About the Blog:
The story is a well-known one: On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. His tragic death the next morning was a stunning blow to a country that had just begun to emerge from the dark shadow of a Civil War that had lasted four long years. Instantly and appropriately, Lincoln became an American saint. He gave his last, full measure for his country and was struck down just after completing his goal. Abraham Lincoln’s actions and resolve have earned him the title of our country’s greatest president.
But, there is another part of this story. It is the story of a young, misguided actor driven to extremes. It is the story of a group of conspirators who were determined to strike back against a government that was finally taking active steps to uphold the creed that “all men are created equal.” While the actions taken by the Lincoln conspirators were abhorrent, they represent an important part of Abraham Lincoln’s legacy. This blog aims to teach about and discuss those involved in the death of Abraham Lincoln, not because I agree with their actions but because sometimes the darker parts of history can shed the most light on the past.
Studying the end of Lincoln’s life does not mean one sympathizes with the assassin. John Wilkes Booth was, and will always be, one of the greatest villains in our history. He was a racist, white supremacist coward who shot an unarmed man in the back of the head. Booth is not a man to admire, look up to, or venerate in any way. Yet, he is still a crucial part of Lincoln’s story. By studying, analyzing, and interpreting the actions of John Wilkes Booth and the other conspirators, we can better understand the impact that Lincoln had on the world around him. We cannot truly honor and appreciate Abraham Lincoln without understanding the complexity of his death.
On this website, you will learn about John Wilkes Booth, Lewis Powell, David Herold, George Atzerodt, Mary Surratt, Dr. Samuel Mudd, Samuel Arnold, Michael O’Laughlen, Edman Spangler, John Surratt, and the countless other people who were involved, in some way, in the story of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. This website provides image galleries, maps, videos, projects, posts, and pages, demonstrating how the assassination of Lincoln has impacted our world. I hope that this site will be a worthwhile educational resource about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It is a fascinating chapter of Lincoln’s legacy that deserves to be explored and studied.
Note: This site was formerly called BoothieBarn, and many of the links prior to 2020 still contain that name and watermark. For information about the name change, please read this post.
About the Author:
Dave Taylor
My name is Dave Taylor, and I am a former elementary school teacher. For many years, I have been fascinated by the events of April 1865. As a child growing up in Illinois, I never understood how anyone could kill Abraham Lincoln, our country’s greatest President. I started doing more serious reading and research on the matter in high school when I was introduced to the Stephen Sondheim musical Assassins. Ever since then, I have found that the rabbit hole that is the Lincoln assassination is infinitely deep. There are countless branches to the story which all provide fascinating insights into the minds of those involved.
In 2012, I moved from Illinois to the state of Maryland. Being so close to the nation’s capital and the escape route of the assassin gave me the chance to explore my favorite period of history in person. Sharing my visits to the many historical places around me through this blog became one of my favorite activities.
In 2015, I became one of the guides for the John Wilkes Booth Escape Route Bus Tour organized by the Surratt Society. They provide a narrated 12-hour tour of John Wilkes Booth’s escape from Ford’s Theatre all the way to the site of his death near Port Royal, Virginia. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Surratt Society put on several tours each spring and fall and also catered to groups that wanted to schedule their own private bus tour. The bus tours have been on hold since 2020, but hopefully will be starting up again soon. Please visit the Surratt Society website for more information.
In 2021, I moved from Maryland to Austin, Texas, where I live with my wife and two stepsons. While I’m a bit farther from the sites connected to the Lincoln assassination, my interest has not waned. I continue to conduct individual tours of Booth’s escape route for those who want a more private experience and are willing to pay for my travel expenses from Texas to D.C..
I enjoy giving speeches and presentations about different aspects of the Lincoln assassination story. A list of my former speaking engagements, press appearances, and published articles outside of this blog appears at the end of this page.
Contact:
Questions, comments, or inquiries about speaking engagements or private tours can be sent to: admin@lincolnconspirators.com
Speaking Engagements, Press, and Tours:
Previous speaking engagements:
- “Southern Hospitality: The Garrett Family and John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor at the 14th annual Surratt Society Conference, March 16, 2013
- “John Wilkes Booth and the Garrett Family” by Dave Taylor for Historic Port Royal’s general membership meeting, April 22, 2014
- “The Lincoln Conspirators” – Dave Taylor panelist with Michael Kauffman and Kate Clifford Larson at the Lincoln Group of New York, March 28, 2015
- “A House Divided: Edwin and John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor at Tudor Hall, April 12 & September 13, 2015.
- “A History of Rich Hill: A Stop on the Escape Route of John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor at Rich Hill Farm for Charles County’s Lincoln 150th Weekend, April 18 & 19, 2015
- “The Escape Route of John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor for the Veteran Motor Car Club of America’s 2015 National Heritage Antique Car Tour, April 19, 2015
- “The Death of John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor at the unveiling of the new highway marker for the Garrett farm site at the Port Royal Museum of American History, April 26, 2015
- “Mr. W: Friend of American Liberty” by Dave Taylor at Historic Port Royal’s 16th Annual Fourth of July event, July 4, 2015
- “The Escape Route of John Wilkes Booth: Rich Hill and Garrett’s Farm” by Dave Taylor at the Historical Society of Charles County, October 24, 2015
- “Behind the Walls of Rich Hill” by Dave Taylor at Rich Hill Historic Site, November 1, 2015
- “Southern Hospitality: The Garrett Family and John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor for the King George County Historical Society, November 19, 2015
- “Choose Your Own Path: The Lincoln Assassination” by Dave Taylor at the Charles County Public Schools HITS Expo, March 19, 2016
- “Rosalie Booth: The Eldest Sister of John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor at Tudor Hall, April 3 and October 9, 2016
- “The Collision of the USS Massachusetts and the Black Diamond” by Dave Taylor at St. Clement’s Island Museum, April 24, 2016
- “Booth arrives at the Peyton House skit” by Dave Taylor and Mike Kauffman as part of Historic Port Royal’s John Wilkes Booth Escape Tour through Virginia Tour, April 30, 2016
- “The Lincoln Assassination in St. Mary’s County, Maryland” by Dave Taylor for the Rotary Club of Lexington Park, MD, May 23, 2016
- “Huckleberry: The Home of Thomas A. Jones” by Dave Taylor for the Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage in Charles County, May 28, 2016
- “The Murderer: John Wilkes Booth and the Plot Against Lincoln” by Dave Taylor for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, June 29, 2016:
- “The Lincoln Assassination in St. Mary’s County, Maryland” by Dave Taylor for the Rotary Club of Charlotte Hall, MD, July 19, 2016
- “The Escape Route of John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor for the University of Maryland Association of County Agriculture Agents, October 4, 2016
- “An Evening with John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor for the Friends of Rich Hill and the Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco, MD, March 3, 2017
- “Assassination ‘Extras’: Their Hidden Histories” at the 18th annual Surratt Society Conference, April 1, 2017
- “John Wilkes Booth in Port Royal, Virginia Walking Tours” by Dave Taylor for Historic Port Royal, April 22, 2017. Click the following numbers to see snippets of these tours: 1, 2, 4, 5
- “Rich Hill Open House” by Dave Taylor for the Friends of Rich Hill, April 23, 2017
- “Junius Brutus Booth, Jr.: The Eldest Brother of John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor at Tudor Hall, May 7 and September 3, 2017
- “‘You know best, Captain’: The Executed Conspirators in Lincoln’s Assassination” for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, June 27, 2017
- “The Making of an Assassin: The History of John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor for the Chesapeake Civil War Round Table, September 14, 2017
- “The Lincoln Assassination in St. Mary’s County, Maryland” by Dave Taylor for the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, November 10, 2017
- “The Unearthed Stories of the Lincoln Assassination” by Dave Taylor for the Archeology Society of Maryland: Central Chapter, January 28, 2018
- “‘Freedom’s Battle at Christiana’: The Conflict in Pennsylvania that Radicalized John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor at the 19th annual Surratt Society Conference, April 7, 2018
- “Joseph Booth: The Youngest Brother of John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor for Tudor Hall, May 20 and October 7, 2018.
