Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-10-03
The Secret History of Its Burial.

On Tuesday last, in accordance with orders
receive d at the Washington Arsenal by Gen.
eral Ramsey, Commandant OF the Post, from
General Grant, Secretary of War, the bodies
of the ASSASSINATION conspirators. as also the
body OF Henry Wirz, the AndersonviIIe tailor
were removed from their graves and reinterrec
in smother portion of the grounds. This reno.
val was rendered necessary in consequence OF
the projected Improvement Of the Arsenal
Grounds; the contractor for the removal Of
the old penitsntiary building, Mr. ]. T. Stock
bridge, being about to commence work.
1t viii be remembered that after the execu-
ton OF Mrs. Surrast, Lewis Payne, David E.
Herold, and Geo. A. Atzerost which took place
on the Sth of July, 1865, the bodies were low
cred and placed in white pine boxes, and were
Immediately inferred In graves just south of
the scafoid, near the east wall of the enclo.
sure, Mrs. Surratt being placed IN the north
grave and the others in the order in which
they stood on the scafold. Subsequently q
PLAIN white head was placed at eacn of
the graves, on which the names Of the parties
were painted black letters. Afterwards
some posts were planted and slight fence
was erected around the graves. The body OF
Henry Wirz, the Anderson willie jailor, WAC
was convicted by Military Commission
which sat In the Court OF Claims Rooms al the
Capitol. and who was hung at the old Capitol
Prison, November 10Th, 1865, was also taken
and buried just south of the grave Of AtZe-
TOdt. ..a ~ .f.--
The body Of J. Wilkes Booth. the PRINCIPAL
OF the conspirators, who was killed in the at
tempt to capture him at CARROTS farm, near
Fort Royal, on the Rappahanuock river on
the 26th of April, 1865, was buried in what
was known as the war;. OF the PenlteI-
tiary building, CHAT portion between the part
hseo as dwelling by the Warden and the
prison proper,) and in this connection 1t seems
10 be the proper time now to give the follow
ing particulars. heretofore unpublished. con-
corning the secret interment Of the remains
Wi nd IN
tors-Lleut. Col. Conger, Lieut.. l.. b. Baker
Lieut.. +. p. Dougherty, and detachment of
the 18th New York cavalry-arrived at the
navy.yaId at half past two O'Clock on the
morning of the 9th of April, when the
body Of ]. Wilkes Booth was placed on the
Monitor Montauk, on which others charged
confined, and Herold was assigned to quarters
on board. No visitors were allowed on boar
the monitors, but during the day large mum.
bers OF persons visited the yard and Jaw the
body from the wharf, it being laid on a car.
renters bench on board the monitor placed
near the tarret of the vessel Surgeon General
Barnes, with Surgeon Todd, OF the monitor,
and one or TWO army surgeons. made a post
mortem examination Of the body and removed
two OF the vertebrate. between which the bal,
which caused his death had passed. We
can positively assert that this was the
only portion OF the body removed. and that the
various reports put in circulation at the time,
mat hIs head was taken OFF, his heart taken out.
&c, were entirely unfonnded. A pine box had
been made previously, in which to bury the
remains, but this was not used, and about two
O'CLOCK on the day OF its arrival up river. the
body was wrapped in q gray army blanket,
placed in boat, in which was an officer of the
monitor with tour sailors, Gen. Baker, and two
detectives. The boat proceeded down stream
and finally stopped at the lower Arsenal wharf,
on which the BODY was placed; after which,
The boat returned TO the monitor, levinR Gen
Baker and his assistants in the Arsenal
grounds POUNDS :. Some few persons employed at the
evening, but report being put out that it was
the body OF a soldier who had been drowned
but little attention was paid TO it. Two men,
who had occasion TO remove the body, having
got some blood on their hands, cine near
spreading the report that it was Booths body.
but reing admonished to quietly wash the
blood of, and keep their mouths shut. they did
so, and bat few persons became aware
that the body was other than that Of drowned
soldier. as had been been reported. The body
remained on the wharf until after nightfall,
when preparation were made for the interment
Secretary stanton, Gen. Dyer, Chief Of Ord.
nance, and Col Benton, Commandant OF the
post, were on the ground, as we'll as Gen. Baker
and his detectives. Three men OF the laborers
gang were sent for, and they were first direct
ed to dig grave in one OF the penitentiary
cells, bat after taking up the brick flooring
they came 10 the granite foundation laid in
cemeIt,and they pronounced the work imprac.
tlcabe. spot was then selected in the ware
room, five or six feet south OF the iron door open.
ing INTO the prison from the Warden's Depart
ment, and they were directed to dig the grave
TO the depth OF about ten feet. The grave being
ready, the body. enclosed In an ammunition
box, larms case.) was brought In by tour Of
the ordnance men in charge Of q sergeant low
cred into the grave, and il was filled, th brisk
flooring being mostly replaced and the surplus
The burial having been accomplished, the
windows were boarded mp and the door made
secure-Secretary Stanton taking the key with
him. This key was kept at the W ar Depart
ment until a few weeks ago, when il was re-
turned TO the Arsenal officers
On the receipt OF The order for the removal Of
The bodies (includinR Booths on Tuesday, Ia
borers were at once set TO work and soon accom-
p1ished the work, taking them from the graves
before mentioned and carrying them to No. l
warehouse, where trench was dug few feet
from the north wall. In this trench the bod
les were placed, and as secrecy had been en-.
Joined, but few persons were aware that the
removal had been made. Notwithstanding
the length OF time that the bodies have been
buried the boxes containing them were 30
heavy and the odor from them 30 offensive as
to indic-te that decomposition had taken place
ture Of the soil. 1t would seem from this &C.
lion that the government does not intend to
give up the bodies to the relatives.
The bodies OF booth, Payne, Herold. Atze.
rodt, Wirz and Mrs Surratt now rest in q
common grave, where their ashes will be min
gled.
ARREST OF DEsERTRRs AND ATTEMPTED
EscAPE.-This morning Lieutenant Kelly, in
charge OF the detached force, arrested two
men on the Avenue or suspicion of being de-
police headquarters, and in passing in one Of
them made a break from the officer, and the
the other quickly followed, one running to his
utmost speed down Louisiana avenue and the
other turning into i street. At the time there
was quite a number Of persons about the
place, in clu ding reporters and police lieuten.
ants, ard the chase was quite exciting; MT.
Proctor, Of the Republican, being ahead
OF captain Reed, and others after
the louisiana avenue man, who
was finally captured. The chase after the
other man was just as exciting, he being
caught by Lieut.. Essex. When taken into tn
names but one asserted that "Be jabers I've
been round the wurnld twice: have been in
the Hinglish navy, from W b len des arted; I've
been i'm the Merican navy and desarted too,
aow do your best with me, and III desart
again." They were locked up at headquar.
tfrs ...., ...H
A CHARITABLE EnTERPRIsE-It will be
seen by reference to another column that the
&-Orion Association OF this District, will 9lye
s. grand tournament and festival pic mic at
Analos tan Island, on the 9TH and sth INST for
The purpose Of sending aid to the yellow fever
sufferers at Mobile ana Pensacola. We hope
our citizens and residentslwili encourage this
work by visiting the tournament where they
can enjoy q pleasant evening, and at same
time assist The suffering and afflicted. Able
orators, and the most nDexceptionabls Judges
will be present, and the com mlttee OF arrapre.
ments in sure pleasant and successful affair.
YOUTH AND BEAUTY-The sight in the
splendid ladies' saloon OF Harvey's oyster res
t,uInEt, ntr OF Inn street and tins Avenue,
n sH..n hNIl lS0r.