Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-28
The Pursuit and Capture of Booth
and Harold.

| WASHINGTON, April27. " eSterday morn
| ing squadron of the 18th New York cav
airy traced Booth and Harold to barn
| between Bowling Green and Port Royal,
near Fredericksburg, Va. The barn was
surrounded and demand made for their
surrender, which Harold was in favor of
doing, but upon Booths calling him cow
ard, he refused to do so. The barn was
then set on fire, and upon its getting too
hot Harold again presented himself and
put his hands through the door to be hand
cuffed. While this was going on Booth
fired upon the soldiers, upon which SER
geant fired at him. The ball of the sergeant
took effect in the head of Booth, killing
him. Harold was taken alive and he and
Booths body were brought to the Wash
ington Navy Yard last night. Booth was
discovered in the barn by the cavalry. He
declared his intention never to surrender,
and said he would fight the whole squad,
consisting of twenty-eight men, If they
would permit him to place himself twenty
yards distant. "i .-t .
The scouting party was under command
of Lieut.. Edward Dougherty. Booth was
on a crutch and was lame. He lived two
hours after he was shot, whispering BIAS
phemies against the Government and send
ing farewell message to his mother. At
the time he was shot 1t was said he was
leaning on his crutch and preparing to fire
again upon his captors. a g-i.,.1 .[.
The Star has the following particulars of
the capture of Booth: To Lieut.. Col. L. B..
Baker, special detective of the War De-
partment, and his admirably trained detec-
tive force, and to the 10Th N. Y. cavalry, act
i've participators in the capture of the GRIM
inals, the country owes debt of gratitude
for this timely service. 1t seems that a de-
tachment of the 10th New York cavalry,
numbering about twenty-five men, was
despatched from this city on Monday under
the direction of Col. Baker, in command of
Lieutenant Dougherty, accompanied by
some of Col. Bakers officers, who captured
and killed Booth, and captured Harold,
one of his accomplices, alive. The cavalry,
after leaving here, landed at Belleplaine in
the night, and at once started out in
pursuit of Booth and Harold, thav-
ing previously ascertained from color
ed man that they had crossed the river into
Virginia at Swan Point, in a small canoe,
hired by Booth from man for $500. Pro-
ceeding on toward Bowling Green, some
three miles from Port Royal, Lieut.. Dough-
erty, who was in command of the company,
discovered that Booth and Harold were Sc
creted in a large barn owned by man
named Garrett, and were well armed. The
cavalry, then surrounded the barn and sum-
poned Booth and Harold to surrender.
Harold was inclined at first to accede to
the request, but Booth accused him of cow
ardice. Then they peremptorily refused to
surrender, and made preparations to defend
themselves. In order to take the conspira-
tors alive, the barn was fired, and the
flames getting too hot for Harold he ap-
preached the door of the barn and signified
his Willingness to be taken prisoner. The
door was then opened sufficiently to allow
Harold to put his arms through, that he
might be handcuffed. AS an officer was
about placing the irons upon Harrold's
wrists, Booth, fired upon the party from the
barn, which was returned by the sergeant
of the 10th New York, the ball striking
Booth in the neck, from the effect of which
he died in about four hours. Before breath
ing his last he was asked If he had anything
to say, when he replied, "Tell my mother
that died for my country. Harold and
the body of Booth were brought into Belle
plaine at 8 o'clock last night, and reached
the navy yard here at ] o'clock this morn
ing. .,.soi,,lr. 5,..st.
Booth had injured one of his legs by the
falling Of his horse has proved to be correct,
After he was shot 1t was discovered that
one Of his legs was badly injured, and that
n6, WAS COLupCllCQ w WCdl all Olu bHO0 duu
use crutches, which he had with him in the
barn. Booth was shot about o'clock in
| the morning, and died about O'Clock,
Booth had upon his person some bills OF
/ exchange, but only $l75 in treasury notes.
1t appears that Booth and Harold left
Washington together on the night of the
murder of President Lincoln, and passed
through Leonardtown, Maryland, conceall
| ing themselves in the vicinity until an OPP
portunity was afforded them to cross the
river at Swan Point, which they did al
above stated. The man who hired Booth
and his accomplice the boat In which,he
crossed the river was captured, we underl
stand, but afterwards made his escape.
| Harold has been lodgediin secureIplace.
Bowling Green, near which place Booth
was killed, is post village Of the capital
of Caroline county, Virginia, on the road
from Richmond to Fredericksburg, 65 miles
north of the former place. Port Royal is 1
post village In Caroline county, YirginiS