- “The Lincoln Assassination in St. Mary’s County, Maryland” by Dave Taylor for the Rotary Club of Leonardtown, MD, June 21, 2018.
- “Beyond the Courtyard: The Final Hour of the Lincoln Conspirators” by Dave Taylor, Bob Bowser, and Mike Callahan for Society for the Restoration for Port Tobacco, MD, July 6, 2018.
- John Hubbard reenactment by Dave Taylor at Grant Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, February 2, 2019.
- “The Making of an Assassin: The History of John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor for the Perryville (MD) Public Library, April 6, 2019.
- “The Making of an Assassin: The History of John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor for the Lynchburg Civil War Round Table, April 10, 2019.
- “Frederick Stone: A Life of Service and Secrets” by Dave Taylor for Thomas Stone National Historic Site, May 5, 2019.
- “‘Born Under an Unlucky Star’: The Childhood of John Wilkes Booth” by Dave Taylor for Tudor Hall, June 2 and October 13, 2019.
- John Hubbard reenactment by Dave Taylor at Grant Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, August 3, 2019.
- “Dr. Mudd on Trial” by Dave Taylor for the Dr. Mudd House Museum, September 21, 2019.
- John Hubbard reenactment by Dave Taylor at Grant Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, November 2, 2019.
- Thomas Hubbard reenactment by Dave Taylor at Grant Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, February 1, 2020.
- “Dr. Mudd on Trial” by Dave Taylor for the Dr. Mudd House Museum, February 15, 2020.
- “The Prisoners of Shark Island: Fort Jefferson and the Lincoln Conspirators” by Dave Taylor at the 21st annual Surratt Society Conference, April 4, 2020 (Cancelled due to COVID-19).
- “A Grave Tour of Dr. Mudd’s Cemetery” by Dave Taylor for the Dr. Mudd House Museum, October 24, 2020.
- “John Wilkes Booth: The Making of An Assassin” by Dave Taylor for the Surratt Society’s Annual Conference (virtual), April 23, 2022.
- “On the Manhunt: The Search for Lincoln’s Assassin” by Dave Taylor for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (virtual), April 3, 2024.
- “The Death of Abraham Lincoln: Reactions From a Divided Nation” by Dave Taylor for the Surratt Society’s Annual Conference (virtual), April 13, 2024.
Press & Media Appearances
- Interviewed by Charles County Government Television about their Lincoln 150 event on March 27, 2015
- Interviewed and quoted in The New York Daily News article, “Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth was gifted actor, ladies’ man, ‘handsomest man in America’: experts” by Megan Wagner, April 7, 2015
- Interviewed and quoted in The New York Times article, “For a Biography of John Wilkes Booth, Terry Alford Turns to Amateur Researchers” by Jennifer Schuessler, April 13, 2015
- Interviewed by Fox 5 News in Washington, D.C. about the 150th anniversary of the death of John Wilkes Booth, April 26, 2015
- Featured and quoted in The Free-Lance Star article, “State marker to ‘Assassin’s End’ dedicated in Port Royal on 150th anniversary of John Wilkes Booth’s death” by Clint Schemmer, April 28, 2015
- Quoted in The Enterprise article “Dozens of Men Lost off Island in 1865 Remembered” by Jason Babcock, April 27, 2016
- Interviewed by NBC 4 News in Washington, D.C. about the 2016 Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage in Charles County which included Thomas Jones’ house of Huckleberry: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Historic-Homes-Tour_Washington-DC-380991271.html
- Quoted in the Maryland Independent article “Huckleberry House opens for Civil War lesson” by Michael Sykes II, June 1, 2016
- Interviewed and quoted in Pentagram article “The villainous route of an assassin is a popular Discover D.C. destination” by Jim Dresbach, April 13, 2017
- Interviewed by News Radio WTAX out of Springfield, IL: https://soundcloud.com/news-radio-wtax/6-26-17-dave-taylor-lincoln-assassination-expert-podcast June 26, 2017
- Mentioned in TheBayNet article, “Parks and Points – Rotarians honor St. Mary’s top teacher” by Ellynne Brice Davis, November 18, 2017
- Interviewed on The Railsplitter: The Abraham Lincoln Podcast episode, “Lincoln’s Assassination – Part the Second“, January 18, 2018
- Interviewed on The Railsplitter: The Abraham Lincoln Podcast episode, “Lincoln’s Assassination – Part the Third“, January 25, 2018
- Interviewed on Cemetery Mixtape podcast episode, “Kathryn Evans, Who Saw Lincoln Shot“, March 1, 2018
- Interviewed on the Rogue Historian podcast episode, “John Wilkes Booth, the Lincoln Assassination, and Public History with Dave Taylor“, May 21, 2018
- Interviewed and quoted in the Baltimore Sun article “The Maryland Park Service is merging all state park social media accounts. It hasn’t gone over well” by Hallie Miller, January 11, 2019
- Interviewed for the Vanished: John Wilkes Booth podcast episode, “They Can Only Hang Me Once” by Jennifer Taylor and Chris Williamson, January 23, 2021
- Contributor to the Who Deserves a Monument? podcast episode, “William Parker’s Rebellion at Christiana” by Sarah Lohnes, February 8, 2021
Published work outside of this blog:
Articles:
- “Emerick Hansell: The Forgotten Casualty” by Dave Taylor for the Surratt Courier, November 2010
- “Cloak and Daggers: Cutting Through the Confusion of the Lincoln Assassination Knives” by Dave Taylor for the Surratt Courier, March 2012
- “Michael O’Laughlen: Quilter” by Dave Taylor for the Surratt Courier, August 2012
- “The Escape Attempt of Dr. Mudd” by Dave Taylor for the Surratt Courier, November 2012
- “Cloak and Daggers: Cutting Through the Confusion of the Lincoln Assassination Knives” by Dave Taylor for Knife World Magazine, April 2013
- “A History of Rich Hill” by Dave Taylor for the Surratt Courier, January 2014
Signs:
- Dave Taylor is the author of the “Assassin’s End” highway marker at the site of the Garrett Farm in Caroline County, Virginia. When the former marker had to be replaced in 2015, Dave assisted the Virginia Department of Historic Resources by updating the sign’s text.
Acknowledgments:
Dave Taylor is featured in the acknowledgments or references of the following books
- John Wilkes Booth: Day by Day by Arthur F. Loux
- Fortune’s Fool: The Life of John Wilkes Booth by Terry Alford
- Alias “Paine”: Lewis Thornton Powell, the Mystery Man of the Lincoln Conspiracy, 2nd edition by Betty J. Ownsbey
- Lincoln’s Final Hours: Conspiracy, Terror, and the Assassination of America’s Greatest President by Kathryn Canavan
- His Name is Still Mudd: The Case Against Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, Revised 2019 edition by Edward Steers, Jr.
