Changes

==Prelude==

==Prelude==

[[Image:Lincoln1865.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Abraham Lincoln on February 5, 1865]]

[[Image:Lincoln1865.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Abraham Lincoln on February 5, 1865]]

Abraham Lincoln was the subject of death threats almost from the day he was elected [[President of the United States of America|president]] in November of 1860.  This made his trip to [[Washington]] and his 1861 inauguration all the more harrowing, at least to his bodyguards; at one point he switched [[train]]s in [[Baltimore]] and arrived at the Capitol in disguise.  In the summer of 1862 an unknown assailant managed to fire a bullet at him, putting a hole in his stovepipe hat as he was riding in a carriage for the Old Soldiers Home just 3 miles north of Washington (TL 26, pg. 10).

Abraham Lincoln was the subject of death threats almost from the day he was elected [[President of the United States of America|president]] in November 1860.  This made his trip to [[Washington]] and his 1861 inauguration all the more harrowing, at least to his bodyguards; at one point he switched [[train]]s in [[Baltimore]] and arrived at the Capitol in disguise.  In the summer of 1862 an unknown assailant managed to fire a bullet at him, putting a hole in his stovepipe hat as he was riding in a carriage for the Old Soldiers Home just 3 miles north of Washington (TL 26, pg. 10).

As the [[Civil War]] was drawing to a close, there were many in the South who sought the means to end the war on their terms.  Advertisements ran in Southern [[newspaper|papers]] calling for the killing of the president, with the payment of large rewards to the men who made it happen.  One such add was placed in an [[Alabama]] newspaper by George Washington Gayle, who promised his fellow Southerners that if funds were raised to a total of one million dollars, he would personally see to it that Lincoln's end was violent (TL 26, pg. 11).  Both Lincoln's personal bodyguard, the barrel-chested Ward Hill Lamon, and the Secretary of War [[Edwin M. Stanton]], were fearful for the president, having heard rumors and more against Lincoln's life.  Occasionally he would laugh off such rumors, and sometimes he would quietly acquiesce to heeding their advice.  But during the years of war, he was often heading out to the [[War Department]], usually walking alone (TL 26, pg. 11).

As the [[Civil War]] was drawing to a close, there were many in the South who sought the means to end the war on their terms.  Advertisements ran in Southern [[newspaper|papers]] calling for the killing of the president, with the payment of large rewards to the men who made it happen.  One such add was placed in an [[Alabama]] newspaper by George Washington Gayle, who promised his fellow Southerners that if funds were raised to a total of one million dollars, he would personally see to it that Lincoln's end was violent (TL 26, pg. 11).  Both Lincoln's personal bodyguard, the barrel-chested Ward Hill Lamon, and the Secretary of War [[Edwin M. Stanton]], were fearful for the president, having heard rumors and more against Lincoln's life.  Occasionally he would laugh off such rumors, and sometimes he would quietly acquiesce to heeding their advice.  But during the years of war, he was often heading out to the [[War Department]], usually walking alone (TL 26, pg. 11).

The four sons of Booth would try their hands on the stage.  Junius Brutus Jr. would enjoy good, but not great, success on the stage before becoming a theater manager.  Joseph's own success in acting was limited, and he would turn instead to the [[medicine|medical]] profession.  [[Edwin Booth]] would surpass even his father in brilliance as an actor, giving performances in such plays as ''[[Macbeth]]'' and ''[[King Lear]]'' to such a high degree that critics would label him the finest American actor of the 19th Century.

The four sons of Booth would try their hands on the stage.  Junius Brutus Jr. would enjoy good, but not great, success on the stage before becoming a theater manager.  Joseph's own success in acting was limited, and he would turn instead to the [[medicine|medical]] profession.  [[Edwin Booth]] would surpass even his father in brilliance as an actor, giving performances in such plays as ''[[Macbeth]]'' and ''[[King Lear]]'' to such a high degree that critics would label him the finest American actor of the 19th Century.

