Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-02
Pursuit and Death of Wilkes Booth, the As
sassin of President Lincoln.


sassin of President Lincoln.
Below will be found iul and particular ac
count OF the pursuiI and death OF the assassin OIL
the late President. The account was tssgraphed
to the Bostsn Journal by ito special correspon.
den, at Washington;
Booth, after am"inalng President Lincoln
and Masking tragic exit from the stage Of the
theatre, mounted his horse and rode off, accompa.
MED by an accomps. named Harold, young
Narylandsr. To avoid suspicion they separated
meeting at a p.., called Marlboro. Booth in
jumping nom the box fractured one Of the .ma
bones ofhi, left leg ust above the ankle, and The
limb had swoen during the ride, causing muct
pain. Harold took him to the house Of a Dr.
Nudge, wher, the boot was cut of and the lint
baudassd. The two fuslives remained some
days in Maryland, and Harold state. that he saw
the cavalry and detectives very near their place OIL
coneealnent several times. They were harbored
/ by sympathizer with the rebel cause, and the
only persons who have given any information
about them are those loyal Southerners who are
easily distinguished by their dark skins. Mean
while Col. l.. c. Baker, Provost Marshal Of the
War Department, had taken no part in the search
made in Maryland for Booth by large military
force, aided by COL Olcott ,nd the New York
detectives, as he was waiting FOR some definite
Information Of Rooth's whereabouts. On Mon
day afternoon b. received intelligence that Booth
and Harold had probably crossed the Potomac at
Swans Point. Those engaged in searching for
them did not know they had crossed. Having
consulted maps Of Virginia, which he obtained
from the office Of the Coast Survey, Col. Baker
made up hi, mind that Booth and Harold must
have gone to the vicinity OF Port Royal, quiet
village b.low Fredericksburg, on the Rappahau-
ock. lie accordingly wrote to Gen Hancock re-
/ questing him to detail commissioned officer and
twenty-five cayilrymen to report to any one he
might designate. He then gave Instructions 10
two Of his detective force, Lieut.. Luther b. Baker,
( and +. J. Congsr formerly Lieu. Colonel OF the
cavalry regiment which Col. Baker commanded.
The eicort, which subsequently reported and
started off under the order, Of Detectives Baker
snd Conger, belonged to the Sixteenth New York
Cavalry which hn for some months been looking
after Mosby', guerilla, over in Virginia. Lieut.!
Edward p. llough.rly, who commanded the e.
oort, was at one time. resident in Boston. When
the rebellion brokc out he came here as private
of the Nsw York list, in which regiment be
fought in the fra, Bull Run battle lie after
ward, enlisted 10 the Berdln Sharpshooters, and
Was then transferred into the Sixteenth New York
Cavalry, where he has so distinguished himself
as TO secure promotion. lie was especially COM
msnded last "a when on m,king feconnolaance
near Culpspp.r Court House with small force,
he encountered kershaw's rebel Cavalry Division,
AMI calamity cut bis way out. Sergeant Boston,
Cotbett who shot Booth, is . religious enthusiast
who has made the character Of Cromwell bis
study. lie was born in England about thirty
three years ago, and is by trade hat fni,her
Abou, seven years since, while in Boston, he e1-
psrencsd religion, and when baptized assumed
the name Of the ely where he became converted
Since then be ha, always prayed for divine IN
struc,ion before taking any step 10 life, and he
says he has always been prompted what to do. lie
was one time prisoner At Andersonvlle, South
Carolini, and wn oae Of party OF sixteen who
escaped They we're hunted down with blood
hounds and only himself and one Of his compan-
ion, were brought back alive.
On the Sunday after President Lincoln was
assas,nated, Sergeant CorbeIt obtained leave to
attend service at Mekendree Chapel here, and
there prayed iervently that the assassin might be
punished
The detectives and their escorts went down in
a steamboat TO Bell. Plain, where they landed
before day on Monday mornng and struck across
for the Rappshannock.
There is a ferry above Port Royal, and the
ierymhn denied having ierried over any men
answering to the description Of Booth aud Har.
edi but a colored man, looking over Lieut.. B,-
kef, shoulder at a photograph Of Booth which
he wm shosiEg the ferryman, exclaimed.
81 got that man got that man across the
river lie was in a wagon With three Other me' -
Tue loyal-!housh sab,t--Nigiuuu VA, right.
Il appears that Booth and Harold had crossed
the Potomac in canos, for which they paid
three hundred dcars, and were net on the VIZ.
gina shore by two Conieden,. tflioeu With q
two horse wagon, Boh wore griy 'ujts without
any military insignia OF rsnk.
At Port Royal the detectives learned that one
Of the Confederate officers had a sweetheart at
Bowling Green, and had probably gone there; 90
the party started 10 pursuit, passing on their way
farm where resided two brothers named " lllnm
and John Garrett, who have been in the rebel
army, their house being about quarter OF a mile
from the road. After having gone abolt three
/ Ullttt utlouu 2 plItN HouAt Tue paTlN met q
loyal Vrslnian (ot dark skim Of sourse) and from
him learned that Booth and HNold we're at the
Giue,s. Right about w@ the word, and about
three o'clock in the morning the pursuers arrived
Tiers.
Here lot W state what the G,rrett, SAY about
their visitors, who came TO their house on Friday
or Saturday Of last week. he tugliyes were
brought in a wagon by two Confederate officers,
who spoks OF Booth ua wounded Marysnder on
his way home, and that they wished to leave him
there short time. and .ou.d take him away by
the 26Ih. Booth limped someshi,, aud walked
on ctuichs, about the place, complaining Of hi,
ankle. lie and Harold regularly took their meal,
at the house, aad both kept up appearances well.
One day at the dinner table the conversation
turned on the assassination Of the President, when
Booth denounced the assassination in the sesere,t
terms, saying that "there was no punishment Sc.
we're enough for the petpsIratot"
Al another time som, one said In Booths pres.
ssee that reward, amounting to 100000 bad been
offsred for Booth, and that he would like to catch
him, when Booth r,pl'd "Y., !, would be a