THE DAHLGREN AFFAIR AND THE LINCOLN ASSASSINATION
William Bryant Monday, October 23, 2017 Christopher Wren Association 1 BACKGROUND Thanks for intro & coming, scheduled last fall, etc.
Glad for the opportunity to present a chapter of US history virtually unknown.
Debated doing 1-day, 2 hrs vs 3-days, 6 hrs:
Not all can attend 6 hrs and conspriracy story so complex with people and events, thread of story might be lost in details.
2 hrs should be enough time to connect the dots
→→Presentation on website, books on table
2
www.wm.edu/cwa “course information” “class notes & presentations”
3 THREE REFERENCES ON TABLE
William Tidwell, Come Retribution: The Confederate Secret Service and the Assassination of Lincoln, 1988.
Edward Steers, Jr., Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, 2001.
Edward Steers, Jr. (ed.), The Trial: The Assassination of President Lincoln and the Trial of the Conspirators, 2003.
4
BACKGROUND More written about AL than any other American, always ends with assassination by crazed actor.
Recent research by several serious scholars has determined is not accurate—true story once known been lost to history by design.
Problem: historical accurate works not widely read, serious historians just writing to each other.
5
BACKGROUND Good scholarship depends on primary sources, sources of the period.
But as you will hear, majority of relevant primary sources, but the scholars’ conclusions are indisputable.
Objective today: For you to leave believing what I say is historically accurate and wet your appetite to learn more of a topic still relevant today.
6
→HOUR 1
→BACKGROUND
7
HOUR 1 THE DAHLGREN AFFAIR
8
BACKGROUND
9 STONEMAN’S RAID
Story begins May 1-3, 1863, with Chancellorsville, Lee’s greatest victory, thanks to Jackson who was mortally wounded by own troops.
During battle Union Gens. Stoneman and Kilpatrick led a cavalry raid deep behind Lee’s lines in attempt to disrupt his supply lines.
Kilpatrick came within 2 miles of Richmond.
→He reported back Richmond guarded only by a home guard of young boys and old men. Home guard duties...
10 RICHMOND HOME GUARD
11 AFTERMATH Union spy in Richmond also sent word back Richmond had been virtually undefended.
On hearing news Lincoln said:
→QUOTE
To me doesn’t sound like Lincoln.
Fast forward 7 months to January 1864
12
PRESIDENT LINCOLN
Nothing could have prevented Stoneman from riding through Richmond and burning it down. Bagged the whole administration...& brought us Jeff Davis.
13
NORTH The north is winning, Grant has won territory in the west, successfully blockage, Gettysburg win, captured Vicksburg & NO, control Miss. River.
Despite this, no end in sight for a bloody war, North becoming war weary.
Lincoln increasingly concerned would lose in Nov.
14 SOUTH For South, war really not going well. No hope England or France will come to South’s aid.
Realized they couldn’t win militarily but continuing to hold off the superior north.
Their only hope, hold on and for Lincoln to lose fall election to Peace Democrat.
Negotiate end of the war leaving CSA intact.
→POWs
15
PRISONERS OF WAR
16 PRISONERS OF WAR Early in war both sides exchanged POWs, not feed or guard, most soon returned to their units.
In 1863 North had begun to restrict exchanges to bleed South of soldiers.
In Jan/64 there were 2 prisons in Richmond with 13K Union POWs:
→officers were in Libby Prison →very poor conditions and treatment. Hell/earth Mary Lincoln’s bro. was guard!
17 LIBBY PRISON FOR UNION OFFICERS
18 INSIDE LIBBY PRISON
19 POOR POW CONDITIONS →9k soldiers in tents on Belle Isle, James River
Not enough tents/exposure to weather. Like Libby, lack clothes, medicines, food, sanitary feasilities. →Over 20 dying daily at Belle Isle.
Washington aware of horrible conditions, wanted desperately to find a way to free POWs, knowing Richmond not “well defended.”
20
BELLE ISLE PRISON CAMP FOR UNION ENLISTED SOLDIERS
21 BELLE ISLE POW CEMETERY
22 RAID OBJECTIVES →Gen. Ben Butler, commander of Union forces in eastern Va., send 4K cavalry & 2K infantry to conduct sudden raid of Richmond to free POWs.
Left early Feb. from Williamsburg.
→Alerted by CSA spies, they got as far as Bottoms Bridge that was heavily defended
After brief skirmish turned back.
23
GEN. BEN BUTLER
24 BUTLER’S ABORTED RAID
Bottoms Bridge
25
GENERAL JUDSON KILPATRICK →Enter J. Kilpatrick, met earlier, West Point grad, 26, known as exceptional horseman but also known, not as Kilpatrick but as “Kill cavalry” for high casualty rates of his men.
But very ambitious, saw freeing Richmond POWs as chance for glory and promotion.
Politically connected, bypassed senior military leadership, went directly to Lincoln.
→Next sent to see Sec. of War Edwin Stanton.
26
GENERAL JUDSON KILPATRICK
27 SECRETARY OF WAR EDWIN STANTON
28 SECRETARY OF WAR EDWIN STANTON No record of either meeting but Kilpatrick left Stanton with authorization to conduct raid on Richmond to free POWs.
