonel Conger
and Lieut.. Baker, of his detective force,
to 60 in pursuit of Booth, placing the
aforesaid body of cavalry in their charge
and their explicit command. At 2 P.
M. the force left this city on the j s.
ldes, and at 10 o'clock, p. NJ. they dlsem.
barked at Belle Plain, aud took the road
towards Fredericksburg, travelling tn ere-
on hree miles, and then turning in u
southeasterly direction towards the Rap
pahannock.
They stopped at all the houses on the
route, enquiring for any Maryland men
OF Lees army who might be travelling in
that section. They continued their jour-
ney through the night and next day, until
noon, when they reached Port Conway on
the north side of the river, opposite Port
Royal.
There they found man who, upon see
ing photograph Of Booth, Harold and
Surratt, pointed out the two former as the
men who he was positive he had seen the
day before, at one o'clock p. NJ, at Port
Conway. He said that these men endea-
vored to hire him to carry them to Bow
ling Green, but they could not agree in
bargaining, and that subsequently Harold
came to him and said they had met friends
and did not want bis services.
Their informant also stated that he saw
party of Rebel soldiers convey the two
men, whom he recognized by the photo
graphs, across the river. Lieut.. Col. Con-
ger and Lieut.. Baker decided to take this
man as guide. They commenced cross.
ing the river with their force at 2 P. NJ,
having boat which could only carry seven
men at once, they did not finish crossing
till o'clock.
They then proceeded half way from
Port Royal TO Bowling Green, where they
found some women, who stated that par
ty of Confederate soldiers had returned on
Tuesday one less in number, and that
neither of those who came back was lame.
They subsequently ascertalned that the
soldiers went three miles with Booth to
the house Of Mr.. John w. Garrett, and
that Harold continued on to Bowling
Green on Monday night Also, that Hsr-
old returned to CARROTS on Tuesday at
ternoon.
The pursuing force passed CARROTS
house few minutes after Harold's return
to it, and went on some fifteen miles to
Bowling Green. There they captured one
Of the Confederate soldiers who had been
with Booth the day before. He made a
statement to them as to the whereabouts
and movements of Booth and Harold, fully
confirming that above given. This was
at 8 o'clock on Tuesday night.
They then went back to CARROTS,
which they reached at 2 A. NJ, surround
lug the dwelling and out houses. To the
first question as to the whereabouts of
Booth and Harold the family gave no sat-
isfactory answer, but soon after the son of
one of the Garrett brothers confessed his
knowledge of them both being at that no.
ment in the barn.
The force was then formed around the
barn, at distance of about thirty feet from
the barn, and Colonel Conger sent Gar
rett into the barn to tell the fugitives to
surrender 10 them their arms and come
out and deliver themselves up. Booth
threatened him, saying he had betrayed
them, and must leave the barn. I4ieuten.
ant Baker then went to the door of the
barn and demanded q surrender, which,
after long parley, was refused.
Lieutenant Colonel CoDger then pulled
some hay through crack and ignited
it, and pressed it back into the barn.
Booth then came near the corner where
Col. Conger stood, to shoot the man who
fred the barn. He stood with pistol
raised and peering into the darkness, but
was unable to perceive any one. He then
'urned ana ga2sd upon the flames and
then started for the door.
Sergt. Corbett, of the cavalry force, in
violation of orders, left the line, and, 60
ing close to the wall before him, fred
pistol throug b the crack, shooting Booth
in the head. He fell as soon as shot
The ball had severed the thorax. Lieut..
Col. Conger and Lieut.. Baker then enter
ed the barn and carried him into the yard.
Lieut.. Col. Couger placing is ear to tho
mouth of the dying man, heard him say
"Tell mother died for my country"
A messenger was despatched to Port
Royal for physician, but when the doc
tor arrived he was too exhausted to be re-
vived by human skill Booth was also
heard to say: 81 thought l was doing
the best for the country" "Kill me !"--
"Kill me ~
A. ID