- Dr. Samuel Mudd at Fort Jefferson by Robert Summers
- The Lincoln Assassination: Where Are They Now by Jim Garrett and Richard Smyth
- The Lincoln Assassination: The Flags of Ford’s Theatre by Richard Smyth and Jim Garrett
- John Wilkes Booth and the Women Who Loved Him by E. Lawrence Abel
- The Last Hope: Lies, Truths and Legends of John Wilkes Booth’s 34-Hour Escape through King George County, Virginia by Elizabeth N. Lee
- Lincoln’s Greatcoat: The Unlikely Odyssey of a Presidential Relic by Reignette Chilton
- Fates and Traitors: A Novel of John Wilkes Booth By Jennifer Chiaverini
- A Sure Defense: The Bowie Knife in America by William B. Worthen and Mark D. Zalesky
- The Lincoln Assassination at Ford’s Theatre: Now He Belongs to the Ages by the Ford’s Theatre Society
- Images of America: Ford’s Theatre by Brian Anderson
- Lincoln’s Last Day, a Smithsonian Channel documentary
John Wilkes Booth Escape Route Bus Tours narrated by Dave Taylor
- April 4, 2015, for the Frederick County Bar Association
- April 25, 2015
- May 2, 2015, for the Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table
- September 12, 2015
- September 19, 2015
- October 11, 2015, for the General Meade Society of Philadelphia
- April 23, 2016
- July 23, 2016, for the National Press Club
- September 17, 2016
- September 24, 2016
- April 8, 2017
- April 29, 2017, for Krouse Travel
- May 20, 2017
- September 2, 2017
- April 21, 2018
- May 5, 2018, for the Green Mountain Civil War Round Table
- September 15, 2018
- April 27, 2019
- September 14, 2019
- September 28, 2019
LincolnConspirators.com 
Very interesting. I am a multi generational admirer of Congressional Cemetery….have grandparents, gr.grandparents and number relative interred there, right by the beautiful chapel. I look forward to your emails. We have driving the Booth route several times… it is all so haunting.
Just discovered you. I am a docent at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, in Springfield, IL. The place in the museum where I’m usually stationed is the Ford’s Theater section of Journey II. I’ve had a life-long interest in Lincoln in general, the Civil War, and the Assassination. I, too, will look forward to your e-mails.
Thanks for commenting, Dave. I’ve only been to the ALPL&M once but I was very impressed with how family friendly and interactively the museum was able to portray Lincoln and his life. I did get a strange look from one of the docents when I asked if he would mind taking my picture with Booth. He asked, “You sure you want a picture with the bad guy?” which made me chuckle.
Thanks for reading!
Dave Taylor
my great great great grandfather was in Ford’s when that happened. do u give any credit to the booth mummy story?
Thanks for commenting Tom and congrats on your ancestor’s run in with history.
While I find the mummy story fascinating and entertaining, there really is no factual basis behind it being John Wilkes Booth. There are countless pieces of evidence that prove John Wilkes Booth was killed at Garrett’s farm. At his autopsy they went through a detailed identification process noting the same details we use to identify John Does today. They used dental records (Booth’s gold plug) and distinguishing markings (his JWB tattoo) which alone would be enough today to identify a body. Not to mention the number of people, from the soldiers at Garrett’s to those present at his burial, who identified the deceased as Booth. There is no doubt in my mind, Booth died on April 26th, 1865.
The 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition: http://lincolnfuneraltrain.org/2015_event.php
While I’m not very well versed on the Lincoln funeral train as many others in the community (Roger) are, I’m going to recount what could be a factoid that I can’t seem to find a source for. I don’t know where I read it and I’m not sure it’s even true, but it’s something that I find fascinating if it is. I recall reading some source that stated that, before the advent of the television, more people witnessed the passing of Lincoln’s funeral train than any other event in American history. That’s to say that the sight of Lincoln’s funeral train as it passed through and by town and cities, was the most observed object and event in our history. It would not be until images began being transmitted on the television that more people saw one identical thing. To me, this fact, if true, is amazing. It perfectly shows how vital Lincoln was to our country.
I’m interested in the USS Montauk connection. My hometown is Montauk, NY. Many years ago, the US Navy department told my father that there were no artifacts left from the Montauk, save the log book which is in the National Archives. I just saw the steeering wheel from the Montauk!!
Lincoln and Mary visited the Washington Naval Yard on the day of the assasination; supposedly the went on board the Montauk. Anyone know for sure? That info could also be recorded in the log book.
Thank you, Tim.
Timgilmartin@msn.com
Tim,
My knee jerk reaction is for you to contact Barry Cauchon and John Elliott through Barry’s blog: http://awesometalks.wordpress.com/
These two men are working on a book about the imprisonment of the conspirators, and have done a lot if research on the monitors. Leave a comment on Barry’s blog and I’m sure they’ll be able to help you.
Thanks for reading!
Dave
Update to your entry on John M. Lloyd’s headstone at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Took photos of it today. Amazing his proximity (100 yards south) of Mrs. Surratt’s grave, which is visible from the site.
I thought you all might like this little bit of information. John M. Lloyd actually purchased the cemetery plot in December of 1865. At first, I began to wonder, if he was worried how long he might live after the trial. Unfortunately though, during that time he and his wife lost a small child that died in Piscatawy (sp.?). Since they were at the Surratt House/Tavern up till that point it seems…do you think that after the child’s loss, they finally decided to go back to Washington DC? If my memory is correct, John is buried with two of his small children in the plot…I know for sure at least one….and I am almost positive about the second child, too. Funny thing, from family records, John was a large man, well liked by everyone. I do think THIS is VERY interesting, NO ONE that I have read of contemporary writers have ever really commented on him, other than to say he might have been an alcoholic. Has anyone else ever read much about him? Thanks. Martha Edwards Smith
Martha,
Thanks for commenting. I remember your posts from Roger Norton’s Lincoln Discussion Symposium: http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-785.html
The people there on the symposium are the best in the field. My own knowledge of John Lloyd is limited so I would suggest you approach the Think Tank over there for help.
Great exclusive interview with John Wilkes Booth: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-hayman/post_4423_b_2717712.html
Good Morning Dave
My name is Kieran McAuliffe and I am the creator of the John Wilkes Booth Escape Route map. You possibly have a copy of it. I would like to announce that I have re-issued the map and it is now available on Amazon, as well as some historic sites such as Ford’s Theatre and the Surratt House Museum.
The map is thoroughly reworked, more detailed with new information learned in the ten years since the first printing. It was great fun to create but a lot of work.
I would like to mail you a free copy. Can you give me an address to send it to?
Kieran
Kieran,
I know your name quite well and I do indeed have one of your wonderfully done escape route maps. I, of course, would never pass up a complementary copy of your new edition, which I expect will be as equally well done as the first. I’ll email you shortly.
Dave
Dave: Great site, very well done.
You may be interested in a May 7, 2013 land sale located “Adjacent to National Historic Landmark Rich Hill on Bel Alton Newtown Rd., Charles County, MD” – information on site link –
http://realestate.alexcooper.com/sold-real-estate/featured-auctions/details/foreclosure-1428/
Sure wish Rich Hill was preserved and not let fall to ruin. What a shame for the entire USA that it is left to rot.
