The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-05-04
[orrIcIAL,l
War Department,

4
War Department, !
Washington, April 27--9:2 a. M.
To Major General Dix:
i J. Wilkes Booth and Harold we're chased
from the swamp in st. Mary's county, Md,
to Carrots farm, near Port Royal, on the
Rappahannock, by Col. Bakers force. The
barn in which they took refuge was fred
Booth was shot and killed, and Harold cap
tured. Booths body and Harold are now
here.
Signed, E M. STANTON.
Secretary of War.
Washington, April "a.
Yesterday morning squadron of
the 18th New York cavalry traced
! Booth and Harold TO barn. between
Bowling Green and Port Royal, near
Fredericksburg. The barn was sur
rounded and demand made for their
surrender, which Harold was in favor
of doing; but upon Booths calling him
a coward he refused to do so. The
barn was then set on fire, and upon
its becoming too hot Harold presented
himself and put his hands through the
door to be hand cuffed. While this
was going on Boath fred upon the
soldiers, upon which sergeant fired
at him. The ball took effect in the
head of Booth, killing him. Harold
was taken alive. Booths body was
brought to the Washington navy yard
last night. Booth was discoved in
barn by the cavalry. He declared his
intention never to surrender, and said
he would fight the whole squad, con.
sisting of % men, if they would per
NIT him to place himself 20 yards dis
tant. ...
| The scouting party was ander command
of Lieut.. Edward Dougherty. Booth was
on crutch, and lame He lived two hou s
after he was shot, whispering blasphemies
against the government, and reciting mes
sages to his mot her. At the time he was
shot it is said he was leaning on his crutch
and preparing to fire again upon his can.
tors. ..e..a e-e-a sszs ..-. .ars = "
To Lieut. Col L G Baker, special detective
OF the War Department, and his admirably
trained detective force, and the 18th N Y
cavalry, for their active part:cipaticns in the
seizure of criminals. the country owes a
debt Of gratitude for this timely service It
seems that detachlnents OF the 10th N Y
cavalry, numbering about % men. were dis
patched from this city under direction of
COL Baker, under charge of Lieut. Dough-
erty, accompanied by nine of Col Bakers
| officers, who captured and killed Booth and
captured Harold, one of his accomplices
alive. The cavalry after leaving here landed
at Belle Plain in the night and at once start
ed out in pursuit Of Booth and Harold, hav.
| ing previously ascertained from colored
man that they had crossed the river into
Virginia at Swan Point, in small canoe,
hired by Booth from a man for $50.
| Proceeding on te~aIds Bowling Graan.
some three miles from Port Royal, Lieut.
Dangherty, who was in comma nd of the
cavalry discovered that Booth and Harold
were secreted in large barn owned by a
man named Garrett, and were well armed.
| The cavalry then surrounded the barn, and
summoned Booth and Harold to surrender :.
New. York, April a5
1t appears by Harrold's account, Colonel
Baker sent Lieut. Col Conger and Lieut. Ba.
ker, of his detectives, with Lieut. Dougher-
ty and his cavalry. On reaching Garretts
farm they were told by son of Garrett
that there were two men in the barn. This
was on Wednesday. Proceeding to the
barn, Lieut. Baker was sent forward and
called upon Booth to come out, give up his
arms and surrender, and that young Garrett
would go into the barn aud receive the arms.
Upon his entering the barn, Booth exclalm-
ed: Get out of here; you have betrayed me.
A coloquy ensued, of which the following is
the substance:
Lieut. Baker-You must give up your
arms and surrender. We have come to take
! you, as prisoner, and will treat you as
prisoner. We will give you five minutes
to surrender or we will burn the barn.
Booth-Who are you, and what do you
want?
/, instructions had been given to Lieut.
Baker not to disclose the character of those
who were in pursuit)
Liet Baker-We want you, and we in
tend to take you prisoner.
Booth-This is hard case 1t may be
that am to be taken by my friends.
After some further coloquy of this sort,
Booth. seemingly convinced that he was ing
the tolls of Federrl soldiers, said:
Booth-Give me chance for my life. I
am a cripple with one leg. Withdraw your
men one hundred yards from the barn and
I will come out and fight you.
Lieut. Baker-We did not come here to
take you prisoner. You must give up your
arms and surrender.
Booth--Let me have time to consider.
A conversation between Booth and Har.
rold then took place in the barn, which was
not overheard by the party outside. In
about l5 or 90 minutes, Booth called out:
Booth-Who are you9 could bave
picked off half dozen Of your men, which
we were talking of. could have shot you
two or three times, but don't want to kill
anybody.
Lieut. Baker-Then give up your arms
and surrender. We have come here to take
you.
Booth will never surrender, I will ney-
er be taken alive.
Lieut. Baker-If you don't do so immedi.
ately. we will set fire to the barn.
Booth-Well my brave boys, prepare a
stretcher for me.