Abraham Lincoln assassination

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The Abraham Lincoln assassination was one of the last major events in the American Civil War. Actor and Confederate sympathizer, John Wilkes Booth, planned to overthrow the Union government by assassinating President Abraham Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William H. Seward. The plot was unsuccessful in it's overall goal, however Booth was successful in killing Lincoln.

Contents 1 The Conspirators 2 Original Plot 3 Assassination 3.1 Plot 3.2 Attacks 3.2.1 Seward 3.2.2 Johnson 4 Aftermath 4.1 Escape Attempt 4.2 Conspirators' Trial 4.3 Impact 5 Myths 6 References 7 External links

[edit] The Conspirators

Conspirator	Involvement	Consequence
Samuel Arnold	Involved in original kidnapping plan, not assassination	Life in prison, pardoned by President Andrew Johnson in 1869
George Atzerodt	Involved in original kidnapping plan and kill Vice President Andrew Johnson, never attempted	Hanged July 7, 1865, remains released 1869
John Wilkes Booth	Involved in original kidnapping plan and kill President Abraham Lincoln, succeeded	Shot April 26, 1865 (by Boston Corbett), remains released in 1869
David Herold	Involved in original kidnapping plan and aided escape to Booth	Hanged July 7, 1865, remains released in 1869
Samuel Mudd§	Set Booth's broken leg and fed and sheltered both Booth and Herold (the two used aliases)	Life in prison, pardoned by President Andrew Johnson in 1869
Michael O'Laughlen	Involved in original kidnapping plan, not assassination	Life in prison, died in prison of yellow fever in 1867, remains released in 1869
Lewis Powell ("Paine")	Involved in original kidnapping plan and kill Secretary of State William H. Seward, wounded six people including Assistant Secretary of State Frederick W. Seward	Hanged July 7, 1865, remains released in 1869
Edmund Spangler	Involved in original kidnapping plan and stopped people from catching Booth	Six years in prison, pardoned by President Andrew Johnson in 1869
John Surratt	Involved in original kidnapping plan, not assassination	Caught in 1867, mistrial and bailed for $25,000
Mary Surratt	Involved in original kidnapping plan and supplied Booth with goods and weapons for the assassination	Hanged July 7, 1865, remains released in 1869

§ To this day it is still argued on whether or not Samuel Mudd was guilty. The majority^{[citation needed]} of historians that have studied the Lincoln assassination believe that he was innocent.

[edit] Original Plot

John Wilkes Booth's original plot was not to murder the Abraham Lincoln. This original plot was to kidnap the president and take him to the south. In exchange for him back, the Union was to release the Confederate prisoners captured in warfare.

Booth had orignized a circle of conspirators to help him in attepting this. He had recruited Samuel Arnold, George Atzerodt, David Herold, Michael O'Laughlen, Lewis Powell a.k.a. "Paine" and John Surratt. The meetings to plan this where held at the boarding home run by Surratt's widowed mother Mary Surratt.

Booth attended Lincoln's second inauguration on March 4, 1865 as the invited guest of his secret fiancée Lucy Hale, the daughter of the current Minister to Spain John P. Hale. In a photo taken at the event, Booth can be seen in a crowd above the president. In another crowd below the president, fellow conspiators David Herold, George Atzerodt, Edmund Spangler, Lewis Powell and John Surratt can be seen. Booth remarked afterwards, "What a wonderful chance I had to shoot the president." though he had no plan to do so at the time.

On March 17, 1865, Booth learned at the last minute that Lincoln would be attending a performance of the play Still Waters Run Deep at a hospital near the Soldier's Home. Booth assembled his team on a stretch of road near the Soldier's Home in the attempt to kidnap Lincoln en route to the hospital, but the president never showed. Booth later learned that the President had changed his plans at the last moment to attend a reception at the National Hotel in Washington D.C. which ironically was where Booth lived. After a second failed attempt, Surratt, Arnold and O'Laughlen quit the conspiarcy.

Louis J. Weichmann was also suspected to be part of the conspiracy. He lived at Mary Surratt's boarding house and knew all the suspects. He was the chief witness in the trial of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

[edit] Assassination

[edit] Plot

After the second failed attempt, the Civil War had ended. Although many Southerners gave up hope, Booth continued to believe in the cause, writing in his diary that "something decisive and great must be done^[1]." He decided that if he could simultaneously murder the President, Vice-President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward, he could throw the Union government into chaos just long enough for the Confederacy to mount a resurgence. Atzerodt wanted nothing to do with it, saying he had signed up for a kidnapping, not a killing. Booth told him he was too far in to back out. He assigned Atzerodt to kill Johnson, but instead Atzerodt went out drinking. Booth suspected he would not follow through and so, on his way to Ford's Theatre, Booth stopped by Johnson's apartment leaving a note that read "Don't wish to disturb you. Are you at home? J. Wilkes Booth." Since Johnson was a Southerner, Booth hoped this would cast suspicion on him as being part of the assassination plot.

