The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-05-23
ANpREw JoHNsoN.
WAR DEpARrsrENr. n.
WASHINGTON CITY, Nav IA, 1867.

'" AK .DEPARIMEhIa
ls WASHINGTON CITY, May IA, 1867.
SIR: have the honor to submit here
with copy of the entries contained in
the memorandum book found on the
person of J. Wilkes Booth, at the time
Of his capture, certified by Gen. Holt,
Judge Advocate General, who has pos
session of the book, together with his
report in relation thereto. The memo
randum book WAS first seen by me
about the 26th day of April, 1855, short
ly after Booths capture, and few
hours before his remains reached Wash.
ington. 1t was brought to my house
by Provost Marshal Baker and another
person who was, I 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 Gen. Holt; also some pho
tographs Of females. Immediately pre-
cedIng the entries some pages appeared
to have been cut out, but there was
nothing indicating what had been
written thereon, or whether any
thing had been written, nor when or
by whom they had been cut out.
Immediately after careful -exRminR-
ton of the book and its contents, it
was placed in the hands of General
Eckert in the same condition as when
l first saw 1t to be delivered by the
Judge Advocate General, in whose pos
session, after its delivery to him by
Gen. Eckert, I am informed and be-
lieye it has continued until the present
time. The last time I saw the book
was some tfmelast winter. 1t was thon
before the Judiciary Committee Of the
House Of Representatives, and was in
all respects in exactly the same cOndi-
ton as when I saw it first, without any
change or alteration, SO far as i could
discover, in,its contents. Gen. Eckert
reported to me that uEon receiving the
memorandum-b book from me, he sealed
it up and locked it mp in his safe, and 1t
continhed in his possession until he de-
livered it to the Judge Advocate Cen
era, aud ,thatit was then in the same
condition as when 1t was brought to
my house by Baker. Very respectful
ly,Eyour obedient servaut, FfiETT
- 9 W. Edwin NJ. STANTON,
Secretary Of Var.
To the President: yso 80
The following Is a copy OF the writing
which was lupenoil found in the diary
taken from the body OF ]. Wilkes
Booth. ....s-.=.--
]. Holt, Judge Advocate General.
"Ti amo," April 18th, 14th. Friday
the Ides. Until to-day nothing was
ever thought of sacrificing to our conn
try's wrongs. For six months we had
worked to capture. but our cause being
almost lost, something 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 say. ]
walked with a firm step pthrough a thou
sand OF his friends and was stopped, but
\ pushed on. A colonel was at his side.
| I shouted 'tiSte Semper" Before I fired.
In jumping broke my leg. I passed
all his pIcEets. and rode 60 miles that
night with the bone of my leg tearing
the nesn at every jump. l can never
repent 1t, though we hated to kill. Our
] country owed all her trouble to him,
and God simply made me the instru.
mert OF his puntshment. The country
lis not what it was. This forced Uuion
is not what I have loved. / have No
4 desire to outlfve my country. This
article and left it for one of the ejitoEs
of the National I8telligeneer, in which i
fully set forth our reasons for our pro-
\ eeedinGs.s Heorthe Government.
Friday 2l.-After being hunted like
! a dog through swamps, woods, and
/ last night being chased by gnnhoats
4 tiIEIWas forced 70 return wet, cold and
starving, with every mans hand
against me am here in despair, and
| whyP Fol-. doing what Brutus was
honoreCf for, what made TeHSa hero,
and yeti for striking down a greater
ltyrant than they ever knew, am looked
upon as a common Cut-throat. My ac-
tion was pnrer than either OF theirs.
One hoped to be great, the other had
not only his country's, but his own
wrongs to avenge. I hoped for no gain.
I knew no private wrong. Istruck for