The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-04-24
BAGSOVER THEIR HEADS
THE TREATMENT GIVEN PRESIDENT
llNCOLN'S ASSASSlNS.

Extraordinary Measures Used to Prevent
Esuape Rescue and suicide-a Significant
Chapter of Unpublished History.
During the exciting times immedi-
ately following the assassination of
Abraham Lincoln the prisoners, who
were arrested in connection with that
affair, were confined on board of
United States monitors anchored in
the Potomac River, opposite the navy
yard. A history of the Washin gton
navy yard, written by Chaplain Henry
b. Hibben, which has just been issued
as an executive document by the Sen
ate, contains the orders given to the
commandant of the navy yard as to
the care OF those important prisoners,
and these orders revealed one OF two
features Of their treatment, which, it
is believed, have never before been
made public.
Department to Commodore j. B.
Montgomery, commandant of the
yard, and dated April 15, 1865, the
day Of MIR. Lincoln's death. It reads
as follows:
IF the military authorities arrest
the murderer Of the President and
take him to the navy yard, put him
In monitor and anchor her out in
the stream, with strong guards on
vessel, wharf and in navy yard. Call
on commandant of marine corps for
guard Have vessel Immediately pre-
pared, ready to receive the criminal
atany hour, day or night. EIe will
be heavily ironed and SO guarded as
to prevent escape OF injury to him
self"
Two days later the department
notified the commandant that 'the
War Department wishes special at
tention called this afternoon to order
OF fSaturday, 10Th instant. Keep q
boat in constant readiness and have
guard at the gate, that tho prisoner
can be safely got on board"
The first prisoners were received at
the navy yard that night, and the
following day Commodore Mont
gomery reported that Mike O'Flahor-
ty and Lewis Payne had been deliver
ed during tho night, and wero con-
fined on board the monitor Saugus,
in double irons and under a strong
guard Samuel Arnold was added to
the prisoners at 1900 clock the morn
ing Of April 10. The Same day the
commandant received orders to per
NIT no person to SOC or hold COM
munication with theprisoners without
pass signed Jointly by the Secretary
OF War and tho Secretary of the
Navy.
At lilo p. H., April 20, two more
prisoners were received at the navy
yard They were James Andrew
Atzerott and Ernest Hartman Ritchie,
his brother-in-law. April % the AS
slstant Secretary of the Navy sent
this order to Commodore Mont
gOmery:
The Secretary of War wishes Atze-
rott separated from his brother-in-
law, Ritchie, by putting the former
Ill another vessel, unknown to the
other prisoners; also, that ball and
chain to be put on each ankle of
Payne
On the following day the command
ant received directions which showed
that Secretary of War Stanton pro-
posed to neglect nc rrecaution to-
ward preventing any sort of COM
munication between the prisoners,
These directions were as follows:
''The Secretary Of War requests
that the prisoners on board iron clads
belonging to his department for bet
ter security against conversation shall
have a canvas bag put over the head
OF each and tied around the neck,
with hole for proper breathing and
eating, but not seeing, and that
Payne be secured to prevent self-de-
struction."
To this order, which is now brought
to light for the first time, Command
ant Montgomery replied on the same
day:
"The hoods were made, and have
been applied Us directed The pris-
oners arc in all respects entirely Sc
cure"
Ned SpanGler was taken from the
Old Capitol prison that day and con-
fined on one of the monitors. Three
days later, April 27, the commandant
reported to the Navy Department as
follows:
"David G. Harold, prisoner, and
tho remains of Wilkes Booth were
delivered here at 1.45 this morning.
The body of Booth is changing rapid
ly: What disposition shall be made of
Vt! 1t is now on board the iron-clad
JIontauk."
Later in the day the commandant
was handle an order, signed by
Secretaries 4elles and Stanton, di
recting him to permit Surgeon Gene
raj Barnes, Judge Advocate General
Holt, and certain other officers and
civilians, including q photographer,
to go on board the Montauk and see
Booths body. The order also direct
e.. that, after the Surgeon General
Lad made an autopsy, the body should
be placed in q strong box, carefully
sealed, and delivered to the change of
Col. l.. G.. Baker.
A letter sent to the Secretary OF
the Navy the following day by Com
mandant Montgomery shows that he
had no chance to calryfout part Of
this joint order The writer com
plains that the body of Booth was
suddenly and unexpectedly removed
by Col. Baker to tug and taken