→ORDERS
29 GEN. KILPATRICK’S ORDERS
Headquarters, Third Division, Cavalry Corps
Your command increased to four thousand men, with one [artillery] battery ... on a raid to Richmond for the purpose of liberating our prisoners at that place.
Important diversions will be made in your favor, the particulars of which you have been already advised.
You will start on Sunday Evening...[February] 28th...Lt.
Colonel Ulric Dahlgren is authorized to accompany you.
A. Pleasonton, Maj. Genl. Cmdg.
30
LT. COLONEL ULRIC DAHLGREN Who was Ulric Dahlgren?
→Pa native, just 21, shown bravery in battle; wounded during Gettysburg, lower leg amputated, but could still ride if helped to mount.
→Son of Admiral John Dahlgren, commander eastern naval blockage & favorite of Lincoln
Dahlgren Surface Weapons Lab at 301 bridge named for him.
31
COL. ULRIC DAHLEGREN
32 ADMIRAL JOHN A. DAHLGREN
33 CUSTER Dahlgren was young, inexperienced, somewhat impulsive, Kilpatrick had better choice.
→Gen. Geo. A. Custer, under him, considered best cavalry officer in army. Some think Kilpatrick wanted glory for himself.
→But Custer been married week before, maybe he declined...
→K/D RAID
34 GEN. GEORGE A. CUSTER
35 ELIZABETH BACON CUSTER
36
KILPATRICK/DAHLGREN RAID MARCH 1864
37 PLAN Armies in winter quarters opposite each other either side Rapidan River. winter muddy roads
→Plan: K/D would circle Lee’s right flank as Custer fainted attack on Lee’s left.
After separating, Kilpatrick continue south to Richmond, enter city, and free Libby POWs.
Dahlgren head southwest, ford James, continue to Richmond and free Belle Isle POWs.
38 PLANNED ROUTES
DAHLGREN KILPATRICK
39 PLAN FLAWS Unite in city, all head east to Union lines.
FLAWS 1. Woeful inadequate force to accomplish objectives, Union spy in Richmond had told Washington would take 30K men.
2. Raid came only 3 weeks after earlier failed raid.
3. Conducted in the cold, snow, rain of late winter.
4. Orders don’t address how to transport 13,000 POWs back to Union lines.
40
RAID PLAN FLAWS Finally, they had poor intelligence; additional CSA regular been sent to Richmond.
→ Kilpatrick & Dahlgren departed Feb. 28, weather cold and wet, column of troopers 4 abreast stretched 2½ miles.
→Kilpatrick and Dahlgren separated as planned:
Kilpatrick continued towards Richmond with 3,500 troopers, Dahlgren headed towards James River with 500 men.
41
KILPATRICK’S COLUMN
42 KILPATRICK/DAHLGREN ROUTES
43 RAID
CSA spies followed every movement. Often overlooked--ANV fought mainly in Va., benefitted greatly from intelligence provided by public; not so successful in hostile Md. & Pa.
When Libby Prison guards learned of raid, mined prison to blow it up if it was attacked.
Unusual, no record of atrocities between North and South white soldiers.
44 KILPATRICK RESULTS When Kilpatrick arriving at outskirts of Richmond, CSA regulars and home guard were waiting.
Kilpatrick’s men fighting as dismounted cavalry, not nearly effective as trained infantry.
Extended fire fight Kilpatrick reported The enemy charged and considerable confusion ensured.
Kilpatrick began orderly retreat back to Union lines at Wmsburg w/o contacting Dahlgren. slide
DAHLGREN RESULTS
Meanwhile, Dahlgren was unable to ford James River swollen by spring rains, continued on to Richmond north of James. slide
Met by home guard and CSA regulars outside city limits, after brief skirmish, driven off in disorder.
In confusion, his men became separated into two groups, both attempted to escape east.
46
HALF WAY 10:00
47 DAHLGREN’S ESCAPE Dahlgren and a few men headed east for Union held lines at Gloucester Point. slide
→Followed by home guard and regulars, Dahlgren was ambushed in King and Queen Co. and shot off his horse and killed.
Most of his men captured, few made it back to Union lines.
48 DEATH OF DAHLGREN
49 RAID RESULTS Raid was complete failure.
340 troopers killed or wounded (9%) 1,000 captured (28%) 1,060 horses killed or disabled In CW, horses were cannon fodder, many more horses & mules died than men.
Raid unknown today except in Va, king of self- promotion states
→5 Va. roadside signs Think Va. still proud to have repelled raid. 50
51 ADMIRAL JOHN A. DAHLGEN
52
53
55 PAPERS FOUND ON DAHLGREN’S BODY Why known as Dahlgren affair, not K/D raid? Because of papers found on Dahlgren’s body.
→Orders written on Union Cavalry HQs stationary: What does “not allow to escape” mean?
→Address to Dahlgren’s men written in his hand:
Papers forwarded to Richmond, who asked Washington if papers were authentic.
56 ORDERS FOUND ON DAHLGREN
...cross the James River into Richmond, destroying the bridges...and exhorting the prisoners to destroy and burn the hateful city;...do not allow the Rebel leader Davis and his traitorous crew to escape.