Thanks for letting me know about this Tilly. It seems like they sold practically all the land surrounding Rich Hill, but not Rich Hill itself.
Might find this interesting. It’s about the Deringer:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130820_Booth_killed_Lincoln_with_a_pistol_made_in_Northern_Liberties.html
Dave,
We met earlier this year at Hornes restaurant when you picked up the Surratt tour guides from our Surratt tour. I was looking at your info on O.H. Oldryod and have read a lot about him. I wanted to let you know that I have signed copy of his book “ Assassination of Abraham Lincoln”. The published date is 1917 copyright date 1901. A coworker of mine happened to find it at a flea market in PA about 30 years ago.
I got a lot of positive feedback from everyone who went on the tour.
When you get to the Surratt House say hi for me to Laurie and the staff for me.
Fred Atzrodt (George A. Atzerodt great great nephew)
Thanks for commenting, Fred! You have a nice souvenir with that Oldroyd book. It was wonderful meeting and chatting with you at Horne’s and I hope we get another chance to talk sometime. I’m currently at a banquet for the Surratt Society so I’ll be sure to give Laurie your best.
Thank you, Dave. I LOVE your blog!! Do you live in Southern Maryland…or in Illinois? You have really spent some great quality time there…for yourself….BUT especially for us who can’t be there to walk the trails! I was pretty young when my grandmother’s funeral service was at St. Ignatius, and so the first time I got to see how exquisite Chapel Point is was this passed weekend. I was also wondering how the Jesuits acquired the Huckleberry property? When we saw it this weekend, we noticed quite a few Hayden names on the mailboxes around there. My grandmother was a Hayden.
Hi Dave, Thanks for your great blog. I would like to get permission to use the map of Atzerodt’s escape route in an employee newsletter article I am writing. Please let me know if it’s okay to use.
Katie,
Technically, I don’t own the images of the George Atzerodt’s escape maps. They were created by a researcher named James O. Hall and he put them in a booklet for a one time bus tour of George Atzerodt’s escape route. The booklet was published by the Surratt Society, I believe, and I don’t think they would have any problem with you using the images as long as they were credited as the authors. I’ll ask Laurie Verge, director of the Surratt House Museum to chime in to make sure.
Whatever you use it for, I’d love to see your final product,
Dave Taylor
boothiebarn@gmail.com
You may certainly publish the Atzerodt map as long as Surratt House Museum/MNCPPC is credited. With all the development in that area now, I’m afraid that it may be difficult to image George’s route to his cousin’s home.
I would also love to see your article – Surratt House Museum, 9118 Brandywine Road, Clinton, MD 20735 or laurie.verge@pgparks.com. Thanks.
Thank you!
Twilight Zone episode – Back in time to the Lincoln Assassination:
http://www.cbs.com/shows/the_twilight_zone/video/622076456/back-there
One of my favorite episodes of the series. In high school I performed a dramatic reading of the script for speech club. Rest in Peace, “Peter Corrigan” aka Russell Johnson.
Stumbled upon your site here and I love it! I am a lover of history and I too find Lincolns assassination intriguing!
Good work Dave ! Many good books on the assasination, but Blood on the Moon has good details on Mudd’s relationship with Booth. Have taken the Escape Tour, and it was great ! Can’t wait to go back now that they’ve remodeled Ford’s Theater.
How far is old St. Peter’s Cemetery from the new one, as my parents are buried there ?
Hi, I am also a budding assassination researcher and wonder if you will be on the behind the scenes tour of Fords in July.
Tom,
I will not be at the backstage tour in July. I took it back in May, and Brian does a great job. You’ll enjoy it.
I just visited your web site and found it fascinating. I am the Great, Great Grandson of William and Anna Petersen, owners of the house, now the historic site, where Lincoln died. Regretfully, I have not been involved in this site and its development. My parents, Ferdinand Petersen and Julia Rust Thomas did contribute by donation, the pillow cases that Lincoln bled and died on. I was too young at the time to appreciate the significance of these pillow cases and the documentation that was with them. Just as a humorous aside, I once carried these priceless items in my school lunch box for discussion in an elementary school show-and-tell session. They now are properly shown at the house and I am told they have given credit to my family for the donation. I am afraid I cannot contribute to the history in your blog, as I doubt that the stories that were handed down about the Petersens (without authentication,) hold much creditability other than family folklore.
Good luck and much success with your site.
James (Jim) Petersen Thomas
I just found your more than fascinating site! It’s amazing (lots of kudos) what you present to us. I’m not an American, but a Dutchman, living near the Dutch town Rotterdam. Since my youth (I’m 70 now) I have a longstanding interest in the lifes and legacies of your presidents. I got hooked at age12 when my primary school teacher told the story of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Afterwards I began reading juvenile books about Lincoln and at length progressed to adult versions. Now with the world wide web it’s stunning what info you are able to amass. I want to thank you for all the good work you did and do. Thank you for writing and sharing. Please accept my deep appreciation! Kees van den Berg, the Netherlands.
Mr. Van den Berg,
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words. I’m so pleased that my website has been enjoyable to you. Lincoln has a magnetism about him that transcends countries and oceans, and the story of his death is the great American drama that captivates us all. Thank for you reading and commenting.
By the way, your hometown of Rotterdam has actually come up in a post I wrote about John Wilkes Booth’s father, Junius Brutus Booth. You can read about it here: http://boothiebarn.com/2013/06/06/when-junius-took-the-stage-part-2/
Take care,
Dave Taylor
I have enjoyed your site. I am currently, and have been for sometime researching the Booth Mummy. While I do not buy into all of the conspiracy theories, I am interested in its history and journeys. I am from Oklahoma and lived for a short time in Enid and had that pleasure of viewing the room where David E. George died. I hope to someday see the mummy firsthand. I currently have copies of the George will and an old article by Penniman. I would be very interested in learning more about the research conducted on the mummy for Life magazine as well as find copies of the original x-rays. Any suggestions or knowledge on where I should start?
“is said to be the most written about figure after Jesus Christ.” – Not to split hairs, but my understanding was always this individual was the guy with the little moustache who ran Germany during WWII.
Very interesting! I too am a lifelong Lincoln-phile, including all-things assassination, Booth, Todd, etc. It was very informational to watch your videos on the Booth Escape Route. While the roads have been modernized, the density of the trees along the low-lying hills remain apparent. Thank you for a job well done.
Thank you very much, William. I’m glad that you have found my site to be interesting. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln has so many interesting facets that would take a lifetime to explore. I’ve driven over the escape route countless times and each time I find it exhilarating and fun.
Thanks for commenting.
Dave
You have created a wonderful resource here, and your research is very impressive. I am among the fortunate few to have have examined and studied first-hand a number of Lincoln assassination-related artifacts, and the story is still as compelling as ever. I look forward to reading more of your blog. thanks for making this available to everyone.
Russell,
I am an Illinois native and I have had the pleasure of visiting the Chicago History Museum before. You and your institution are doing a great job of preserving the history of not only Chicago, but also the world. I return to Illinois about twice a year to visit family and friends. On a future trip, I would love to make an appointment to return to the Chicago History Museum in order to conduct research. As you mention, your institution has a great collection of Lincoln artifacts, particularly from the Charles Gunther collection.
Thank you for your kind words about my website. It is very rewarding to receive compliments from well respected museum professionals like yourself.