Booth then assigned Powell and Herold to kill Seward, thinking Powell would be unable to find Seward's house, and Herold unwilling to carry out the murder.

[edit] Attacks

That night, after setting up the other killings, Booth left for Ford's Theatre. Being an accomplished actor, Booth knew the evening's play by heart. The line "you sockdologizing old man trap!" always drew laughter from the crowd, so Booth timed it so he would enter the presidential box shortly before that line. The guard who was supposed to be guarding the box had left to watch part of the play and then get drunk, so Booth had no trouble entering the box unnoticed. On cue, Booth pulled the trigger, and Lincoln slumped over. Mrs. Lincoln thought the President had simply fallen asleep until a dark figure brushed past her. Major Henry Rathbone, the President's guest for the evening, jumped out of his seat and attempted to stop Booth, but Booth pulled out a knife and slashed Rathbone on his arm. Booth then jumped off the balcony onto the stage, but Rathbone grabbed his leg, causing a spur on Booth's boot to catch on a flag that adorned the presidential box. Booth's leg twisted and broke as he landed on the stage. As he jumped, he yelled "Sic semper tyrannis," the Virginia state motto: "Thus always to tyrants^[2]." Other accounts state that he also uttered "The South is avenged^[3]!" Booth then hobbled off the stage and out the door onto a horse he had waiting for him outside. He rode off South to Maryland to meet with Herold and Powell.

[edit] Seward

Booth assigned Lewis Paine to kill Secretary of State William Henry Seward. At this time, Seward was bedridden due to a carriage accident he was in about a week before. He was at his home in Lafayette Park in Washington not to far from the White House.

Paine and Herold went to Seward's residence on Booth's orders. Booth probebly thought that Paine wouldn't be able to find the house and that Herold was to cowardly to attempt the murder himself. Paine was carrying an 1858 Whitney revolver which was a large, heavy and popular gun during the Civil War. Additionally, he carried a huge silver-mounted bowie knife with an alligator motif. Engraved in it read the words, "The Hunter's Companion, Real Life Defender."

Paine knocked at the front door of the house a little after 10:00 PM. William Bell, Seward's butler, answered the door. Paine told Bell that he had medicine for Seward from Dr. Tullio Verdi and to deliver it personally and show him how to take the medicine. He was let in and Paine made his way up the stairs to Seward's third floor bedroom.

At the top of the staircase, he was aproached by Seward's son, Assistant Secretary of State Frederick Seward. Paine told Frederick the same alabi he had told Bell at the front door. Seward was suspicious of the intruder and told Paine that his father was asleep. The truth was he wasn't. Secretary Seward was in his bed talking with his daughter, Fanny, and his temperary nurse, Seargent George F. Robinson. Robinson was wounded while in battle and was assigned to care for the injured Seward until he could recover.

After overhearing what Frederick had said from the next room, Fanny stuck her head out the door and said, "Fred, father his awake." thinking that her older brother was mistakin. Paine became suspicious now aswell. He started down the stairs again when suddenly he jolted around again and drawed his revolver, placing it apon Frederick's forehead. He pulled the trigger, but the gun misfired. Panicing, he then smashed the gun over Frederick's head continuously until he collapsed. Fanny, wondering what all the noise was, looked out the door again. She saw her brother bloody and unconsious on the floor and Paine running towards her. Paine ran to Seward's bed and stabbed him contiuously in the face and neck. He missed the first time he swung his knife down, but the second blow sliced open Seward's cheek. Seargent Robinson and another one of Seward's sons, Augustus, tried to get Paine off. Augustus had been asleep in his room, but was awoken by Fanny's screams of terror.

Outside, Herold had tied Paine's horse to a nearby tree and ran away having heard Fanny screaming inside. He headed to the Navy yard to meet up with Booth to escort him in his escape.

Secretary Seward had rolled off the bed and onto the floor where he could not be reached by the attacker. Paine faught off Robinson, Augustus and Fanny stabbing them as well. He ran down stairs and headed to the front door. Just then, a messenger named Emerick Hansell arrived with a telegram for Seward. Paine stabbed Hansell in the back who then fell to the floor. As Paine ran outside he yelled, "I'm mad! I'm mad!" He calmly untied his horse from the tree where Herold left it and took off.

[edit] Johnson

Booth assigned George Atzerodt to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson. Whether or not Atzerodt agreed to do this is unknown. Johnson was staying at the Kirkwood Hotel in Washington. Booth told Atzerodt that he was to knock on the door of the Vice President's room at 10:00 PM and shoot him.