57 FOUND ON DAHLGREN
IN HIS OWN HAND
...secure the bridge to the city...release the prisoners at the same time. If we do not succeed...try and carry the bridge from each side....once the prisoners [are] loose and over the river, the bridges will be secured...once in the city it must be destroyed and Jeff. Davis and Cabinet killed.
58 SOUTHERN REACTION TO RAID Washington denied any knowledge of orders, claimed they were “forgeries,” both everyone knew they were authentic.
Up to this point both sides had primarily engaged in conventional warfare.
59
SOUTHERN COVERT WAR When Dahlgren’s orders published in southern newspapers, Richmond became incensed that southern officials been targeted by north but soldiers o.k.
Newspapers demanded revenge, called for “Black Flag” war.
Richmond made decision to begin a Covert War against both northern military and civilians.
→CSA Congress created the CSA Secret Service
60
CONFEDERATE SECRET SERVICE
61 CSA SECRET SERVICE Objective: “Wreck havoc” in north and turn northern public against war to keep Lincoln from being reelected.
→Placed under control of Secretary of State, Judah Benjamin, considered most capable cabinet member.
CSA Congress appropriated $5M in gold.
Eventually had over 1K agents.
62
JUBAH P. BENJAMIN CSA SECRETARY OF STATE
63 CANADIAN CONNECTIONS →Main headquarters set up in St. Lawrence Hotel, Montreal, neutral Canada, May 1864
US not popular in Canada, particularly Yankees; many hoping for Southern victory,
→Montreal leaders: Jacob Thompson, Miss., US Sec. of Interior, Clement Clay, Alabama, US Senator
Given full authority to act on their own initiative.
64
ST. LAWRENCE HALL, MONTREAL
65 HEADS OF MONTREAL OPERATION
Jacob Thompson Clement Clay
66 COMMUNCIATIONS WITH RICHMOND Fact men didn’t like each other hurt unit effectiveness.
→Dispatches began to be sent routinely between Montreal and Richmond which were encrypted using a cypher wheel.
→By knowing keywords, messages could be decoded, keyword here is COVERCOVER
→Keyword used by CSA government.
Relevance of these facts later.
67
CONFEDERATE CYPHER WHEEL
68 DECODING CYPHER MESSAGES
69 SOME CONFEDERATE KEYWORDS
MANCHESTER BLUFF
MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME
BALTIMORE
OUR DESTINY IS ONE
70
SOUTHERN MARYLAND SECRET LINE
71 SECRET LINE →CSA established “Secret Line” between Montreal, NYC, Balt., DC, to Richmond, thru PG and Charles Cos., Md.
Communication for spies, couriers, mail, coded dispatches, newspapers; Richmond instructions going north, intelligence going south.
Note several Potomac crossings to avoid Union gunboats. Bladen Hall family tradition $5 gold
72
CONFEDERATE “SECRET LINE”
73 CSA MD AGENTS Why southern Md.?
→Southern Md., like Va., long time tobacco growing area/slave holding area sympatric to South. Still was in ‘50s.
State song, Maryland, My Maryland, call for state to secede but Lincoln kept Md. from seceding.
Secret line ran thru PG, where I grew up, and Calvert Cos. 74 MARYLAND SLAVE OWNERSHIP BY COUNTY
PRINCE GEORGE’S CO.
CALVERT CO.
75 CSA MD AGENTS There were many CSA agents operating in southern Md;
→One was Dr. Saml Mudd of Bryantown
→Some others, all important later.
→Another, young John Surratt of Surrattsville, very active agent, as US Post Master ran CSA mail & smuggled supplies, spied, mother’s tavern was a safe house.
76
DR. SAMUEL MUDD
77 FORMER CONFEDERATE AGENTS WHO HELPED BOOTH
Samuel Cox John Hughes
Willie Jett Thomas Jones 78 JOHN SURRATT
79 SURRATTS
→John’s mother, Mary Surratt, widow, and like many southern Marylanders, a Catholic.
→With her son’s help tried to run her late husband’s tavern in Surrattsville tavern until 1862 when rented it to CSA sympathizer..
→Moved to Washington DC and opened a profitable boarding house.
→SECRET SERVICE OPERATIONS
80 MARY SURRATT, 1852
81 SURRATTSVILLE, MD
82 SURRATT BOARDING HOUSE IN WASHINGTON
83
CONFEDERATE SECRET SERVICE OPERATIONS
84 SECRET SERVICE MISSIONS Given a difficult mission SS efforts over next year largely unsuccessful: Some attempts
Attempts to free CSA POWs at Johnson Island, Ohio and Pt. Lookout, Md. unsuccessful.
→Attempts to recruit copperheads as CSA agents “Northwest Conspiracy” to cause fear and panic in Midwest states failed.
→In Oct. robbed 3 banks in St. Albans, Vermont near Canadian border for needed cash!
85
NORTHERN COPPERHEADS
86 CSA SECRET SERVICE RAID ON ST. ALBANS, VERMONT
87 SECRET SERVICE MISSIONS Set several fires in NYC very limited damage, tried to poison NYC water supply w/o success.
Deadliest plan was biological warfare:
Clothing from Yellow Fever patients distributed in Washington and Union troop camps in Norfolk, New Bern NC, under Union control. Of course YF not contagious.
