Columbia phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-05-11
Pnfauit aud Capture of Booth..:a.5ss. - &. !

d. ]7
"A eFeeiat deasatch to the New York Times,
'datsd Washingto A pril 27. 1865, says. : s
The fellow ing factsI obtained iromCol Baker
and THE sther persons engaged with him:
Attzthe lower couu ties Of Maryland were
seoared by a large force, consisting of 1000
cayairysand 560Sdetectives ard ci,tzens. On
Sunday !aee Col. Baker learned of il little ony
n Maryland some facts which satisfied him that
Booth and Harold had crossed the river about
II O'Clock am, and had gone into Virginia. A
telegraph operator, with small body of sol-
diers was sent down the river to tap the -wir cs
at - givtr place, and make certain inquiries
This party returned Monday morning last,
Bringing with them a~negro man, whom thev
picked up at Swan Point, who on being closely
interrogated, disclosed that he had seen parties
cross IN boat. and the description of these
partles insured Col. Baker that Booth nnd Har-
rotd were the men. Demand was made upon
Gen. Hancock for detachment Of cav alry, and
Sweuty eight of the 10th New York Were i'm
mediately sent to Col. Baker under the coin
mand Of Lieut.. Doherty. They we instructed
e 10 go Immediately to Port Royal; that. Booth
had crossed the river, and had had about time
10 reach that point, that lie could not ride on
horset ack, and must therefore have travel ed
slowly.
That night. the party went down the river
four miles, bus heard nothing satisfactory.
They finally, at daylight, brought up below
Port Royal some miles. They returned, finding
40 trace of The eritninalss TIL they got 10 Peri
Soy". Ferry. Lieut.. Baker rode up found the
ferryulan. and made inquiries. The ferryn,an
stoutly denied having seen any sucl. persons as
those described. Lieut.. Baker tlrottied him
and threatened him, yet he denied any know
ledge OF the persons sought. BY the side of
the. ferrymen, negro was sitting. Lieut..
Baker presented likeness of Booth and liar.
rod. The negro, u!on looking at these, ex-
claimed, why, massa, them's the een:leir en-
wo brought cross the river yesterday" The
ferry man then Admitted. that he had brought
Booth and Harold over the river in his boat.
The cavalry was started off and went fourteen
miles beyond Garrett's place. There they met
a negro, who said he saw two men sitting on
CARROTS porch that afternoon. The description
Of one accorded with that of Booth Lieut.
Baker and his party returned to CARROTS
house. Garrett denied that the two men had
been there. Baker threatened 70 shoot him if
he did not tell the truth. Garretts son there
upon came out of the house, and said the two
nler in the barn. The barn vas a once sur
rounded. Baker went up and raped at tie
door,. Bo 9th asked, who are YOU, friends or
foese Are yen Conte leyate>s l have got FIVE
n,cn III here, an.l protect ourselves
Lieut. Baker replied, 81 have fifty men oct
here; you are surrounded, and you may as well
aome out and surrender" Booth answered IL
shall never give up; I'll not be taken alive"
The instr ructlons were that every means posi-
Bile must be taken to arrest Booth alive, and
Baker, Co3ger and Doherty held consu.a-
lion few fee, from the barn. In the mean.
time, Booth was cursing Harold for his cow