Sincerely
Dave Taylor
Hi Dave,
I happened on your site by coincidence last night as I was looking for the Booth Bay Theatre auction catalog. I have been looking for one to purchase for years tough to find, except in large auction catalog lots!! Wish I had the opportunity to bid on some of the collection when it came up in 1990!! I was pleasantly surprised to find BOOTHIEBARN though and thrilled, I collect all aspects of the Civil war(I’m assuming your the same Dave Taylor who has a website with constant top notch auction items) , it is nice to know their are others like me that can’t absorb enough of the Lincoln assassination especially an interest in the Booth family!!! It’s a wonderful Blog site, that if you are interested in I may have items that I could take photos of and share with other enthusiasts all items have exemplary provenance as I won’t deal with anyone of suspect relics. have a signed cabinet card photo of Harry clay Ford from the Lattimer collection that I am 100% positive was the person that told Booth of Lincolns attendance that night. I also from the Lattimer collection have a rare cdv of Helen Western in male costume and make up,R from the Horse soldier I have a rare cdv of the Aquidneck house in Newport Rhode Island from the time when John Wilkes and Lucy Hale were staying when he found out Richmond fell and hurriedly left Newport. Also I believe I have a one of a kind item from Johnathan Mann and the Bicenntenial Railcup Splitter auction a Bellick cup and saucer from the original service of china that Edwin ordered for the opening of the players club, in pink and gold with Edwins portrait facing Shakespeare in mint condition never seen another piece from the service. I also just got a lot Hopefully ithe Donald Dow collection that includes portrait vignette and full pose cdvs of John Sleeper Clarke and 1/2 portrait cdvs of Jjunius Brutus Jr and Agnes Booth both with autograph signatures that I am going to have acid free matted and framed. Please let me know if you are interested in me jpeging any items to post on site. I’d be happy to do so. Quick question how rare are Junius and Agnes Cdvs and signatures? I havenot come across them anywhere before. I have also searched for Asia’s and Joseph’s cdvs and signatures and have not come across any before. Appreciate your taking time to red and answer my email and especially to have such a wonderful Blog site!!! Hopefully if your interested I can be of help to you as well by adding photos to the site.
Sincerely yours,
Brian
Brian,
Thank you for your kind comment. I would love to see (and share) some of your fabulous collection. Shoot me an email at BoothieBarn (at) gmail (dot) com.
Dave Taylor
Hi again Dave,
don’t know how many boothie barners subscribe or read American civil war or civil war times, I subscribe to both and just received the June 2015 civil war times issue which the issue is dedicated to J Wilkes with interview with Terry Alford, In the mind of Booth, the Tudor house, James Tanners short hand notes the night of the Assassination and more haven’t started it yet but is pretty much dedicated to J Wilkes and the Assassination and thought any Barner who doesn’t follow it normally might find it interesting reading or worth adding to Booth material collected!!!
Regards and as always thanks for the great Blog!!!
Brian
Hi Dave,
I love this blog and the photos of the historic sites are so interesting! Thanks for keeping us all updated on this topic. Also, have you seen the Newseum’s exhibit of the seven editions of April 15, 1865 New York Herald newspapers reporting Lincoln’s assassination?
Sincerely,
Kat Wilmot
Kat,
I saw the wonderful New York Herald exhibit at the Newseum not long after it opened. I took many many pictures and, when I find the time, I will be doing a post about it here on BoothieBarn. I love the banner displays they have hanging from the ceiling in the exhibit room. I wish I could own a few of them when the exhibit is over.
The Newseum is a tremendous place and I, of course, love that they point out that it was built on the site of the National Hotel where John Wilkes Booth stayed in D.C. Almost as a prelude to the current exhibit, a few years ago the Newseum had a wonderful exhibit on James Swanson’s book, Manhunt: http://boothiebarn.com/2012/03/07/manhunt-the-exhibit/
I definitely recommend a visit to the Newseum, especially with the current exhibit of newspapers covering the Lincoln Assassination.
Thanks for commenting!
Dave
Yes, the Swanson exhibit was installed about the time the Newseum opened in its new location on Pennsylvania Avenue. I look forward to your post about the current Lincoln exhibit. Thanks for the kind words about the Newseum! I certainly enjoy working there.
Kat,
I feel silly for not realizing until now that you work at the Newseum. Kudos to you and your staff for the great work you do day in and day out. As I stated before, the New York Herald exhibit is wonderfully done. I even asked in the giftshop if you all were selling an exhibit book about it, but was told you were not.
I very much enjoyed your appearance on the Newseum Podcast (http://www.newseum.org/exhibits/current/president-lincoln-is-dead/) and was happy to hear that the editions of the New York Herald are some of your favorite items in the museum. I also like your copies of the National Police Gazette which feature illustrations regarding Lincoln’s assassination.
You’ve definitely motivated me to get to work on my post about the exhibit!
Dave
Please do not feel silly! I just wanted to compliment you on your professional blog and after mentioning the Newseum exhibit I thought I should probably say I worked there :-). I’m not always in DC since I work in the off-site archives, but I’d love to meet up with you if you are planning another visit.
PS – I’m originally from Illinois, too. Lived 30 years in NW suburbs of Chicago.
Hello, young Dave Taylor. Iam fifty seven years old and have studied and meditated on Lincoln’s killing more than I care to remember. Started researching this in 1972, age fourteen. Before computers. The book, Stanley kimmel’s Mad Booths of Maryland. In 2009 I helped work in a play called Lincoln’s Last Hours. I was given permission to direct our Booth, a fellow I chose myself, who’s name was Don Davidson. What can I say? It was a blast! I finally was able to utilise my much study, and Don was good. Someone in the group, a real Lincoln nut, allowed me to view his personel Lincoln collection, which included strands of Abe’s and Mary Todd’s hair. I must admit, Iam rather exhausted from my study now. But this is a fine website. When I was fourteen, after reading Mad Booths, I fell in love with Ned. Yeah, Edwin Booth. My favorite of them all. I will return here from time to time. Thanks for a good site. Cheers.
To Dave Taylor,
I’ve written an older kids book for NANOWRIMO a couple of years ago. I am trying to be as historically accurate as possible. I have a chapter, one chapter, devoted to Booth crossing the Potomac into King George and his time on the property at Claydael.
I live on the Machodoc Creek, about a mile by water to the Quesenberry house. It is local interest, especially to me.
May I use some of your information in my editing? I will give you proper crediting, of course. The book will be bound for my grandchildren. In a far stretch, an e-book submission.
Alexandra,
Please forgive the lengthy delay of my response. This comment got hidden from me. You may, of course, use any information you find on this site for use in your novel. I’m happy to be a resource for anyone doing writing on John Wilkes Booth and his crime.
Dave
Dave, is there any way to read your comments about Rich Hill from your talk of April 18-19th? In my tour of the Booth sites in that area in late July, I was allowed access to the house as a renovation company was tearing out the 1970 vintage drywall throughout the house. I have excellent pictures of the old interior hand-hewn beams, brickwork, etc. as uncovered by the drywall removal.
Dennis,
I have just published a post with an article I wrote about Rich Hill: http://boothiebarn.com/2015/08/15/a-history-of-rich-hill/
The article was the source material for my speech. Hopefully that will help you.