But it was John Wilkes Booth who would place a stamp of theatrical glory on himself, no matter the cost.  He was dashing on the stage, dazzling the audience with his impulsiveness and fiery acting.  He traveled with a wardrobe valued at $15,000, and made sure his travels to the cities he performed in were also accompanied by a visit to the local [[photograph|photographer]], where ''cartes de visite'' were made, so that he could hand them out to his many female admirers (TL 26, pp. 34, 60).  “I am myself, alone,” he would say at least once, when claiming the accolades his ego sought.  Unlike the rest of his family members, he was pro-Southern and pro-[[slavery]]; so much so that he once enlisted in a [[Virginia]] militia for a mere three weeks in 1859 so he could stand guard at the scaffold that would hang abolitionist [[John Brown]].

But it was John Wilkes Booth who would place a stamp of theatrical glory on himself, no matter the cost.  He was dashing on the stage, dazzling the audience with his impulsiveness and fiery acting.  He traveled with a wardrobe valued at $15,000, and made sure his travels to the cities he performed in were also accompanied by a visit to the local [[photograph]]er, where ''cartes de visite'' were made, so that he could hand them out to his many female admirers (TL 26, pp. 34, 60).  “I am myself, alone,” he would say at least once, when claiming the accolades his ego sought.  Unlike the rest of his family members, he was pro-Southern and pro-[[slavery]]; so much so that he once enlisted in a [[Virginia]] militia for a mere three weeks in 1859 so he could stand guard at the scaffold that would hang abolitionist [[John Brown]].

==The conspiracy==   

==The conspiracy==   

Daughter Fanny Seward, at her father’s bedside, was shoved out of the way, and Paine went to work with his Bowie knife, opening the secretary’s right cheek and the left side of his neck; the wounds would have been much worse had Seward not been wearing a metal neck brace for his previous injuries.  By then, two more people who tried to stop Paine had been sliced open, as Paine was loudly proclaiming “I’m mad! I’m mad!” as he fled the house, leaving four people bloodied, but not dead.  The main target, Secretary Seward, would recover and live seven more years.   

Daughter Fanny Seward, at her father’s bedside, was shoved out of the way, and Paine went to work with his Bowie knife, opening the secretary’s right cheek and the left side of his neck; the wounds would have been much worse had Seward not been wearing a metal neck brace for his previous injuries.  By then, two more people who tried to stop Paine had been sliced open, as Paine was loudly proclaiming “I’m mad! I’m mad!” as he fled the house, leaving four people bloodied, but not dead.  The main target, Secretary Seward, would recover and live seven more years.   

George Atzerodt, increasingly unhappy about his role to kill Andrew Johnson, spent most of his time in his room at the Kirkwood House, one floor below where the Vice President was staying.  10:15 p.m. was the assigned time to carry out his mission.  He let the time come and go as he made his way to the bar, preferring to down shot after shot of [[whisky|whiskey]].

George Atzerodt, increasingly unhappy about his role to kill Andrew Johnson, spent most of his time in his room at the Kirkwood House, one floor below where the Vice President was staying.  10:15 p.m. was the assigned time to carry out his mission.  He let the time come and go as he made his way to the bar, preferring to down shot after shot of [[whisky|whiskey]].

===Last hours===

===Last hours===

:''"The giant sufferer lay extended diagonally across the bed , which was not long enough for him. He had been stripped of his clothes. His large arms, which were occasionally exposed, were of a size which one would scarce have expected from his spare appearance. His slow, full respiration lifted the clothes with each breath that he took. His features were calm and striking. I had never seen them appear to better advantage than for the first hour, perhaps, that I was there. After that, his right eye began to swell and that part of his face became discolored."'' (Welles, pp.286-7)  

:''"The giant sufferer lay extended diagonally across the bed , which was not long enough for him. He had been stripped of his clothes. His large arms, which were occasionally exposed, were of a size which one would scarce have expected from his spare appearance. His slow, full respiration lifted the clothes with each breath that he took. His features were calm and striking. I had never seen them appear to better advantage than for the first hour, perhaps, that I was there. After that, his right eye began to swell and that part of his face became discolored."'' (Welles, pp.286-7)  

For medical treatment, the physicians continually removed blood clots which formed over the wound where the bullet had entered Lincoln's head. This process relieved the pressure on the brain and maintained breathing. However, the external and internal hemorrhaging continued throughout the night so that on the next day, April 15, 1865, at 7:22 a.m., a doctor leaned over the president and felt his final breath. Lincoln was fifty-six years old.

