The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-05-22
WAR DEPARTMENT,


Sir,-I have the honor to submit here
with copy of the entries contained in
the memorandum book found on the per-
son of J. Wilkes Booth at the time of his
capture, certified by General Holt, Judge
Advocate General, (who has possession of
the book together with his report in re-
lation thereto.
The memorandum book was first seen
by me about the Goth day of April, 1868,
shortly after Booths capture, and few
hours before his remains reached Wash
ngton. 1t was brought to my house by
Provost Marshal Baker and another per-
son, who was, think, Lieutenant Colonel
Conger.
The book was then examined by me, in
presence of General Eckert, Assistant
Secretary of War, and was found to con-
tain only the entries certified by General
Holt also some photographs of females.
Immediately preceding the entries some
pages appeared to have been cut out, but
there was nothing indicating what had
been written thereon, or whether anything
had been written; nor when or by whom
they had been cut out.
Immediately after careful examination
of the book and its contents, it was placed
in the hands of General Eckert, in the
same condition as when | first saw it, to
be delivered to the Judge Advocate Ge-
neral, in whose possession, after its de-
livery to him by General Eckert, | am in
formed and believe it has continued until
the present time.
The last time ! saw the book was some
time last winter. 1t was then before the
Judiciary Committee of the House OF Re-
representatives., and was, III all respects, In
exactly the same condition as when | saw
it first, without any change or alteration,
so far as | could discover, in its contents.
General Eckert reported TO me that,
upon receiving the memorandum book
from me, he sealed it up and locked it up
in his safe, and it continued in his posses
sion until he delivered it to the Judge
Advocate General, and that il was then in
the same condition as when it was brought
to my house by Baker.
Very respectfully,
Your obedieut servant,
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
To the President.
The following is the copy of the writing
(which was in penciD found in the diary
taken from the body of j. Wilkes Booth.
Official copy: }. Holt,
Judge Advocate General.
" Te AmO."
APRIL 1914, 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-
cisive and great must be done. But its
failure 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 thou
sand of his friends; was stopped, but
pushed on. A colonel was at his side. |
shouted sic semper before / fired. In
jumping, broke my leg. passed all his
pckets. Rode sixty miles that night, with
the bone of my leg tearing the flesh at
every jump. ,
I can never repent it, though we hated
to kill. Our country owed all her troubles
to him, and God simply made me the in
strument of his punishment.
The country is not
April, 1865.
what it lcdS. This forced union is not
what ! have loved. | care not what be-
comes of me. | have no desire to outlive
my country. This night (before the deed)
| wrote long article and left it for one of
the editors of the National lnteNige,cer, in
which l fully set forth our reasons for our
proceedings. He or the GOy'r
Friday, 81.
After being hunted like dog through
swamps, woods, and last night being chased
by gunboats till was forced to return wet,
cold, and starving, with every mans hand
against me, am here in despair. And
why! For doing what Brutus was honored
for. What made Tell Hero' And yet
/, for striking down a greater tyrant than
they ever knew, am looked upon as COM
mon cut-throat. My action was purer
than either of theirs. One hoped to be
great. The other had not only his coun-
try's but his own wrongs to avenge.
hoped for no gain. knew no private
wrong. | struck for my country and that
alone. A country that groaned beneath
this tyranny and prayed for this end, and
vet now behold the cold hand they extend
to me. God cannot pardon me If l have
done wrong. Yet cannot see my wrong
except in serving degenerate people.
The little, the very little, | left behind to
clear my name, the Government will not al
low to be printed. So ends all. For my coun-
try | have given up all that makes life
sweet and holy, brought misery upon my
family, and am sure there is no pardon IN
the Heaven for me since man condemns me
SO. have only HEARD Of what has been
done Except what did myself }, and it
fills me with horror. God, try and forgive
me, and bless my mother. Tonight | will
once more try the river with the intent to
cross. Thoug gh have greater desire and
almost q mind to return to Washington and
in a measure clear my name-which feel
/ can do. / do not repent the blow struck:
| may before my God, but not to man. l
think have done well. Though am
abandoned, with the curse of Cain upon
me, when, if the world knew my heart,
that one blow would have made me great,
though did desire no greatness.
Tonight / try TO escape these blood,
hounds once more. Who, who can read
his fate Gods will be done.
have too great soul to die like crim-
nal. q, may lie, may He spare me that,
and lct me die bravely.
| bless the entire world. Have never
n ..l 10 laS xun Y