Dave
Recently discovered your blog – great stuff, thank you. I have been reading about Lincoln for over 50 years – ouch!! I have one question please: there are many contradictions in the Lincoln assassination story (e.g. was Weichmann a liar or patriiot; did Laura Keene actually make it into the box to soothe a dying Lincoln; just how did Booth break his leg; etc.) —– I know many of these will never be resolved but is there 1 or 2 books on the assassination that you personally would recommend? Thanks.
I don’t know about Dave’s preferences, but at Surratt House Museum, we recommend three – preferably to be read in this order: Manhunt by James Swanson (basic reader), Blood on the Moon by Edward Steers, Jr. (more detailed), and American Brutus by Michael Kauffman (encyclopedic).
Don,
I know others have weighed in, but in my opinion, the best book the the subject of the Lincoln assassination is Michael Kauffman’s American Brutus. Kauffman spent close to 40 years researching and studying the story and I have yet to find a better book on the entire assassination story than his. If you are interested in learning more just on John Wilkes Booth, then I would recommend, Art Loux’s John Wilkes Booth: Day by Day and Terry Alford’s Fortune’s Fool.
Best,
Dave
Do you know of any information that could verify if Lewis Powell attended Ford’s Theatre on Monday, March 27, 1865? An orchestra ticket bearing that date stamp was supposedly found on Powell’s person after his arrest. The two sources I have do not specifically reference this ticket. The ticket is in the collection of a university museum and it was auctioned out of a noted collection in 1904 and later donated to the university.
Lewis Powell’s biographer would be the one to help with this answer. I’m alerting Betty Ownsbey to your question.
Thank you for forwarding to Betty. Her bio, “Alias Paine” sheds no light on the March 27 date nor did several other sources I checked.
Dennis,
I have seen the ticket you are describing at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum in Harrogate, TN. When I visited there I was also interested in the provenance behind it. Like you, however, I found that the history of the item is hard to trace back. From my recollection it was in the Phillip Birman collection before arriving at the University. I would contact the museum if I were you and see if they can find any additional references to it in their early newsletters.
If you figure it out, I’d love to know.
Thanks,
Dave
Hello I was looking through Google and came across a photo of dry tortugas I wanted to use in my next past-present photo. It is the photo of the slaves in the 2 windows of the Fort Jefferson Fort. If you have any information on when and or who was in this old capture of our past, I would love to know.
Thank you, great work!
Antonio,
I believe the picture you are looking for comes from the Historic Structures Report for Fort Jefferson created by the National Park Service. You can read the lengthy document here: http://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/drto/fortjef.pdf
I think the picture you want is on page 490 in the pdf.
I hope this helps!
Dave
Hi Dave:
I enjoy your website – keep up the good work.
Perhaps you can shed some light on an item about the Lincoln Assassination that has puzzled me.
I have read numerous accounts of the assassination and most all of the accounts say John Wilkes Booth was wearing a black slouch hat (his ‘trademark’ headgear?) when he entered Ford’s Theater.
Did he have a hat on when he entered the Starr Tavern?
Did he have a hat on when he re-entered Ford’s Theater?
Wouldn’t the decorum of the times dictate that he remove the hat when he entered the theater? If so, one of his hands would have been encumbered by holding his hat.
Was he wearing the hat when he entered the president’s box?
Did he ‘lose’ the hat during his struggle with Major Rathbone?
The artists’ drawings of the times do not show him wearing a hat when he jumped to the stage and made his way out of the theater.
I recall reading that a black slouch hat, along with the derringer pistol, was found in the box after the president was removed to the Petersen House. According to the account I read, these items were presented in evidence at the trial of the conspirators.
Most re-enactments of the assassination and escape I have seen: movies, etc., including your own, have JWB wearing a hat.
Was he wearing a hat before, during and after the assassination and during the escape? If so, what happened to the hat? What do you think?
Thanks,
Thomas Bowman
I love this site. So much to pick through. I’ve been reading it for a while. I live in Southern MD (educator as well Dave!) and have recently moved a spot along the trail of the escape. Been captivated forever and now it is even more interesting. If you need any photos from down here let me know.
Matt,
It was wonderful meeting and talking with you on Saturday. It’s always a pleasure to spend time with a fellow enthusiast. By the way, Kate and I would love a copy of the photo you took with us. Could you email it to me? Thanks.
Dave
Dave,
It was great speaking to both of you. I apologize for being all over the place when we spoke. It really was exciting to speak to people who have so much knowledge in an area I have so much curiosity. If I knew I would have had so much time to pick at your brains I would have prepared much better. I hope to find my way to a couple more events you are running or are a part of. Ill send you the picture soon. Thanks again!
Dave – Just curious as to how your presentation went with the Charles County school system? Good turnout? Enthusiasm?
Laurie,
Our presentation for Charles County Schools was very well received. We had about 20 people over the course of the 4 hours which I think was pretty good given that it was a high school history day/science fair and that we were in a classroom away from everyone else.
Mr. Taylor:
Did Mr. Bersch live at the Peterson House or in the building next door where there is now a French restaurant, that was a laundry for a very long time?
Dr. Ric Morgan
drricmorgan@gmail.com
Ric,
Bersch is said to have lived in the building next to the Petersen House, which still exists today on 10th St.
Hi Dave. The Chicago History Museum currently has an exhibit on Lincoln that includes the bed in which he died. I wrote about it and wanted to share with you: http://www.viewfromthejeep.com/2016/04/the-lincoln-bed.html
Dop
Dave and Kate spent several hours yesterday showing our boy scout troop several historic sites in Charles County, including the Mudd House and Port Tobacco. The scouts were thoroughly engaged, full of questions, and now have a direct experience that will make their in-school study of the Civil War more palpable. If you are leading a scout campout or other activity in the area for pre-teens/teenagers, get in touch with Dave and he will put together a fun and educational activity for you.
Dave, your article on the Black Diamond disaster was spectacular, as were the photos. What a great and useful blogsite you’ve developed!
Thanks, and hats off to you!!
Bob Allen
(Surratt Society)
I have a comment , I have been on countless tours, read all the books and I still try to get in the mind of Booth on this issue . Knowing Fords theater as well as he did , He had to know it was a 12 foot drop from Lincolns box to the stage , Why would he shoot the president and go forward to jump to the Stage? Why not got back down the stairway ? He could have been out the front door on his horse and easily gone . Was it his plan to make his exit after shouting his famous words to the audience ? According to eye witnesses there was a minute or so of no reaction , comments ?
Andy, Booth had to pass along the back wall of the dress circle and its many seated people to reach the box. Many people saw him and he saw how crowded it was. To fire an shot, then pass through the narrow hallway and back behind the dress circle seats would probably be impossible without his being apprehended. Being as athletic as he was and choosing a moment when only one actor was on stage, Booth would have a much shorter exit route with far fewer people to encounter. Even so, he came quite close to being apprehended.
Don’t forget that his horse was at the rear of the theater, not the front door (where the President’s carriage was). Also, one has to believe that he truly felt he had done a noble deed and wanted recognition. He didn’t figure on getting instant applause, but he did think that he would be hailed a hero. Being center stage at that moment would gain him instant fame, but it only brought infamy.
You have to understand his – and many performers’ – psyche. They need to feed their ego. I have known several with the theatrical flair who instantly strike a pose whenever they think someone is going to snap their picture…
And, did he count on having help in his escape from people backstage? We’ll never know.
