Year: 1867

|
| Official copy j. Holt,
| Judge Advocate General.
| ''Te An1o
| APRIL 1874, FRIDAY, THE IDEs.
Until to-day nothing was ever thought of
| sacrificing to our cOuntrys wrongs. For six
| months we had worked to capture. But our
cause being almost lost, something decisive and
| great must be done But it's failure was owing
to others who did not strike for their country
| with a heart. [ struck boldly, and not as the
papers say. [ walked with firm step through
thousand of his friends; was stopped, but
pushed on. A colonel was at his side.
shouted sic semper before fired. In jumping,
broke my leg. passed all his pickets. Rode
sixty miles that night with the bone of my leg
tearing the flesh at every jump.
L can never repent it, though we hated to
kill. Our country owed all her troubles to
him. and God simply made me the instrument
of his punishment


| The country is not


April, 1865.
what it vas. This forced union is not what I
have loved. [ care not what becomes of me-
night before the deed) [ wrote long article
and left it for one of the editors of the National
Intelhgeacer in which fully set forth our rea-
sons for our proceedings. He or the Gov'r
Friday, q.
After being hunted like dog through
swamps, woods, and last night being chased by
gunboats till [ was forced to return wet cold,
and starving, with every mans hand against
me, I am here in despair And why? For
doing what Brutus was honored for. What
made Tell Hero? And yet [, for striking
down greater tyrant than they ever knew, am
looked upon as a common cut-threat. My ac-
tion was purer than either Of theirs. One hoped
to be great The other had not only his coun-
trys but his own wrongs to avenge. | hoped
for no gain. [ knew no private wrong |
struck for my country and that alone A coun-
try that groaned beneath this tyranny and
prayed for this end, and yet now behold the
cold hand they extend to me. God cannot par
don me if have done wrong Yet | cannot
see my wrong except in serving degenerate
people. The little, the very little, I left behind
to clear my name, the Government will not al
low to be printed So ends all. For my coun-
try have given up all that makes life sweet
and holy, brought misery upon my family, and
am sure there is no pardon in the Heaven for
me since man condemns me so. l have only
HEARD of what has been done Except what |
did myself, and it fills me with horror. God,
try and forgive me, and bless my mother To
night will once more try the river with the
intent to cross. Though have greater de-
sire and almost mind to return to Washington
and in measure clear my name-which | feel
| can do. | do not repent the blow [ struck.
| may before my God, but not to man. [ think
have done well. Though | am abandoned,
with the curse Of Cain upon me- when, if the
made me great, though [ did desire no great
ness


Tonight [ try to escape these bloodhounds
once more. w no. Who can read his tate p
God S will be done.


[ have too great a soul to die like criminal
., may He, may He spare me that, and let me
die bravely


| bless the entire world. Have never hated
or wronged any one This last was not a wrong,
unless God deems it SO. And it's with him
to damn or bless me- And for this brave boy
with me. who often prays (yes, before and
since) with true and sincere heart, was it
crime in him? if so why can he pray the same?


| do not wish to shed drop of blood, but
Il must fight the course. 'Tis all that's left
me?


Upon piece of paper found in the diary,
and supposed to have been torn from it, is writ
ten the following:


My Dea-, [piece torn out,] forgive me, but
[ have some little pride. [ cannot blame you
for want of hospitality. You know your own
affairs | was sick, tired, with broken limb,
anu Ill ue0U vi uleUlCdl duVlCo. l. WOulU uOC
have turned dog from my door in such plight
However, you were kind enough to give us
something to eat, for which | not only thank
you, but on account of the rebuke and manner
in which to piece torn out 1t is not the
substance, but the way in which kindness is
extended that makes one happy in the accep-
tance thereof. The sauce to meat is ceremony.
Meeting were bare without it. Be kind enough
to accept the enclosed SIS (although hard to
spare) for what have received.


Most respectfully, your obedient servant.
REPORT OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL.


BUREAU OF MILITARY JUSTICE,


May IA, 1867.


Respectfully returned with the copy asked
for.


The diary purports to be one for 1864, and
the leaves cut or torn from it probably contain
ed entries of that year, and were thus destroyed
by Booth himself. 1t is absolutely certain that
the diary is, in all respects, as it was when it
came into my hands, and Colonel Conger, who
was prominent in the pursuit and capture of
Booth, after having carefully examined it in
my presence on yesterday, declared its condition
to be now precisely the same as when he took
it from Booths body after he had been shot
the writing in it being the same, and all which
it then contained. Col Conger was examined
before the Judiciary Committee of the House
of Representatives to-day.


j. HOLT, Judge Advocate General.