The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-08-24
Wilkes Booth.
THE STORY BY MAJOR CAsKIE, THE CON
FEDERATE GENERAL. ...

The following episode in the life of
John Wilkes Booth, related by our ar
tist, Major Caskie, who served the Con
federacy with distinction, derives in
tcrest from the light it sheds on the
spirit of Americas terrible tragedian.
1t exposes a ripple Of the current on
which Booth drifted helplessly into the
commission of his insane act by which
the return of peace and good will was
delayed and the South committed to
temporary decay. Of all the misfor-
tunes that bef,ll the South Booth was,
perhaps, the greatest And yet it is
doubtful if he had any sincere friend
ship for it, Though protesting strong
sympathy with its struggle he might
have participated in it as an honorable
warrior He did not, however, and his
assassination of Lincoln, which, excus-
able at no time, could only result in
disaster to the South, now that peace
was concluded, must be regarded as the
act of madman whose courage, like
Guiteau's, took direction only in the
line of his insanity. Major Caskie re-
lates the following facts "Upon the
announcement at Richmond, Virginia,
of John Browns raid, the Richmond
grays were ordered to proceed at once
to Harper's Ferry. Before starting,
the guard in charge of the train to pre-
vent citizens from accompanying the
troops, reported to the quartermaster
that they had discovered an actor in
stage costume concealed in the baggage
car. The stowaway was no less a
parsonage than John Wilkes Booth, who
was supposed to be supporting Maggie
Mitchell on the Richmond boards. To
the guartermaster he stated that, seized
with desire to aid in stamping out
abolitionism, he had left between the
acts, and he begged not TO be elected
from the train, declaring that, while
not soldier, he felt an irresistible i'm
pulse to aid in Furnishing the old
scoundrel' who had attempted to preci.
pitate trouble upon the State and coun-
try. The quartermaster demonstrated
with him against leaving the stock COM
pany with which he had been playing,
and used every effort, short of force, to
prevent his going. Booths purpose,
however, was infexible, and the quar-
termaster, not desiring to use force
against person of so gentlemanly ad-
dress, consented to employ him in a
subordinate service, for which Booth
seemed very grateful. In camp the
actor, by strict attention to duty, ma
tural modesty and gentlemanly conduct
wormed himself into the good graces
of the officers, many of whom, as for
instance, General Turner Ashby, Colo
mel Dick Ashby, the Generals brother
Major Bird Washington and Captain
Horner, afterwards won high distinc.
ton. After the removal of Brown TO
Charlestown, scouts reported to Gener.
al Taliaferro the startling information
that raiders, intent on the rescue of the
celebrated prisoner, had crossed over
from the North, and they had observed
signals by scintillations of light at a
point in the mountains some few miles
distant. Several other parties corrobo
rated the statement made by the scouts
but nothing positive could be ascertain
ed and the report created intense ex-
element Booth asked the command
ing officer to be permitted to reconnoi
ter the situation, and some of the Off
GERS, vouching for his integrity, Talia
ferro consented to the proposition
Booth saw the lights and shared the
opinion of the scouts, but he was de
termined to fsthom the matter to it,
depth, so he crawled to the place undel
cover of the darkness, when, to hi
surprise, he found that the so called
signals were merely sparks from thu
chimney of a little cabin occupied by
an old couple, who were burning larg,
chunks of wood to keep comfortable
They said they had heard nothing O
| the John Brown raid and were igno
rant of unusual proceedings from any
quarter, Booth reported these facts t
General Taliaferro, who seemed to dis
credit them, at which the former asked
that he send some of the scouts will
him, upon whom he had more reliance
and assured him that their report woulC
show that the signals and the suppose,
army of rescuers were all IN nu5ibuS
This emphatic challenge inclined Talia
ferro to the belief that Booth was tell
ing the truth, and, to make thing
doubly sure, he sent the scouts, who
with Booth, visited the cabin. Her
one of the scouts inquired of the ol,
couple if they had seen any pyrotech
mic displays in their neighborhood re
Gently. They were perfectly surprises
at the question. A soldier man, whom
they recognized as Booth, they said
had presented himself the night befor
during the wee, small hours and mad
the same inquiries. General Taliaferr
was satisfied with this solution of tn
matter, and the excitement blew owe
as suddenly as it had appeared, Boot
remained with the company until afte
the execution of John Brown and the
| returnad IN theatrical lifa ~