HI Dave, I was thinking recently about a poem I encountered during my career as an Activity Professional in senior health care environments. It was a poem we were taught for use in Remotivation classes, “The Beautiful Snow.” I googled it, as I wanted to read it again, and a link came up to your blog and your posting about said poem in 2012. I was fascinated with what your wrote, as we were told the myth about the poem being found on the body of a dead woman on (of) the streets. For obvious reasons, we only ever used the first three verses with our residents. Anyway, I was especially fascinated with the connection of the poem with John Wilkes Booth and I have shared that with my husband, who is a Lincoln enthusiast. (He is a life member of the Surratt Society). Thank you for that bit of info about “The Beautiful Snow” and JWB. I look forward to reading more of your blog. In the meantime I want to google another poem from my past “The Children’s Hour” by Longfellow. If I find a connection between that and JWB, I think I’ll fall off my chair!
Dave: My wife and I recently became aware that John Buckingham lived in the house we own circa 1894. It is in the 200 block of 9th Street SE. We have lived there for the last 49 years. Yesterday we walked to Congressional Cemetery to visit his grave. It only says “Buckingham Mother Father Three sons”. The father is John who died in 1909. In looking for more information about him I stumbled on your site. It is great and I look forward to following it.
Lee
Hi, I came across your site today and it has more information than other ones I’ve looked at. I love history like you and always wanting to learn more. I am also currently reading Shakespeare books too. How did John Wilkes Booth memorize all those lines? I heard he had trouble sometimes. Is that true? I am interested in learning about his acting career. ( I have special needs but I find reading Shakespeare fun) Thank you, Barb.
Barb,
It’s true that John Wilkes Booth was a slow student. His sister, Asia, stated that, “John Wilkes was not quick at acquiring knowledge, he had to plod, progress slowly step by step, but that which he once attained he never lost…He had great power of concentration, and he never let go a subject once broached until he had mastered it or proved its barrenness.” When it came to studying the works of Shakespeare, it’s important to remember that Booth had three years of what could be termed an apprenticeship in the theater. From 1857 – 1860, Booth was a member of two different stock companies. He played small roles and spent his time learning the plays and all of the parts. This in-person training was extremely effective. After his first year as a touring star, Booth hit the books again, spending most of the summer of 1861 locked away at a hotel in Bel Air where he pored over plays. It may have taken Booth longer to learn the works of Shakespeare than other actors, but with perseverance he was still able to memorize them and become a star.
If you want to learn more about Booth’s career, I recommend the book John Wilkes Booth: Day by Day by Arthur Loux.
Thanks for commenting.
Hello,
My name is Jamie and I am an aspiring librarian. This is really fascinating. I love learning anything I can about Abraham Lincoln. Recently in a September 4,1898 issue of the New York Press I read an article entitled “Hangman of Lincoln Assassins Tells His Story” and I developed an interest in reading about Christian Rath and his account of the trial and executions. I want to update his wikipedia page with a photo and I was wondering if you knew where I could find one with the copyright info, if any so I can use it.
Hello Dave,
I am reading American Brutus for second time and am curious about a section, Chapter 3. page 41.On the night of April 14th He mentions Lincoln Hospital and pickets. He says Pickets heard two horses galloping towards them. Countersign. None. then other people came out of woods on horseback.there were shots fired. one soldier wounded. The note is for Baltimore sun, but I can’t seem to find anything on this event. Do you have any knowledge or thoughts on this?
thanks,
sorry it seems pretty random
Hello,
Fairly new to the site and I must tell you that I find myself just blown away by the amount of information presented here. Thanks to our quarantine conditions I had the opportunity to listen to Dave’s second ALPL&M presentation the other night. I found it simply outstanding! Thank you for compiling all of this and making it available to interested parties such as myself.
Just found your blog. Incredible stuff! Thank you for all your hard work and determination. I have a question I’m hoping you can answer. I read thru some of the trial transcripts a few years back. I remember reading testimony from someone who was outside fords theater around 9:30pm to 10pm who said they saw booth outside and talking with two other men. He kept asking them what time it was.
I have been unable to find the testimony again. Do you know about this and can you tell me where I can find it to read again. This seems like such important info that booth was working with others outside fords.
Thanks,
Ken
Ken,
You are thinking of the testimony of Sgt. Joseph Dye. You can find his testimony here: https://boothiebarn.com/the-trial/may-15-1865/#dye
Thanks. What is your take on this?
If true, who do you think the other two men were?
Do you know if there was any one else who testified they were outside Fords at that time?
I’m assuming Powell, herald and Alzerodt were already gone on there own missions so who could it have been.
I know I’m asking a lot of questions but this always puzzled me.
Thanks
Ken,
Personally, I have a hard time believing Dye’s testimony as it doesn’t fit with what we know and changed pretty often. Dye was called to testify at the trial of John Surratt two years later and placed Surratt among the group. Yet, the evidence that Surratt was in New York on the night of the assassination is pretty ironclad. I agree with assassination author Ed Steers who wrote, “Was Dye lying or simply mistaken about what he saw? Whatever the case, it does not comport with what we know based on the testimony of numerous other witnesses.”
Makes sense. Thanks for replying and helping to clear this up for me. I wonder if myself and others sometimes look to hard to try and find new things. We base our thoughts on how we think/act today although I know life was a lot simpler back then.
When you were sleeping out in the pine thickets to reenact booth being there, did you feel like you were thinking like someone who lived in 1865?
Hi Dave! I ran across this ( I am not affiliated in any way with this business) and thought it would be something you’d be interested in knowing about. Best wishes to you in this new school year,
Dave Greene
http://www.greenfeetgames.org/unforgiven-the-trial-of-mary-surratt
David,
Thanks for sending this. I actually acted as a bit of a historical consultant with the developers of this game. My job was to look at their cards and make sure the text was accurate. At its heart it is a complex strategy game with the Lincoln assassination trial as a loose theme.
Why am I not surprised, Dave! Lol! Now I will definitely want to purchase it. Thank you!
Dave
Dave,
Your recent project on the trial of the Lincoln assassination conspirators ia masterful work of journalism.
Your meticulous research on all things related to the conspiracy & the assassination over the years is truly deserving of a Pulitzer Prize in historical journalism.
That being said which I truly i believe,I would appreciate if you could tell me who was actually present at Lincoln’s death bed at 7:22 AM.?
Of course, A.Chappel’s Key To The Last Day of Lincoln ,!865 lithograph (The Rubber Room ) with 47 people is rediculous .
One person I’m interested in is James Tanner, the stenogographer who took notes of witnesses for
Edward Stanton. He claimed he was present in the room when Lincoln died at 7 :22 AM. Since he was a corporal & unknown he wasn’t noticed by the others present.
Would you have any information to confirm this besides his own testimony.eg. letters to family or friends in 1865?
Many thanks ,
Allen
Allen,
You are the second person in recent days to ask about Corp. Tanner and his presence at the time of Lincoln’s death. I have a vague memory from a few years ago in which I tired to do the same thing as you – confirm Tanner’s attendance at Lincoln’s death in sources outside of Tanner himself. My memory is that I couldn’t. This isn’t to say that he wasn’t there, only that I haven’t been able to find proof he was there other than his own words. As you note, Tanner was a nobody compared to the other distinguished collection of gentlemen present when Lincoln died and so it could be reasonably argued that no one else made note of him later on. The letter Tanner wrote to his friend Hadley Walch is the earliest evidence (that I know) that places Tanner at Lincoln’s death. But, again, we have to take Tanner at his word. Here is the letter: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1836527?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
While it would be nice to have evidence outside of Tanner’s own words, I’m willing to trust Tanner on this. The recounting of it so close after the assassination has a ring of truth to it and he is proven reliable in terms of his service taking down testimony earlier in the night.
