Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer

On April 24, at the War Department telegraph office in Washington, Colonel Lafayette Baker overhears a telegraph from Major James O’Beirne reporting that Booth and Herold had been seen crossing the Potomac. He passes the news to his cousin, Detective Luther Byron Baker. Lieutenant Edward Doherty of the 16th New York Calvary regiment is ordered to take 26 of his men, along with Detective Baker and a former colonel, Everton Conger, to Port Conway to look for Booth and Herold.

That evening, Booth has dinner and spends the night at the Garretts. The next day, April 25, Booth spends most of the morning sleeping. Then, William Garrett asks Booth about his experience in the Confederate Army. Booth lies and says that the cavalry is after him following a skirmish at which after Booth refused to sign a loyalty oath to the Union. That afternoon, John Garrett returns from town with news that there is reward for Booth’s capture. That evening, Booth is spooked by riders near the gate and asks John to get his guns. However, it is just David Herold returning to the farm. Now suspicious of the pair, John refuses to let them spend the night in the house.

The afternoon of April 25, the New York Calvary arrives in Port Conway, Virginia. They question Rollins and his wife, who disclose that Booth and Herold crossed by ferry the day before with three Confederate soldiers. Mrs. Rollins says that Jett can be found at the Star Hotel in Bowling Green. The calvary takes Rollins with them and cross by ferry to Port Royal. Ruggles and Bainbridge ride to the Garrett farm and tell them that the “Yankee cavalry” are coming and leave (304). While Herold talks with John Garrett, the cavalry rides past. Garrett tries to get a wagon to take Herold and Booth to Orange Court House but is unable. Garrett says they can spend the night in the tobacco barn. When they are to the barn, William Garrett locks the pair in, and John and William take up watch on the barn.

Around 11 o’clock, the cavalry reaches Bowling Green and finds Private Jett, who confesses everything and agrees to lead them to Booth at the Garrett residence. Richard Garrett refuses to tell them where Booth and Herold are, but, to protect their father, his sons tell the cavalry they are in the tobacco barn. The cavalry surrounds the barn. They make John Garrett enter the barn in an attempt to get Booth to give up his arms, but Booth refuses. They want to take Booth alive. Herold pleads with Booth to let him go, and Booth finally agrees. Herold leaves the barn, unarmed, and is arrested. The cavalry tries to get Booth to surrender, but he refuses, so they set the barn on fire to smoke him out. He won’t go down without a fight, so he begins to aim his rifle at the cavalry. Sergeant Boston Corbett shoots Booth in the back of the neck through the slats in the barn. They drag Booth out of the barn and carry him onto the porch of the Garrett residence. He is mortally wounded and paralyzed. He looks at his hands and says, “Useless, useless” (342). Finally, as the sun rises on April 26, Booth dies.