Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-05-23

Executive MANSION,
ID O.. Nav a lSiT.

Executive MANSION, I Z
WARRINGTON, ID. O., May 8. 1857.
The Secretary of War will please fur.
nish the President with certified copy
of the diary found on the body of j.
| Wilkes Booth, together with a succinot
4 statement Of all the facts connected with
its capture and its possession by the War
| Department
| [Signed1 ANDREW JOHNSON.
WAR DEPARTMENT.. WAsaISaTTos Cry,
SIR: l have the honor to submit here
with copy of the entries contained in
the memorandum book found on the per-
son of. Wilkes Booth at the time of his
capture, certified to by General Holt,
Judge Advocate General, who has pos
session of the book, together with his re-
port in relation thereto The memoran-
dunn book was first seen by me about the
26th day of April 1865, shortly after the
capture of Booth, and few hours before
his remains reached Washington.
1t was brought to my house by Provost
Marshal Baker and another person, 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
contain only the entries certified by
General Holt; also some photographs of
females. Immediately preceding the en-
tries some pages appeared to have been
cut out, but there was nothing indicating
what had been written thereon, or whether
anything had been written, or when or
by whom they had been cut out.
Immediately after careful examiua-
ton of the book and its contents, it was
! placed in the hands of General EckaTt, in
the same condition as when | first saw it,
to be delivered to the Judge Advocate
General, in whose possession, after its
delivery to him by General Eckert, am
informed 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 Commit
tee of the House of Representatives, and
was, in 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 ne that
upon receiving the memorandum book
from me he sealed it up and locked it up
in his safe, and ii continued in his pos
session until he delivered it to the Judge
Advocate General, and that it was then
in the same condition as when it was
brought to my house by Baker.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
To the President:
The following is a copy of the writing,
which was in pencil, found in the diary
taken from the body of j. Wilkes Booth.
]. Holt,
Judge Advocate General.
Ii Amo, April 49, l4.-Friday the ides.
Until to-day nothing was ever thought of
Sacrificing to our couHtry' s wrongs. For
six months we have worked to capture
but our cause being almost lost, some
thing decisive 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
saw. / walked with frm step through
a thousand of his friends, and was
stopped, but pushed on. A colonel was
at his side. l shouted "Sic Semper" be-
fore l fred. In jumping l broke my leg.
/ passed all his pickets; rode sixty
miles that night with the bone of my leg
tearing the flesh at every jump. | can
never repent it, though we hated to kill.
Our country owed all our troubles to
him, and God simply made me the in
strument of his punishment. The coun.
try is not what it was
April 8, lS65.-This forced Union is
not what have loved. / care not what
becomes of ne; have 30 desire to out
live my country. This night-before the
deed wrote long article, and left it
for one of the editors of the National
InteIliqencer, in which / fully set forth
our reasons for our proceedings. lie is
the Government
Friday, the 2lst, after being hunted
like dog through swsmps and woods,
the 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 why2 For
doing what Brutus was honored for, what
made Tell hero, and yet |, for sticking
down q greater 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.
The other had not only his conn
try's but his own wrongs to avenge
hoped for no gain l knew no private
wrong. / struck for my country, and
that alone-a country that groaned be-
meath this tyranny, and prayed tor this
end. and yet now behold the cold hand
they extend to me. God cannot pardon
me If / have done wrong, yet | can not
see my wrong, except in serving degsn-
crate people. The little, the very little
that | left behind to clear my name, the
Government will not allow to be printed,
so ends all For my country / have
given up all that makes life sweet and
holy; brought misery upon nay family,
and am sure there 10 no position in the
heaven for me, since man condemns me
40 1 have only heard Of what has
been done, except what / did myself,
and Il fills me with horror God, try
and forgive me, and bless my mother.
Tonight / viii once more try the river
with the intent 10 cross, though l had
greater desire and almost 3 mind TO re-
turn 20 Washington, and in q measure,
elear nv name, which / feel can do.
40 not repent the blow l struck ! swear
before nv God, but not to man, think
| I have done well, though / AN aban-
! doned With the curse Of Cain upon me.
1 n the world knew my heart, that one
blow would have made me great, though
l / aid desire no greatness Tonight 1
will try 10 escape these bloodhounos
/ - -, Who can rad hiF fate