The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-03-03
The Removal of the Remains of Mrs.
Surratt.

eSAuny iHoiliInS iOI Ine delivery VI the
remains of Mrs. Surratt to Father
Walter, of St. Patrick's Church, OF
this city, and yesterday afternoon at
three o'clock that gentleman, in Com
pany with Mr.. Towne and Harvey d
Mari, undertakes, proceeded to the
Arsenal, and the remains were st once
disinterred.
Immediately after the execution,
Mrs. S%urratt's remains, with those of
Payne, Harold and Atzerodt, execu-
ted at the same time, were placed in
boxes and inferred in graves rear the
scaffold, her body being at the north
end of the row, and the others adjoin-
ing her remains in the order named
above. In the box with each body
there was also placed the name of the
party, written on parchment, inclosed
in a bottle. The body of Booth was
also buried ear there; hat is, inside
the old Penitentiary building, neal the
main door of the Warden's residence.
The burial of Booth was quietly made,
in the presence of Secretary Stanton,
General Lafayette G. Baker and two
of his officers, and Colonel Benton,
Commandant of the Arsenal; and after
the grave had been filled and a por-
ovar If. the
windows of the wareroom were board
ed up, and the door locked. The
body of Wirz, the Andersonville jail
er, was placed in the yard adjoining
the body of Atzeredt. For some time
the bodies were allowed to remain in
this position. A wooden fence was
erected around the graves, and a
wooden headboard, with the name of
the person buried below, placed at
each grave. In the fall of 1867,
when the demolition of the Penitenti-
airy building. was determined on, it
became necessary to remove the bod
les, and they were buried in the ware
house known as No. 1 (the second build
ing below the principal office, the
bodies being placed Under the tagging.
Mas. Surratt's was laid next to the
north wall of the building, and the
others adjoining, in the following or
der Payne, Harold. Atzerodt, Wirz
and Booth. There the bodies of
all have remained until yesterday.
The coffin, when lifted, was in toll
cradle condition, and when opened
the remains were found to be in an
excellent state of preservation. The
face, though black, was yet pei feet in
features, and the whole body compact
and firm. The dress looked we'll, and
the gaiter shoes appeared to be not
the least soiled. Upon the day of her
execution her daughter Anne, who
her, took from her own bonnet
n steel arrow ard stuck it upon her
mothers dress close up to the neck,
and which remained where it had been
placed by the daughter. The bottle,
with the name of Mrs. Surratt written
upon piece of parchment within,
also in the coffin, and without
shifting any thing the coffin was plac-
ed in the u~ndertaker's wagon and driv-
en- out Four-and-a-half street to Mary
land avenue, along Maryland avenue.
to the Capitol, passing around the.
left of the Capitol to New Jersey as-
enue, out New Jersey avenue to H
street, and from thence to Mount Oil,
vet Cemetery. Father Walter, who
had preceded the remains, was there
in waiting to receive them, and they
were taken from the coffin in which
they were and transferred into a hand
walnut coffin, and then placed in
the vault until to-day.
Anne Surratt, her brother Isaac, a
lady friend of the family, Father Wal
ter and Mr.. Towne will be present at
the funeral, which takes place to-day
at half-past two o'clock. 1t is intend
ed that the interment shall be con-
Quoted with the strictest privacy, and,
the exception of the undertaken
and those mentioned, none others win
be present.
The following is a copy of the petit
ton of the daughter of Mrs. Surratt
for the removal of her mothers re
to the President, and the reply
of the latter:
His Excellency the President of the United
States:
The undersigned most earnestly
and respectfully addresses your Ex-
on a matter which has been
for more than three years to her a
source of great affliction. She seeks
the privilege of removing the remains
Of her deceased mother. to have them
inferred in consecrated ground.
She fondly hopes that your Excel
ency will not allow your authority in
the premises to expire without grant
ing this request, prompted only by
illial love and devotion to the memory
Of her dear mother.
ANNE E. SURRATT.
Upon this petition there is the fol-
indorsement: