Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-05-06
COllOquy between 1t. Baker s Booth
Desperation Of the .assassts.
FROM WASHINGTON.

al, near IreueIicksDuFB, va
The barn was surrounded and demand
made for their surrender, which Harold was
in favor of doing, but upon Booth calling him
coward he refused to do so.
The barn was then set on fire, and, on it's
getting too hot, Harold again presented him
self, and put his hands through the door to
be handcuffed. While this was going on,
Booth fired upon the soldiers, upon which
sergeant fred at him. The ball Of the SER
geant took effect in the head of Booth, kill
ing him.
Harold was taken alive. He and Booths
body were brought to the Washington 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 % men, if they would
permit him to place himself twenty yards
| aistaue.
The scouting party was under the command
of Lieut.. Edward Dougherty. Booth was on
a crutch, and was lame. He lived two hours
after he was shot, whispering blasphemies
| against the Government and sending a fare
well message to his mother
At the time he was shot it is said he
was leaning on his crutch and preparing to
fire again upon his captors.
The Star has the following particulars of
the capture of Booth:
To Col. L. G. Baker, special detective of
| the War Department, and his admirably
trained detective force, and TO the 10th n.
\. cavalry, active participants in the seizure
of the assassins, the country owe a debt of
gratitude for this timely service.
1t seems that a detachment of the 10th N.
| \. cavalry numbering about % men, was des-
patched from this city on Monday, under the
direction of Col. Baker, in command of Lieut.
Dougherty, accompanied by some of Col. Ba-
ker's 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 started
| out in pursuit of Booth and Harold, having
previously ascertaIned from a colored man
that they had crossed the river into Virginia
at Swan Point in a small canoe hired by Booth
/ for $500.
Proceeding on toward Bowling Green, some
| three miles from Port Royal, 1t. Dougherty,
who was in command of the cavalry, discov
| cred that Booth and Harold were secreted in
large barn owned by man named Garrett,
and were well armed.
The cavalry then surrounded the barn and
summoned Booth and Harold to surrender.
WASHINGTON, April q.
Harold was inclined at first to give him.
i self up, but Booth accused him of cOwardce.
| Then Booth peremptorily refused to surren.
| der and made preparations to defend them
/ selves. In order to take the cOnspiratOTs
alive, the barn was fired, and the flames get
too hot for Harold, he approached the door of
| tue Darn and sgnifed his Willingness to be
| taken prisoner The door was then opened
i sufficiently to allow Harold to put his arms
through that he might be handcuffed. As an
| officer was about putting the irons upon Har-
ODDS wrists, Booth fred upon the party from
the barn, which was returned by the sergeant
| of the 10th n. Y, the ball striking Booth in
/ his neck from the effects of which he died in
| abous hours Before breathing his last he
was asked if he had anything to say, when he
replied Tell my mother that died for my
i my country"
Harold and the body of Booth were brought
into Belle Plain at eight o'clock last night
and reached the navy yard here at one
o'clock this morning.
| The statement heretofore published that
Booth had injured one of his legs by the fall
ing of his horse, has proved to be correct
After he was shot il was discovered that one
OF his legs was badly injured and that he was
| compelled to wear an old shoe and use
| crutches which he had with him in the barn.
Booth was shot about four o'clock in the
morning and died at about seven o'clock.
Booth had upon. his person some bills Of
| exchange, but only Sl75 in Treasury notes.
| 1t appears that Booth and Harold left Wash
ington together on the night of the murder
| of President Lincoln, and passed through
Leonardtown, Nd, concealing themselves in
| the vicinity until an opportunity was afforded
them to cross the river at Swan Point, which
| they did at the above date. The man who
was hired by Booth and his accOmplice to
| ferry them across the river was captured we
understand, but afterwards made his escape.
Harold has been lodged in secure place.
The Star in a later edition, has the follow
| ing of Booth:
Booth and Harold reached CARROTS some
| days ago, Booth walking on crutches.
| party of four or five accompanied them, VINO
| spoke of Booth as a wounded Marylander on
his way home, and that they wished to leave
him there short time, and would take him
away by the 26th, yesterday.
Booth limped somewhat and walked on
| crutches about the place, complaining of his
| ankle. He and Harold regularly took their
| meals at the house, and Booth kept up APP
pearances well. One day at the dinner table
| the conversation turned ON the assassination
| of the President, when Booth denounced the
! assassination In the severest TERMS saying
1 that there was no punishment severe enough
| for the perpetrator. At another time some
| one said in Booths presence that rewards
1 amounting 20 @zOU,UOO mad been Onereu Tor
Booth, and that ne would like to catch him,
when Booth replied: Eyes, it would be
good haul, but the amount will doubtless soon
| be increased to five hundred thousand dol.
lars"
The two CARROTS who lived on the place
allege that they had no idea that these par
ties, Booth and Harold, were any other than
what their friends represented them, paroled
Confederate soldiers, on their way home
They also say that when the cavalry appeared
in the neighborhood, and they heard that
were looking for the assassins that they sent
word to them that these two men were on
the place. In other words, they assert they
they are entirely innocent of giving the as
sassins aid and comfort, knowing them to be
sucte 90
The Ida, tug boat, reached here about 2
O'Clock, last night, with Harold and the two
men above referred to, as well as the body of
Booth. Harold we Immediately put in a safe
place. 1t is stated that thus far be has man.
ifested no desire to speak of the affair, but as
he was known as very laxative young man,
he may soon resume the use of his tongue.
Booth and Harold were dressed in Confede.
rate grey-new uniform. Harold was other
wise not disguised much. Booths moustache
had been cut of, apparently with scissors,
and his beard allowed to grow, which chang
ed his appearance wonderfully. His hair had
| been cut somewhat shorter than he usually
wore it.