Lieutenant Edward P. Doherty of the 16th New York Cavalry on the Capture and Death of John Wilkes Booth

John Wilkes Booth

After mortally wounding President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theater in Washington DC on April 14th, 1865, John Wilkes Booth escaped out of the city and into Maryland. Joining up with David Herold, another assassination conspirator, the two wound their way through the Maryland countryside, and eventually crossed the Potomac River into Virginia. On April 24th, the fugitives crossed the Rappahannock River by ferry at Port Conway. On the ferry, Booth and Herold met a trio of former Confederate soldiers headed home. They agreed to take Booth and Herold to the Richard Garrett farm near Port Royal, just across the Rappahannock. Garrett, a Confederate sympathizer who had two sons who had served in the Confederate army, was told that Booth was a wounded Rebel soldier named James W. Boyd and was looking for temporary room and board. The Garretts agreed to take Booth and Herald in.

Meanwhile, a nationwide manhunt was underway for Booth and anyone who may have been connected to the plot. Union cavalry patrols were actively searching the

Lt. Edward P. Doherty 16th NY Cavalry

Maryland and northern Virginia country sides, and gunboats patrolled the Potomac. On April 24th, Lieutenant Edward P. Doherty received orders to take 25 men of his Washington DC based 16th New York Cavalry and join in the search. They were to patrol in northern Virginia between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, and would be accompanied by two civilian detectives named Everton Conger and Luther Baker, both of whom were former cavalrymen. The cavalrymen and horses boarded a steamer in Washington and were taken down the Potomac to Belle Plaine, Virginia, and began their search for the fugitives from there early on the 25th.

Following various leads and witness reports, the 16th and the detectives closed in on a hotel in Bowling Green, Virginia that night and confronted Willie Jett, one of the former Confederates who had taken Booth and Herald to the Garrett farm. Jett agreed to take the Federals to the Garrett farm. Jett was given his horse, and the party set out on the approximately 12 mile ride to the Garrett place.

Earlier in the day, Jack Garrett, one of Richard Garrett’s sons, had learned details of the assassination of Lincoln. He had become suspicious of Booth and Herald, and ordered them out of the house. He allowed them to spend the night in a tobacco barn, but they would have to leave in the morning. Booth and Herald were in that barn when the 16th Cavalry arrived. It was the end of the line for the fugitives.

Garrett Farmhouse in 1865

Excerpts from Lieutenant Doherty’s after action report provide a first person narrative of the of the capture and death of John Wilkes Booth:

Sgt. Boston Corbett 16th NY Cavalry

Mr. Baker and myself had scarcely left the room when he told Mr. Conger that he would show us the place. On learning this I took him in my own charge. His horse was got out, he was mounted, and we went back to the house of Mr. Garrett, about twelve miles from Bowling Green. I ordered my command to surround the house, and, as a precautionary measure, sent six men in rear of the barn and outbuildings. While I was placing my men around the buildings the detectives knocked at the door, which was opened by the elder Mr. Garrett, who was much excited; he said the men who had been there went to the woods the previous evening. While engaged in conversation the son of Mr. Garrett came in, advising the father to tell where they were. I seized this man by the collar, and pulled him out of the door and down the steps, put my revolver to his head and told him to tell me at once where the two assassins were; he replied, ” in the barn.” I said ” show me the barn.” We started on the run for the barn, I holding him by the collar, calling on my men to follow me and surround more closely the building I should indicate. In the meantime another of the Garrett sons appeared, who was seized by one of the detectives and ordered to get a candle. He immediately procured a candle. On arriving at the barn I left the Garrett I had in charge with some of my men, and posted my men around the barn. This accomplished, I returned to the front of the barn, and found Garrett coming out of the barn; it appears that he had been sent in there during my absence to summons Booth to surrender. This I disapproved, as there were soldiers enough there to perform such duty. Booth, however, refused to surrender. The detectives were in favor of firing the barn, which I opposed, declaring my intention to wait until daylight and I would send my men through the four different doors and overpower the assassin, but after consultation the project of burning the building was abandoned for the time being. In the meantime considerable conversation took place concerning the surrender of Booth between Mr. Baker, myself, and the assassin. Sergt. Boston Corbett, Company L, Sixteenth New York Cavalry, asked permission to enter the barn

David Herold

alone, which I refused. Booth all this time was very defiant and refused to surrender. At one time he said if we would draw up in line fifty paces off he would come out, adding that he was lame and had only one leg. This, however, I refused. Booth up to this time had denied there was anyone in the barn besides himself. Considerable conversation now took -place between myself, Booth, and the detectives. We threatened to burn the barn if he did not surrender; at one time gave him ten minutes to make up his mind. Finally, Booth said, ” Oh, captain, there is a man here who wants to surrender awful bad.” I answered, and I think Mr. Baker did at the same time, “Hand out your arms.” Herold replied, “I have none.” Baker said, ” We know exactly what you have got.” Booth replied, ” I own all the arms, and intend to use them on you gentlemen.” After some little parley I said, “Let him out.” Some one objected. I ordered Garrett, the younger son, who had the key, to unlock the barn, which he did. I partially opened the door, and told Herold to put out his hand, which he did. I then told him to put [out] his other hand. I took hold of both his wrists and pulled him out of the barn. Almost simultaneous with my taking Herold out of the barn the hay in the rear of the barn was ignited by Mr. Conger, and the barn fired. Sergt. Boston Corbett, Company L, Sixteenth New York Cavalry, shot the assassin Booth, wounding him in the neck. I entered the barn as soon as the shot was fired, dragging Herold with me, and found that Booth had fallen on his back. Messrs. Conger and Baker, with some of my men, entered the barn and took hold of Booth. I proceeded with Herold to find a rope to secure him, there being no irons for that purpose. The assassin Booth lived about two hours. In the meantime a doctor was procured, who remained with Booth till he died. I procured a wagon, sewed up the body in a blanket myself, and placed it in the wagon. I then proceeded to Port Royal, where we arrived at 9 a. m. April 26, 1865, and crossed the river in a scow.

Capture of Herold and Killing of Booth

Sergeant Corbett would later testify that he believed Booth was about to fire his weapon, so he shot him first. David Herold was convicted in a military tribunal for his part in the assassination, and was hanged on July 7th, 1865, along with three others.

Sources:

American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies by Michael W. Kauffman

American Gothic: The Story of America’s Legendary Theatrical Family: Junius, Edwin, and John Wilkes Booth by Gene Smith

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies in the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume 46, Part 1, Section 2

Out of the Storm: The End of the Civil War, April-June 1865 by Noah Andre Trudeau