Coincidentally, New Bern had Yellow Fever epidemic killing 2,000 people, CSA though they were responsible. 88
CONFEDERATE TORPEDO BUREAU Clothing from smallpox patients wereh cirulated ins D.C, shirt sent to Lincoln at White House, other cities, no known effects.
→Developed “coal torpedo” [torpedo=bomb] disguised as lump of coal lump, added to coal pile for ship or train, would explode in boiler fire box; occasionally successful.
Jeff Davis kept one on his desk.
89
CONFEDERATE COAL TORPEDO
90 KIDNAPPING LINCOLN
Early in the war Davis had vetoed an attempt to kidnap Lincoln by several people fearing he would resist and be killed.
After the Dahlgren raid and as war continued to go badly, Davis reconsidered kidnapping Lincoln.
Early obviously unsuccessful attempt to kidnap Lincoln, take to Richmond to hold hostage, Booth not involved.
91 SECRET SERVICE →Each summer evening Lincoln returned to his family at The Soldier’s Home north of DC to escape heat and humidity of swamp behind WH.
Initially Lincoln rode back to his family along, Richmond saw this as their chance.
Concerned about his safety, when Union cavalry began to accompany him in a carriage, plan abandoned.
92
SOLDIER’S HOME COTTAGE LINCOLN’S SUMMER RETREAT
93
→BREAK 10:30
94 BREAK
95
HOUR 2 LINCOLN ASSASSINATION
96
THE BOOTHS OF MARYLAND
97 THE BOOTHS OF MARYLAND →Junius Brutus Booth, born in London, English actor, married, 1 son.
On acting tour met flower girl, Mary Ann Holmes, they elope to American 1821 after she becomes pregnant. My Fair Lady story
Becomes leading US actor, they had 9 illegitimate children, married after divorce.
Father died when Booth was 14. Mother lived 20 years after assassination.
98 JOHN WILKES BOOTH’S PARENTS
Junius Brutus Booth Mary Ann Holmes 1796-1852 1802-1885 99 JOHN WILKES BOOTH →John Wilkes was born 1838, 8th child
Preconscious, family favorite, doted on by older sisters.
Attended private schools
After one of his schoolmate’s father was killed by runaway slaves, became avid racist and southern sympathizer rest of his life.
100
JOHN WILKES BOOTH
101 BOOTH’S ACTIONS →Attended John Brown’s hanging at Harper’s Ferry in 1859 along w/Lee, Jackson, Stuart
When war came, unlike rest of Booth family, was very strong supporter of Southern cause.
Promised his mother, with whom he was close, he would not enlist in CSA army.
102 HANGING OF JOHN BROWN DECEMBER 2, 1859
103 BOOTH’S ACTIONS →Went into acting like older brothers.
First performances in 1855 in Richmond, later began to play many northern cities.
Amateurish at first, over time became good stage actor, athletic, active on stage, & a scene stealer.
→Soon became matinee idol.
Booth’s acting career took him over all over the north, south, and west, earning $20K a year.
104
WILKES, EDWIN, AND JUNIUS BOOTH
105
106 BOOTH’S TRAVELS Over time Booth’s love of the south and hatred of Lincoln continued to grow, brother Edwin bared him from his house.
→BOOTH’S WRITINGS
107 BOOTH’S WRITINGS This country is for the white man, not the black man.
I have ever held the South was right. The very nomination of Abraham Lincoln...spoke plainly war--war upon Southern rights and institutions.
Heard to say in St. Louis: I wish the president and whole damned government would go to Hell!
108 BOOTH’S CAREER
With promise to mother not to join CSA army, began to feel he was not doing enough for the South: I have come to deem myself a coward...
→CONFEDERATE AGENT
109
CONFEDERATE AGENT
110 TIMELINE No one knows how Booth first became involved with CSA Secret Service but stopped acting June/64
→In July met in Boston with CSA agents from Montreal and Baltimore. Apparently left as a CSA agent.
Later, told friends and family he was CSA agent.
→BACK TO THE WAR
111 PARKER HOUSE HOTEL, BOSTON
112 BACK TO THE WAR
Meantime, Lee/Grant still stalemated around Richmond; Lincoln told visitor, I am going to be beaten…unless some...change takes place.
Then Gen. Sherman captured Atlanta in Sept. and Gen. Sheridan cleared Gen. Early’s CSA army out of Shenandoah Valley in Oct.
CSA hopes greatly diminished when Lincoln gets reelected.
113
BACK TO BOOTH Booth’s visits Montreal 1st time Oct/64, stays 10 days, seen talking with CSA agents.
Opened Canadian bank account with SS money and given letter of introduction to Dr. Queen of Charles Co., Md.
Apparently leaves Montreal with responsibility for planning abduction of Lincoln.
Stays in NYC few days, then returns to National hotel in Washington where he lives.
114
BOOTH’S TRAVELS Early Nov. travels to Charles Co. and meets Dr. Queen near Bryantown, spends the night.
Next day they go to mass at nearby St. Mary’s Catholic Church to meet Dr. Saml Mudd; St. Mary’s not Mudd’s home church.
