Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-01-13
SOLDIEliS DEPARTMENT.
NOBLE OLD RucksklN.
Tho Horse Llcntcnant Bni,cr Rode In Hi
Cl,aan A ftrr itt,oth

survivors Of tho brute creation nctivcl
participating n the war conilict. Tho oil
fellow is good specimen Of his kind. Hi
color Is indicated by his name, old Bucl
skin, and ho is familiar and historic ilp
uro upon the streets of Lansing. Upon an
fino day he may be seen briskly DRAWN
the family carriage or under tho saddle
moving along with the seductive, easy
Looping gait so suggestive of comfort ant
pleasure to the rider. Had he tho powc
of speech he would probably deliver him
self in the following patriotic fashion II
the American public; Permit mo 10 intro
duce myself rs Old Buckskin. ] am n vet
erau of tho war and member of the q. A
H., n native of Virginia and twonty-
yenrs of nge l was captured upon my
native soil by United States troops in 1862
and without the formaiity cF parole
east my fortunes with tho cause of the
Union. became an active member OF
the First District Of Columbia Cavalry,
where / made tho acquaintance of Liouton.
ant l.. b. Baker, my present owner and
rider, aud we at once became inseparnblo
friends and allies. Together wo partici.
pated in nume' GUS battl 5, skirmishes and
raids. In 1864 was wounded in tho shoul-
der, and carried the bullet in my flesh for
three years In April, 1866, with my friend
In command, led the pursuing party that
captured ]. Wilkes Booth, the assassina-
tor of President Lincoln At the close of
tho war my friend purchased my freedom
from the Government, md VIC have since
made our home at Lansing, tho capital city
of Michigan. In my old ago l am tendcrly
cared for and will not bo an applicant for
service pension"
Possessed of tho history of the old horse,
j could not restrain the impulse to inter.
-tnNV 10 20 tl,a In,
portaut event therein suggested.
Calling Mt his residence, found the
Licutcnanta man of medium build, of an
erect, military bearing, gentleman of re-
tincment and culture, with comfortable
worldly possessions, and entirely willing
to accord me the interview desired.
nsked IL he vouched for tho biography of
"Old Buckskin y he replied: "Yes, Buck
skin is right. investigated the circum-
stances of his youth and learned he came
from good old f. F. V.'stock i am very
proud OF him md would not part with him
atany price,
"Lieutenant, by what good fortune did
you occupy so conspicuous place in tho
pursuit and capture Of Boothm
"On the night OF the assassination was
In New York with my cousin, General L.
c. Baxter, chief of the United States mill
tary detective force. We were immedi.
n'oly ordered to Washington, and as soon
MS definite clew could be obtained, was
placed in charge of detail of twenty five
men from the Sixteenth NewYorS Cavalry
under Lieutenant Edward Dougncrty.
Colonel L. j. Conger, being familiar with
the country TO be traverscd, was detailed
rs my assistant and counselor, and we
shared each others opinions and confidence
from the start.''
"How was the clew obtained, what d.
rcetion did you take, and how soon did you
strike the trailn
''rhe clcw was obtained from colored
man who saw Booth and Harold cross the
Potomac near Chapel Point below Wash
ington. We took the tug John s. ldc,
down the river to Belle Plain Landing, de-
barking at ten p. M, but didnot strike the
trail until the subsequent afternoon. We
spent the night and next day until three
p. m. without success. We then halted
short distance fr, nj Port Conway Ferry,
on the Rappahannock. The command was
thoroughly usei up from hunger and be-
ing continuously in the saddle for seven
teen hours. We ordered dinner, when all
lay down except myself and orderly. My
anxiety led me down to the ferry and
there the trail was struck. Atlsherman to
whom i described tho men and showed
their photographs saw them cross the
ferry and werc as he thought taken to
Bowling Green by Captain Jett, of NIosby's
guerrillas. He thought they were still
at hotel, which he described. immedi-
ately reused the command and we pushed
out for ride of twenty-five miles to
Bowling Green arriving Mt midnight. The
command ut once took position surround.
ing the hotel, Booth and Harold were not
there, but in bed we found Captain Jett,
who, after much party and mt the muzzle l
of our revolvers, told us that Booth and
Harold were at Garretts farm, not far !
from the ferry we had left We then com.
PEELED him to mount his horse, aud un Ter
strong guard and the most careful serveil-
lance he led the way to Garrett's. Ar
irving about So'cloclS in the morning, Jett
was left under guard little way out, and
the command dashed up tho lano and SUR
rounded the house. dsmountcd in front,
throwing my rein 10 the orderly, entered
the house without much ceremony, soon
followed by Conger. The family were in
bed. Not being in mood to parley, our
vigorous methods soon brought q con-
fession from one of the Garrett boys that
Booth and Harold were both in the barn.
Upon this Conger rushed out, and
with tho command ut once surrounded
the barn. l compelled young Garrett
TO lead ths way to the barn door,
and sent him in to confer with Booth. |
could hear the conversation in an under
tone, and finally Booth 10 say You haye,
betrayed us; leave here, or will shoot
you.' The boy lost no time in getting out.
Shortly after, Harold, literally shaking
with terror, came to the door, and was at
Booths request, permitted To surrender.
~ then commenced parley with Booth
from the outside, told him of the situation,
the impossibility of his escape, urging him
TO qui rtlv surrender. This he refused, but
said: You are bravo man; you will
surely give me chance for my life. /
have but one leg; but, ny you will withdraw
your men twenty yards / will fight your
whole commando Ireplied we were not
there 10 fight, but to effect his capture. In |
the meantime preparations had been max
ing 10 fire the barn, the lower part |
being filled with loose corn fodder. |
The command had been dismounted to pre- |
vent confusion among the horses by the |
fire. then informed Booth of our inten-
tion. His only reply was: "One more
stain upon the old banner.' moment |
later the material upon one side of the
barn was fred, lighting up the whole in
terror. threw open the door and looked
upon the thrilling tableau.
Booth stood erect, supported by crutches,
carbiue in hand. For moment he gazed |
at the fire. made movement toward it,
then took position in center of the barn,
standing like wild beast ut bay; revolver
in hand, eyes rolling, hair dishevelled, the
smoke and flames sweeping and roaring
above him, he then started Tor the door.
drew back to be in position to seize him
ms he emerged, wheu the crack of a re-
volver was heard, and Sergeant Boston
Corbett had avenged the murder of Pres-
dent Lincoln. Booth plunged forward, and
lay upon 8 carbne, face downward.
ii rushed 10 his side, grasped his hand,
and found the bullet had entered his neck,
and that his limbs and body below tho
wound were paralyzed, but. his brain
seemed TO be still active. The strange,
exciting, werd-like scene, the holocaust
lighting up Booths clear.cut, handsome
face, with It's expression Of he ole despair,
oil ptpib m tod IN ha linz,