The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-05-31
The DIary of y. Wilkes Booth.

The following is certified oopy of the
diary complete Of the assassin Of ABRAHAM
LIScobS, recently permitted to be pub.
lished
ri Amo. April l3-l4.-Friday the ides.
Until to-day, nothing was ever thought of
sacrificing to our country's wrongs. For
six months we had worked TO capture but
our cause being almost lost, something de.
oisive aud great must be done but its fail.
ure was owing to others, who did not
strike for their country with heart.
struck boldly, and not as the papers
say. | walked with firm step through u
thousand of his friends, aud was stopped,
but pushed on. A colonel was at his side.
| shouted sic Sempey" before fired. In
jumping broke my leg.
| passed all his pickets, rode sixty miles
that night with tho bone of my log tearing
the H,sh at every jump, | can never re.
| pent it, though we hated to kill, 0nr
country owed all her troubles to him,
aud God simply made me the instrument
OF his punishment Tho country is not
what il was. This forced Union ia not
what have loved | caro- not what be.
comes of me; have no desire to outlive
my country. This night--belore the deed
|
of the editors of the National htchigencer,
in which fully set forth opr reasons for our
proceedings. lie is the Government.
Friday, the 2lst, after being hunted like
a dog through swamps aud woods, the last
night boing chased by gunboats. till was
forced to return, wet, cold aud starving,
with every mans hand against me. am
here in despair, and whyp For doing what
Brutus was honored for; what made Tell a
hero aud yet, for striking down agreater
| tyrant than they ever knew, am looked
upon as common cut-throat. My action
was purer than either one of theirs. One
hoped to be great Hhe other had not only
his country's but his own wrongs to avengc,
| hoped for no gain. | knew no private
wrong. ! struck for my country, aud that
aloue-a country that groal ed beneath this
| tyranny, aud prayed tor this end and yet
now behold the cold hand they extend to
me. Col cannot pardon me If have done
wrong yet ca, not see my wrong, except
in serving degenerate people. The little
the very little, that | lott behind to clear my
mama, the Government will not allow to be
printed, SO enls ~. For my county
have given up all that makes life sweet
and holy brought misery upon my family
and am sure there is no pardon III the
heaven for mo, since man condemns mo so,
| have only heard of what has been done
except what | did myself, and it ills me
with horror. God, try and forgive me and
bless my mother. Tonight | will once
more try the river with the intent to cross
though had greater dcsire and almost
a mind 20 return to Washington and in n
measure clear my name, which feel car
do. do not repent the blaw | struck.
swerve before my God, but not to nun,
think have done well, though | am aban
doncd with the curse Of Cain upon mo. II
the world knew my heart that one blow
would have made me great, though did
desire no greatness. Tonight | try to es
cape these boodhouudI once more. Who
eau read his fate Gods will be done.
| have too great u soul to dio like a orimi
nal
O!mry H. spare m, that, and let mo die
bravely. bless The entire world. have
never hated or wrongod n y one. This las
act was not II wrong, unloss God DEGREES il
50, aud it is with him to damn or bless me
and from this brave boy with me. who often
prays; yes, before and since, with true
aud sincere heart, was it n crime in him
II not, why can he pray the sameH dc
not wish to shed drop of blood, but
must fight the course. "Tis all that's left
me.
Upon piece of paper found in the diary
and supposed to have been torn from it, il
written the following;
Ny dear-(piece torn ouO. Forgive me
but | have some little pride. cannot
blame you for want of hospitality you
know your affairs was sick tired, with o
broken limb, aud in need of medical advice
| would not have turned dog from my
door in such plight. However, you were
kind enough to give MS something to eat
for which ! moi only thank you, but OIL
account of the rebuke and manner il
which to-(piece torn ourl. 1t is not the
substance, but the way in which kindnesi
is extended that makes one happy in the
acceptance thereof. The sauce TO meat i,
ceremony meeting were bare without il
BE kind 10 accept the enclosed $5, although
hard to spare, for what we have received.