Booth goes home with Mudd and stays the night
Next day buys 1-eyed horse (horse he would escape Ford Theater on), rides back to DC.
Later Booth would convert to Catholicism.
115
SOUTHERN MD. Ironically, plays benefit in NYC with brothers in Nov., play halted temporality when fire set by CSA SS agents has to be extinguished!
In Dec. meets Mudd in DC who introduces him to John Surratt, know southern Md. & CSA agents.
Booth begins to meet frequently with John Surratt at his mother’s boarding house.
→Booth & Surratt begin to assemble team of kidnap Lincoln.
116
Samuel Micheal Arnold O’Laughlen Schoolmate Friend
J. Wilkes Booth
Dr. Samuel Mudd Louis Mary Weichmann John Surratt Surratt friend Mother Lewis G eorge David Powell Atzerodt Harold Strongman Boatman Friend
BOOTH’S PLAN →David Harold, friend, not too bright.
Lewis Powell, former CSA soldier, strongman needed to subdue Lincoln, easily persuaded.
George Atzerodt, repaired Potomac River boats, rowed Surratt going/coming from Richmond, would row Lincoln & capturers across Potomac.
Booth buys carbines, knife, handcuffs in NYC.
118
MAJOR CO-CONSPIRATORS
David Lewis George Harold Powell Atzerodt 119
HALF WAY 11:00
120 LINCOLN PLOTS Richmond develop plot to kidnap or kill Lincoln in parallel with Montreal plot headed by Booth.
Lincoln begins receiving intelligence reports of assassination plots; ignores.
Surratt goes to Richmond in Jan. to meet Judah Benjamin, playing key role in planning, coordinating conspirator's activities.
121
2nd INAUGURAL MARCH 4
→Booth attended Lincoln’s inaugural March 4
Lincoln: With malice toward none; with charity for all; ...to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.
Booth: What an excellent chance I had to kill the President, if I had wished, on inauguration day!
122
LINCOLN’S SECOND INAUGURAL MARCH 4, 1865
o
123 ONLY KIDNAPPING ATTEMPT Booth learned Lincoln scheduled to attend event at a soldier‘s hospital March 17.
→Plan: wait for Lincoln’s carriage, stop, subdue, & tie-up Lincoln, drive carriage down Secret Line, CSA Md. agents alerted, CSA infantry waiting Va. side of Potomac. Cavalry escort?
→Booth, Powell, Surratt, others wait for carriage that never arrived, Lincoln had changed mind.
124
TAKING LINCOLN TO RICHMOND
125
WAITING FOR LINCOLN’S CARRIAGE
126 CONFEDERACY BECOMING DESPARATE Some in Richmond & Montreal always in favor of assassination.
As Confederacy collapses, they saw last chance to “decapitate” Union leadership.
US Constitution no provision in reconstructing void in government leadership, North might sue for peace leaving CSA intact.
→JEFF DAVIS KEYWORDS
127
CYPHER KEYWORDS USED BY JEFFERSON DAVIS
All of 1864 COMPLETE VICTORY
Feb. 1864 COME RETRIBUTION
128 LAST DAYS March 27 Surratt goes again to Richmond meets with Benjamin and Davis.
→Meantime, Grant cut last rail line to Petersburg, Richmond April 1, plan in place to abandon capital put in place.
→Richmond set alight & abandoned April 3 Va.’s oldest records destroyed.
129
EVACUATION OF RICHMOND APRIL 2-3, 1865
130 RICHMOND AFTER BEING ABANDONED
131 LAST DAYS April 6 Surratt arrives in Montreal with encrypted letter from Richmond, now abandoned.
After reading letter, Thompson says, This makes the thing all right. Booth is bossing the job. Fall of Richmond not stopped Booth’s plans.
On April 10 CSA explosives expert attempts to blow up White House during cabinet meeting foiled.
132
FALL OF RICHMOND
Lee heads west hoping to join Johnson in NC.
→Southern resistance has collapsed, Union armies are roaming at will throughout south— Ala., Ga., SC. NC., Va.
But Lee continues on with army greatly reduced by desertions and stragglers.
When cutoff at Appomattox Court House, Lee wants to fight on, is persuaded by staff time to surrender. Grant’s 150k against Lee’s 30k.
133
LEE SURRENDERS Lee meets Grant, Palm Sunday, April 9.
→Always vain about appearance, Lee shows up in full dress regalia with ceremonial sword.
Denies he remembers Grant from Mexican War.
Does not offer to surrender sword to much younger Grant.
134
MARCH-APRIL 1865
135 APRIL 9, 1865
136 AFTER APPOMATTOX →Washington celebrates end of war, Lincoln gives short address at White House two days after Appomattox.
Booth and Powell watch, Booth became incented when Lincoln suggests freed slaves be allowed to vote. Last speech he will ever give.
→Morning of Good Friday, April 14, Booth heard Lincoln would attend Ford’s theater, heard Gen. Grant. & wife will attend. Mrs. Grant refused, thought Mary Lincoln odd. 137 LINCOLN’S LAST PUBLIC ADDRESS TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1865
138 FORD’S THEATER, 1865
139 BOOTH’S PLAN Booth Kill Lincoln and Grant at Ford’s Powell Kill Sec. of State Steward in bed recuperating from carriage accident Atzerodt Kill VP Johnson at his hotel.