I found a brilliant John Wilkes Booth lecture of yours on YouTube. Please put my name on your list for news on your lectures. Please advise what principle published work of yours is available.
Gene,
I’m glad you liked the speech I gave at the ALPLM about John Wilkes Booth. I’m afraid that I don’t have any published works, only the pieces I have here on my website and on my Twitter account. Thanks for the follow.
Sincerely,
Dave Taylor
Hi Dave
Kris from Scotland here, I’ve become fascinated by this subject in the last year or so, I bought America Brutus and seen all your great videos.
One thing that surprises me is that although there has been a Lincoln feature picture with Daniel Day Lewis, why there hasn’t been anything about booth in Hollywood and the aftermath of the assassination. Do you know if there is anything in the pipeline?
Thanks
Kris,
Just a few weeks ago an announcement was made that a miniseries based around the book Manhunt is in the works: https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/apple-john-wilkes-booth-series-monica-beletsky-tobias-menzies-1235147334/amp/
Hi Dave, thanks for your great work on this blog. I’m a lawyer and so an interested in the legal side of this topic. Apart from the trial transcripts, do you know of any books or substantial articles analyzing the trials, defense strategies, etc.? I know that Mary’s lawyers got a writ of habeas corpus from the Federal District Court just before her execution (too late), and that there were objections made to the jurisdiction of the military tribunal at the beginning, but I am puzzled why the jurisdictional questions were not brought to the District Court up front for a decision. Then that decision could have been appealed to the US Supreme Court for a final determination. Certainly, Reverdy Johnson, being a former US Attorney General, must have thought of this but did not act on it. Thanks for any thoughts you have on this. Frank Helminski, Paoli, PA
Frank,
Aside from my own Trial project, which, admittedly is more a teaching tool than an in-depth legal look at the trial of the conspirators, I can think of a few resources that might interest you.
Avenging Lincoln’s Death: The Trial of John Wilkes Booth’s Accomplices by Thomas J. Reed
The Law(?) of the Lincoln Assassination by Martin S. Lederman
The Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy and Its Legacy by Frederick Hatch
Hopefully these texts will help you find the answers you are seeking.
Not sure where to post a question ; but can any of you great people tell me just WHERE Booth exited the box at Fords theatre ? Its usually written just that he “went over the balustrade ” . But which part ? Did he force a path between Lincoln and his wife or did he veer right and go through the 2nd opening ? Minutiae is important to me !! I want to know everything. Thanks for any help in clearing this up .
Rena Lee, Booth left the box over the padded balustrade of Box 7 in front of Lincoln. There is no dispute on this. Conflicting information shows he jumped or let himself down over the railing, catching his spur on the Treasury Guards flag and ripping it. This flag, with its tear, is on display at Ford’s Theatre. Booth entered the box through the open Box 8 door at the end of the hallway, The door to Box 7, to the left in the hallway, was closed and immediately behind Lincoln’s rocker making that entry unfeasible. Both doors opened into the hallway. Best information is that Booth passed between Lincoln and Mary, was accosted by Rathbone, then went over the railing. Hope this answers your questions sufficiently.
Dennis D. Urban
Are you sure there’s “no dispute” on this, Dennis? To be honest, I’ve never been able to definitely prove which portal Booth jumped out of. The eyewitness testimonies aren’t that exact or reliable. My own feeling is that there was not enough space between the slumped over President and Mrs. Lincoln to facilitate an easy escape through the portal of Box 7. It makes more sense to me that Booth jumped out of the portal to Box 8 since only Clara Harris was seated there while Rathbone’s couch was pushed back. I’m happy to be proven wrong, but I don’t think we have a conclusive answer to Rena’s question.
love this . Youre as minutiae crazed as i am . Side bar : When i was 10 , i took out my very 1st Lincoln assassination book ; it was Bishop , maybe The Night Lincoln was shot (?) . Hard to recall . I was so completely hooked and (strangely) riveted more by JWB than anyone else . 50 yrs later , nothing has changed and im still obsessed with the killing , and with Booth. Thanks for your great comment !! It made my day !!
Dave & Rena, Until Dave’s comment to my “no dispute” wording I have not been familiar with other questioning of over which box balustrade Booth exited. I’ll grant that my wording may have been premature and hasty. However, I’ve never seen anything in print disputing Box 7 as the exit point. Dave makes an excellent point for which there may be no solution. Along this vein, attached to Dave’s analysis of the path of the bullet through Lincoln’s brain was a link to the medical forensic analysis article. In that article, Figure 2 was an overhead drawing of boxes and the position of people and furniture within them.* I wish the drawing was to scale.* Sadly, it was not. This would have greatly helped in understanding the area in which Booth moved and if a Box 7 exit was feasible. Perhaps some entity can do such a drawing in the future.
Rena, I also read the 1955 Jim Bishop book, The Day Lincoln Was Shot, as an elementary school student living in the MD suburbs of DC. This also created in me a lifelong curiosity about the events and personages of this incredible event.
Dennis Urban
i hear that !! Deeper analysis of what forensic data is available . Plot the angles/trajectories to try and figure his position/movements. I would eat up a deep dive like that. Till then , i have to settle for “doing it in my mind ” . Which pretty much means educated guesses and inferences. To wit : How would it go if “I” were the assassin in that box ? The moment I’d dispatched Lincoln , I would immediately wheel right to counter the threat of Rathbone ; tussle ensues and (i think) at the same time , I’d be frantically straining toward that balustrade and freedom . With this activity in mind , and my DISINCLINATION to wedge through the Lincoln couple (just no room , not an inviting option) I can easily imagine going right for the opening in box 8 (portal 2) . In any event , if i had every detail on the Treasury flag , (where is rip ? Just how was it hanging ? ) that would sure give a big clue about his precise path , imo. Yeah , i’ll zip it now. I can ruminate on this stuff for hours !! Thank you so much for your thoughtful response !!
One point i overlooked . No , i couldnt say theres been “debate” about his exit from the box . But ive often seen it referred to in just a passing , general way , without DETAILS . (Just that he jumped , not how and where , exactly) Im all about the detail !! The devil is in the details .
Oh dear . Im just TOO into it . ☹️☹️😬😬 Now nobody wants to listen . 😔😔
oh my goodness !! Do you know how many conflicting versions ive seen on all of this ? There are sites up right now stating categorically that Booth went through the door behind Lincolns rocking chair ! You get so you dont kniw WHAT to believe. I really appreciate your answer ! Thank you . Of course that sets me off on another tangent bc (again) different books say different things and ive seen it said that Booth lost his balance and landed funny bc Rathbone was pulling at his coat . Sigh. Would love to have been a fly on the wall of that box !! Thanks again .
Rena Lee,
After firing the shot, Booth went over the padded balustrade in Box 7 directly in front of Lincoln. Accounts differ as to whether he vaulted over the railing or let himself down. In any event, he caught his spur on the Treasury Guards flag and somewhat fell to the stage. Best information is that he passed to the right of the rocker and between Lincoln and Mary. Booth entered through the open door to Box 8 at the end of the short hallway. Door to Box 7 (left of hallway) was closed and directly behind Lincoln making entry difficult through that door.
Dennis Urban