After John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln and exits Ford’s Theatre, he jumps onto a horse and escapes through the southern portions of Washington D.C. At this same time, some of the other Confederate sympathizers associated with Booth are causing havoc too. Each had a job to do:
- Mr. Lewis Powell was stabbed Secretary of State William H. Seward – Check
- David Herold was supposed to meet up with Booth after Ford’s Theatre – Check
- George Atzerodt was supposed to to assassinate Vice President Andrew Johnson – Drank all night
- John Surratt was going to kidnap President Lincoln, but didn’t know about the new plan – Check
John Wilkes Booth and David Herold escaped into southern Maryland and fled to Mary Surratt’s tavern, about 9 miles south of Washington D.C. Here that collected some firearms and some bandages for Booth’s fractured left leg. They got some drinks as well and continued south. Further south, they arrived at Dr. Samuel Mudd’s house, about 25 miles away. They arrived and stayed here for about 24 hours. Here, Samuel Mudd was able to get the boot of his left leg, and fashioned a splint and got him crutches. While Dr. Samuel Mudd went into town, he noticed and heard that two men were being sought out for the assassination of President Lincoln by Union Cavalry under the 16th New York.
At Dr. Samuel Mudd’s house, John W. Booth changed his appearance and cut his hair, shaved his mustache off and cleaned himself up. Mudd learned about Lincoln’s death, came home, and kicked Booth and Herold out of his house. Surprisingly, Mudd survived and they didn’t shoot him there. Booth and Herold hid in place near the river waiting on transport across towards Virginia. One of the three Confederate soldiers that helped them across the river was Confederate soldier Willie Jett, formly from the 9th Virginia Cavalry. As the Union soldiers pressed on, they got news that Mr. Jett was in town and was staying with a girlfriend. Union Colonel Everton Conger sought out Mr. Jett and put a pistol to his head and asked about Booth’s whereabouts.
The 16th New York Cavalry, led by Lt. Edward P. Doherty, crossed the Potomac and the Rappahannock rivers and arrived at the Garrett’s Farm. Twelves days after the assassination of President Lincoln, the Cavalry found David Herold and John Wilkes Booth at the farm on April 26th, 1865.
On the morning of April 26th, 1865, the Union Cavalry set fire to a tobacco barn. David Herold surrendered and was taken into custody. Colonel Everton Conger along with others dragged Booth out of the barn after he was shot. He was carried to the porch and some whiskey was given to him due to the pain he was in after being paralyzed. He died about 30 minutes later prior to dawn.
The largest single portion of the reward money was given to Col. Everton Conger. The original amount to any help with the capture of John Wilkes Booth was $100,000. He received $15,000 for his part in the capture of Booth. It was the largest single portion awarded.