All to flee across Navy Yard bridge, meet at Surrattsville to pick up guns & liquor that Mary Surratt had placed there earlier in day
Head south to Potomac, row across and head to deep South where they would be welcomed as heroes. 140 GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 14
John Surratt suddenly leaves DC for NYC. Booth well known at Ford’s (had mail delivered there) entered theater thru rear stage door.
Had no problem getting admission to passage way to Lincoln‘s box.
With Lincolns, Major Rathbone and his fiancés
→Lincoln leaning over balcony when shot.
141
142 AFTER ASSASSINATION Booth slashed Maj. Rathbone’s arm badly.
→Leaps to stage catching spur in flag, fell to one hand and knee, broke left fibula.
→Sic Semper Tyrannous; Brutus after Caesar assassination, one of his favorite roles. Final stage performance
Altered stage hand, Edmund Spangler, to prevent anyone from following him. →Escaped down Baptist Alley, DC city of allies.
143 PRESIDENTIAL BOX
144 SIC SEMPTER TYRANNIS
145 ESCAPE DOWN BAPTIST ALLEY
146 LINCOLN’S DEATH →Carried across street to Peterson house.
Doctors immediately saw wound fatal, noted how taunt and fit his body was.
→Died next morning 7:30 Stanton: Now he belongs to the ages (angels).
How many been to Ford’s Theater? →Ford Theater, 1960s/today; reconstructed on 100th anniversary of death/
147 LINCOLN BEING CARRIED TO PETERSON HOUSE
148 DEATH OF LINCOLN
149 FORD’S THEATER
1960s Today
150 THE OTHERS →Lewis Powell went to assassinate Secretary Stewart w/knife, Harold held horse
→Stewart severely injured but lived. Stewart’s folly.
Harold got cold feet, left Powell’s horse, fled to meet Booth.
Azterodt got cold feet, became drunk, and went back to hotel room to sleep it off.
151 LEWIS POWELL ATTACKING STEWART
152 WILLIAM SEWARD
153 Powell walked city several days, went to Surratt boarding house where Booth known to frequent, both questioned and arrested.
→Fake news not new.
→BOOTH’S ESCAPE AND CAPTURE
154
155
BOOTH’S ESCAPE AND CAPTURE
156 BOOTH’S ESCAPE
→Booth recognized as assassin. Reward offered for Booth, John Surratt, and David Harold. →Booth headed out of town over Navy Yard Bridge, talked way past guard, “war over” headed south along rt. of CSA secret line
Harold followed, caught up with Booth.
Stopped at Surrattsville tavern to get rifles and whiskey Mary Surratt had put there.
157
REWARD POSTER FOR BOOTH, SURRATT, AND HAROLD
158 NAVY YARD BRIDGE
159 BOOTH’S ESCAPE →Went next to Dr. Mudd’s house who set broken leg, made crutch, spent the night. Booth shaved mustache.
→Booth/Harold left Mudd house continuing down old Secret Line.
Took 8 days to get across Potomac; What would have happen if not broken leg?
→Helped by former CSA agents in Maryland 160
DR. SAMUEL MUDD HOME BRYANTOWN
161 ESCAPE DOWN OLD SECRET LINE
162 BOOTH’S ESCAPE Booth became despondent when newspapers called him an assassin.
→Diary entries
→After crossing Potomac, crossed Rappa. at Port Royal, Harold bragged to former CSA soldiers Booth had killed Lincoln. Big mistake!
163 BOOTH’S DIARY For six months we had worked to capture. But our cause being almost lost, something decisive and great must be done.
With every man's hand against me, I am here in despair. And why; For doing what Brutus was honored for ...
Had become delusional, could not separate his actions from roles he played on-stage.
164
HALF WAY 11:00
165 BOOTH’S ESCAPE →Helped by former CA agents in KGCo Va.
→Stopped at Richard Garrett farm on way to Bowling Green, had dinner, spent night;
Garrett thought CSA soldiers returning home, became suspicious.
Booth and Harold told to spend 2nd night in Garrett tobacco barn.
Pursuing Federal cavalry directed to Garrett farm by men they met at Port Royal ferry. 166 VIRGINIA CONFEDERATE AGENTS
Thos Harbin Elizabeth Quesenberry
167 GARRETT FARMHOUSE
168 DEATH OF BOOTH
→When Union cavalry arrived, Booth and Harold cornered, barn set on fire; Harold surrendered.
Booth shot in neck without orders, paralyzed.
→Dragged to porch where he soon died, age 26. no mustache
169
170 DEATH OF BOOTH Tell Mother I died for my country.
171 BOOTH POCCESSIONS On Booth’s body:
→Diary, keys, knife, compass, ladies photos, Canadian bill of exchange (cashier’s check) dated Oct. 27, 1864
In his hotel room:
CSA Secret Service cypher wheel identical to one found in Jeff Davis’ office.
→Letter from Saml Arnold to Booth dated March 27 just before Richmond fell 172
FOUND ON BOOTH’S BODY
173 SAMUEL ARNOLD’S LETTER TO BOOTH You know full well that the G[overnmen]t is suspicions something is going on there; therefore, the undertaking is becoming more complicated. Why not, for the present, desist...
