Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-04-21

alive, but wounded, and when | saw
that the bullet had struck him just back
of the ear, about the same spot that his
bullet hit Mr.. Lincoln, | said within
myself, "what a fearful God we serve"
| little thought when | offered that
prayer at McKendree Chapel, that it
was to be answered in this way. And
yet there was the answer right at my
feet
After Booth had been cared for at
the house, went TO work, with others,
pulling down a shed that connected the
barn with other buildings in which corn
and other things were stored. This
was needful, as the fire could not be
stopped in the barn-it burnt entirely
down. When we had done what we
could to save property, Lieutenant
Doherty told me TO mount my horse
and ride round the neighborhood and
See if | could find a place where they
could breakfast half OF the men. rode
off TO a spot where | could be alone
and pray; and when had gone through
my usual morning prayer, | asked the
the Lord in regard TO the shooting and
at once was filled with praise, for |
ielt clear consciousness that il was an
act of duty in the sight ofGod. l then
arose, went on my way. and accomplish
ed my errand. ! found house, not
far off, where they promised to do the
best they could. There were several
Confederate officers there, returned,
paroled, from Lees army. They asked
me if the news was correct that they
had heard-they had seen the fire and
heard OF the capture of Booth. told
them it was. They offered no violence
at all, and | had no trou0le with them.
| don't know how it might have been
if we had taken our man alive.
The question has often been asked
why didn't you bring him in al:vei |
have lately answered what's the usc'
jeff Davis was brougt in alive, aud he
is alive yet. When | returned | found
that Booth was still alive, he lived on
until we had taken some breakfast. De
tectve Conger then selected me TO ac-
company him to Belle Plains-riding
ahead Of the party TO take the news to
Washington as soon as possible. When
we reached Belle Plains we rode out
in the water as far as we could, when
he fired shot as a signal, and a steam
boat sent their small boat for him, into
which ne jumped from the saddle. l
then went back, leading his horse, and
waited until our party arrived, when
we all got on board the same tug that
brought us down, and returned. When
we got 10 Washington we met l.. Z.
Baker, who came out TO meet Us on All
other boat. He ordered our boat 10 the
navy yard, where we arrived in the
night time, perhaps about two o'clock
a. NJ, April 81. We passed the body
of Booth 10 the monitor Montauk,
where it remained till Surgean General
Barnes performed an autopsy, removing
a portion of the neck-bone, showing
where the bullet had gone through, sew
ering the spinal cord. And that can
now be seen in the very building in
which he shot our President. Ford s
theatre was purchased by the govern
ment and remodled inside, and turned
into Museum of curiosities of the war.
WHAT WAS DONE WITH THE BODY.
Booths body was buried in cellar
OF the old pcnitentiary, at Washington,
which is inside OF the arcnal grounds.
A false report was circulated that it was
taken away in boat aud dropped into
the water. That was not so. 1t was
removed from the cellar aud buried IN
another part Of the arsenal grounds with
the bodies of the conspirators, and be.
tore President Johnson left the Pres-
Dental chair, he gave those bodies TO
their friends; and if any one is curious
enough now to 60 to the spot in Green
mount Cemetery, outside of Baltimore
they may there find the family burial
plot of the Booth family. Gu one side
OF the monument is an inscription TO
the father, the celebrated actor; on tho
other side are the names of some OF the
children, and among the rest j. Wilkes
Booth.
In the end Of the assassin We see the
swift and sure retribution of the AL.
mighty. AS he had done to another, so
it was done to him again. Not without
warning however Let all such know
that God has said: "Them that honor
me will honor; and they that despisc
me shall be lightly esteemed"
In reference 10 firing the shot, i: was
falsely reported that | did so in viola
ton of orders. When questioned abou.
it, Lieutenant Doherty replied: IL Dei-
ther ordered nor forbid the sergeant to
fire. He used his own discretion, and /
entirely approved Of the act" In his
official repor he not only cleared me
from blame, bat gave me credit for
prompt discharge of duty, aud recon-
mended me for promotion.
Booth and Harold were captured on
the farm of Mr.. Garrett, about three
miles from Port Royal, in Caroline
county, Virginia, on the 26th day Of
April, 1865.
HAYES AT AIDDLETOWN.
HOW THE OHIO COLONEL WAS WOUNDED