On April 14, 1865, Atzerodt rented room 126 at the Kirkwood directly above the room where Johnson was staying. Atzerodt was hesitant. He went to the bar downstairs and asked the bartender, Michael Henry, about the Vice President's character and behavior. However, Atzerodt never pulled through in his part in the assassination and had stayed at the bar.

[edit] Aftermath

[edit] Escape Attempt

Booth reunited with Herold after the assassination^[4], but was still injured from the jump onto the stage. Herold and Booth went to Samuel A. Mudd, a local doctor and acquaintance of Booth, and had the broken bone set^[5]. After leaving Mudd's house Booth and Herold hired a local man to guide them to Samuel Cox's house^[6]. Cox in turn led them to Thomas Jones, who hid Booth and Herold in a swamp near his house for five days until they could cross the Potomac River^[7]. They remained on the run until April 26, when Union soldiers tracked them down. They had been locked in a barn belonging to Richard Garrett and while Herold surrendered himself, Booth refused to come out^[8]. The soldiers then set fire to the barn^[9]. After that, what happened is unclear. It is known that a shot was fired and Booth died, but there is confusion as to whether a soldier (Boston Corbett) fired or Booth shot himself^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] Conspirators' Trial

Eight of Booth's co-conspirators were tried by a military tribunal after his death. The trial by a military tribunal provoked criticism from Edward Bates and Gideon Welles, who believed that a civil court should have presided. The trial lasted for about seven weeks, with 366 witnesses testifying. The verdict was given on July 5. All of the defendants were found guilty. Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt were sentenced to death by hanging. Samuel Mudd, Samuel Arnold, and Michael O'Laughlen were given life in prison. Edmund Spangler was sentenced to imprisonment for six years^[10].

On July 7 Surratt, Powell, Herold, and Atzerodt were hung to death^[11] in the Old Arsenal Penitentiary^[12]. Mary Surratt was the first woman to be hung by the U.S. government^{[citation needed]}. Mudd, Arnold, and Spangler were pardoned in February of 1869 by President Johnson^[13].

[edit] Impact

Abraham Lincoln was the first American President to be assassinated. His assassination had a long-lasting impact upon the country. Many believe that his death destroyed chances for a peaceful reconstruction, and for greater civil rights being granted to non-whites. Lincoln's death resulted in Andrew Johnson being sworn in as President, Johnson becoming one of the least popular Presidents in American history. The Lincoln Memorial was later erected to honor Lincoln's sacrifices for his country.

Seward continued to serve as Secretary of State, and later negotiated the deal in which the United States purchased Alaska.

[edit] Myths

Many odd circumstances surrounded Lincoln's assassination, including alleged premonitions of his death by Lincoln himself.

• Not long before his assassination, Lincoln had a dream where a funeral was being held for "the President" in the East Room, where Lincoln's viewing took place.
• As Lincoln left the White House that night, he said to the guard "Goodbye, Crook," instead of his usual "Good night, Crook."
• That night, Lincoln remarked to his wife "I have never felt happier before in my life." His wife was concerned because he had said the same thing soon before his first son died.
• Numerous similarities have been noted between Lincoln and John F. Kennedy's assassination.
• Abraham Lincoln told his wife that he saw two faces of himself in a mirror soon after being elected president, one deathly pale. His wife believed this to mean he would be elected to a second term but would not survive (Sandburg, 195).

[edit] References

1. ^ Goodwin, D: "Team of Rivals.", p. 728. Simon & Schuster, 2005
2. ^ Goodwin, D: "Team of Rivals.", p. 739. Simon & Schuster, 2005
3. ^ Swanson, J: "Manhunt.", p. 48. HarperCollins, 2006
4. ^ Swanson, J: "Manhunt.", p. 87. HarperCollins, 2006
5. ^ Swanson, J: "Manhunt.", p. 131. HarperCollins, 2006
6. ^ Swanson, J: "Manhunt.", p. 163. HarperCollins, 2006
7. ^ Swanson, J: "Manhunt.", p. 224. HarperCollins, 2006
8. ^ Swanson, J: "Manhunt.", p. 326. HarperCollins, 2006
9. ^ Swanson, J: "Manhunt.", p. 331. HarperCollins, 2006
10. ^ Swanson, J: "Manhunt.", p. 363. HarperCollins, 2006
11. ^ Swanson, J: "Manhunt.", p. 365. HarperCollins, 2006
12. ^ Swanson, J: "Manhunt.", p. 362. HarperCollins, 2006
13. ^ Swanson, J: "Manhunt.", p. 367. HarperCollins, 2006

[edit] External links

• Abraham Lincoln's Assassination and coverage of alternate conspiracy theories
• ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS: A One Page Summary of the Lincoln Assassination