Do not act rashly or in haste...go and see how it will be taken at R[ichmon]d, and ere long I shall be better prepared to again be with you.
174
FLIGHT OF CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT
175 AFTERMATH →After Richmond fell Davis and cabinet rode to Danville Va. for final cabinet meeting.
After hearing of Appomattox, Davis head for Greensboro NC, Davis hoping to reach Texas.
→US government offered reward for Jeff Davis and CSA secret service heads in Montreal
New York Times: Jeff Davis, Judah Benjamin, and ...John Breckinridge should die "the most disgraceful death on the gallows.“
176
CSA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FLEEING RICHMOND
177 REWARD POSTER FOR JEFF DAVIS AND SECRET SERVICE LEADERS
178 On hearing of Lincoln’s assassination a week later, Jeff Davis said: If it were to be done, it were better it were well done. And if the same had been done to Andy Johnson, the beast, and to Secretary Stanton, the job would then be complete. “it were well done” paraphrasing Macbeth
Captured a few days later. 179
THE TRIAL →8 people put on trial charged with conspiracy to murder Lincoln.
Lewis Powell: All I can say...you have not got the one-half of them.
Defendants accused of ...maliciously, unlawfully, and traitorously" conspiring with Jefferson Davis and others "to kill and murder... Abraham Lincoln."
180
THE TRIAL →Decision made by Stanton, despite defendants are civilians, since country still at war, a military trial.
Appointed 9-officer jury (so he could control trial?). 5/9 for guilty, 6/9 for hanging. What happen to 12 unanimous to convict?
Began only 6 weeks after assassination, all pleaded not guilty, their lawyers protested military trial.
181
THE CONSPIRATORS ON TRIAL
FLED
182 MILITARY JURY
183 THE TRIAL
Prosecutor not prepared to add Davis but for him became “trial within a trial,” 8 co-conspirators Jeff Davis, although officially not on trial.
Lack of documentation (later) prevented prosecutor from making case Davis was involved.
184 THE TRIAL Trial lasted 7 weeks, 361 witnesses called. Transcript makes for interesting reading.
→Jury met only 1 day, verdicts sent to Pres. Johnson; 5/9 asked clemency for Mary Surratt, but withheld from Pres. Johnson by prosecutor.
Pres. Johnson approved, sentences announced July 6, 4 to be hanged next day No time for appeals.
1st women executed by federal government.
185 THE VERDICTS
Hang Hang Hang Hang
Prison Prison Prison Prison Not in lifetime lifetime lifetime 6 years custody
186 EXECUTION Mary Surratt’s dau Anna went to Pres. Johnson to plead clemency for her mother, was turned away. Was allowed to visit mother and a priest.
→Mary Surratt went to gallows very distraught, saying she was innocent.
187
188 LAST WORDS Mary Surratt Please don’t let me fall. Geo Azterodt Gentlemen, may we meet in a better world. God help me now!
Executer I want you to die quick. Lewis Powell You know best, captain. I thank you, good-bye.
Nevertheless, Powell struggled before dying.
189
THE COVERUP
190 TIMELINE
Lincoln assassinated Good Fri.
Booth killed 2 weeks later
Military trial begins 5 weeks later
Sentences announced 2 months later
Conspirators hanged Next day
RUSH TO JUDGEMENT?
191 STANTON →Stanton was in complete charge of trial.
After Jeff Davis captured May 10 in Ga., Stanton requests all CSA files sent to him, Dahlgren’s orders never seen again.
Davis never put on trail, Stanton did not want him to testify?
Better to quickly execute low-level co-conspirators close books on assassination, and move on?
192
EDWIN STANTON
193 ANSWERS
→Booth’s diary never submitted as evidence in trial, found 2 years later in War Dept. files with 40+ pages missing. Stanton claimed diary was received that way.
Pres. Johnston replaced Stanton in cabinet in 1868 without Senate approval, led to his impeachment but not convicted.
194 BOOTH’S DIARY
195 COVERUP Judah Benjamin destroyed all the CSA Secret Service files before evacuating Richmond.
Jeff Davis ordered CSA government files destroyed but fragments survive.
After Appomattox, Benjamin left Davis’ party for Florida, sailed for England.
→Became respected London barrister, never returned to US.
BARRISTER JUDAH BENJIMAN
197 COVERUP Canadian SS agents destroyed all their papers.
Jacob Thompson fled to England, returned to family 2 years later, never arrested
Clement Clay turned himself in, imprisoned, never tried, pardoned by Pres. Johnson.
So both sides destroyed the records of Kilpatrick/Dahlgren raid and the CSA Secret Service.
→QUESTIONS/SPECULATION 198
QUESTIONS/SPECULATION
199 SPECULATION Was Kilpatrick given orders to burn Richmond and kill Jefferson Davis and, if so, by whom?
Had been earlier discussions of kidnapping Davis, goal of Army of the Potomac to capture Richmond. Took 4 years
Stanton much more vengeful than Lincoln, strong feelings toward South and CSA government.
Believe Stanton told Kilpatrick to capture or kill Davis, that’s why he led Northern cover-up.
200
SPECULATION Jeff Davis was ultimate CSA decision maker:
After earlier rejection, did Davis approve kidnapping or killing Lincoln?
As CSA collapsed did he agree on assassination to :decapitate” the north. Grasping at straws, maybe revenge/retribution.
201 SPECULATION CSA tried to infect Lincoln with small pox.
Late in war tried to blow up White House
Destroyed all pertinent records.
Whatever the truth, Davis seemed unsurprised by news of assassination, even jubilant.
202 SPECULATION After Richmond fell, Booth was free to act on own.
After Appomattox no point in kidnapping
Booth may have even lied to his co-conspirators, planned for some time to assassinate Lincoln, not kidnap.
203 JEFFERSON EDWIN DAVIS STANTON
204
FATE OF PRINCIPLES
205
FATE OF PRINCIPLES
→Jeff Davis imprisoned for 2 years at Ft. Monroe.
Decision not to try him for Lincoln assassination, but for treason, delayed by Pres. Johnson’s impeachment trial, never officially charged.
Released on bail 1867 by friends, Pres. Johnson issued general pardon & amnesty Xmas 1868
→Davis goes to Canada, welcomed as hero, lived there 2 yrs, left for health reasons for Miss.
Dies New Orleans, 1888, age 81
206 JEFFERSON DAVIS AT FT. MONROE
207 JEFFERSON AND VARINA DAVIS
208 PRISONERS PARDONED →Dr. Mudd, Arnold, and O’Laughlen sentenced to Ft. Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, for life.
O’Laughlen died of Yellow Fever in prison.
Mudd and Arnold pardoned by Pres. Johnson in 1868.
Mudd died young, age 49. Arnold died age 70.
209 JOHN SURRATT →John Surratt who let his mother take rap, had fled Washington for NYC, went to Canada
Sailed to England under alias, became Vatican guard.
Pursued by US officials, captured in Europe 1867, returned home; tried, hung jury; no 2nd trial and released on bail
Married descendant of Francis Scott Key, dies age 72.
210
FT. JEFFERSON, DRY TORTUGAS, FL.
211 JOHN SURRATT
212 TODAY
→Garrett house pulled down 1937 during construction of Rt. 301, house site in median.
→Won’t find Surrattsville on map, renamed Clinton after CW, high school named Surrattsville High. Knew nothing of this growing up.
→Today, tavern/Mudd house tourist attractions.
→DC boarding house
213 GARRETT FARM HOUSE
1930s 1950s
214 POST CIVIL WAR PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MD.
215 TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Mudd House Surratt Tavern Bryantown Clinton
216 SURRATT BOARDING HOUSE Wok ‘n’ Roll Restaurant
217 GRAVES →Lincoln tomb, Springfield, dies only 56 →Booth family plot →Booth’s grave?, Lincoln pennies →Edwin Stanton, died 1869, 55 →Judah Benjamin died 1884, 72, buried Paris, unmarked grave, UDC 1938 marker. →Mary Surratt grave, DC. Any visitors today? →Jeff Davis, Va made sure buried in Richmond
→FINAL THOUGHTS
218 LINCOLN’S TOMB OAK RIDGE CEMETERY, SPRINGFIELD
219 BOOTH FAMILY PLOT GREEN MOUNT CEMETERY, BALTIMORE
220 JOHN WILKES BOOTH’S GRAVE?
221 EDWIN STANTON GRAVE OAK HILL CEMETERY, GEORGETOWN
222 JUDAH BENJAMIN’S GRAVE PARIS, FRANCE
223 MARY SURRAT GRAVE MT. OLIVET CEMETERY, WASHINGTON
224 JEFFERSON DAVIS GRAVE HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY, RICHMOND
225
FINAL THOUGHTS
226 TODAY
After the war south rewrote history, their Myth of the Lost Cause, Southern Historical Society Papers (propaganda), southern “historians,” erecting statues by UDC, cause of the war distorted, no Secret Service, connection between assassination and CSA swept under the rug, Booth was mad, lone wolf.
They got away with it.
227 JEFFERSON DAVIS Ever wonder who won the CW?
→There is statue of Jeff Davis in US Capitol with 7 of his fellow Confederates. To what purpose they cause 700K dead? Capitalism, i.e., money
If interested, giving talk I’ve given before, in spring, “How Va. came to secede from the Union.”
Every time I give, get angrier we could not resolve differences, w/o war, country still divided.
228
CONFEDERATE STATUES IN US CAPITOL
229 CIVIL WAR TODAY
As examples:
→League of the South
→Tribute to Booth
230 THE LEAGUE OF THE SOUTH, 2015 This 14th of April will mark the 150th anniversary of John Wilkes Booth’s execution of the tyrant Abraham Lincoln. The League will, in some form or fashion, celebrate this event. We remember Booth’s diary entry: “Our country owed all her troubles to him, and God simply made me the instrument of his punishment.” A century and a half after the fact, The League of the South thanks Mr. Booth for his service to the South and to humanity.
231 PIPE MARKS WHERE BOOTH DIED
232 THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION
233 TIMING
1st hr. 47 text slides 50 min. = 1.0 slide/min.
2nd hr. 57 text slides 60 min. = 1.0 slide/min.
234