For medical treatment, the physicians continually removed blood clots which formed over the wound where the bullet had entered Lincoln's head. This process relieved the pressure on the brain and maintained breathing. However, the external and internal hemorrhaging continued throughout the night so that on the next day, April 15, 1865, at 7:22 a.m., a doctor leaned over the president and felt his final breath. Lincoln was fifty-six years old.

==The manhunt==  

==The manhunt==  

Booth, when jumping from the box onto the stage, caught a spur on one of the flags; his awkward landing broke the [[fibula]] of his left leg.  After limping out of Ford's Theatre, Booth mounted a [[horse]] that was being held by Joseph "Peanuts" Buroughs, an innocent theater employee. Booth rode down the alley, turned left up another alley, turned onto "F" Street, and headed toward the Navy Yard Bridge. Although the bridge was guarded by Sergeant Cobb and his detail, no passes had been required for crossing since the first of April. Thus, as the guards were there as a matter of routine rather than of necessity, Booth and fellow conspirator David Herold, who arrived separately, were allowed to pass without hindrance. The two men rendezvoused later and then headed to the Surratt Tavern in Surrattsville (now [[Clinton, MD]]) where they arrived shortly after midnight. At the [[tavern]], they picked up supplies (including two Spencer carbines, ammunition, and field glasses) before continuing south.  The pain of his broken leg would delay his escape, causing him to seek a doctor.

Booth, when jumping from the box onto the stage, caught a spur on one of the flags; his awkward landing broke the [[fibula]] of his left leg.  After limping out of Ford's Theatre, Booth mounted a [[horse]] that was being held by Joseph "Peanuts" Buroughs, an innocent theater employee. Booth rode down the alley, turned left up another alley, turned onto "F" Street, and headed toward the Navy Yard Bridge. Although the bridge was guarded by Sergeant Cobb and his detail, no passes had been required for crossing since the first of April. Thus, as the guards were there as a matter of routine rather than of necessity, Booth and fellow conspirator David Herold, who arrived separately, were allowed to pass without hindrance. The two men rendezvoused later and then headed to the Surratt Tavern in Surrattsville (now [[Clinton, MD]]) where they arrived shortly after midnight. At the [[tavern]], they picked up supplies (including two Spencer carbines, ammunition, and field glasses) before continuing south.  The pain of his broken leg would delay his escape, causing him to seek a doctor.

At 4:00 a.m. on April 15, they arrived at the house of Dr. Samuel Mudd. Booth received medical treatment for his injured leg and both men were extended hospitality by the Mudds. Early that afternoon Booth and Herold headed into the nearby Zekiah swamp and were guided by Oswell Swann, a free black. About midnight, Swann brought the two men to their next destination, the home of southern sympathizer, Colonel Samuel Cox, who provided them with food for the next four days. On April 20, Thomas A. Jones, Cox's adopted son, led them to the Potomac River. Instead of crossing the river to Virginia, they headed north on the Potomac and landed on the Maryland side at the home of southern sympathizer Peregrin Davis. The next night, they successfully crossed the river to Virginia, where they stayed at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Quesenberry, a woman who was well connected to the Confederate spy network. Thomas Harbin, an acquaintance of Booth and originally part of the plan to capture President Lincoln, took them to William Bryant and then to Dr. Richard Stuart's home. Stuart, however, did not allow the two men to remain at his home. Booth and Herold went to the cabin of William Lucas, another free black man, forcibly removing Lucas and his wife from the cabin for the night.

At 4:00 a.m. on April 15, they arrived at the house of Dr. Samuel Mudd. Booth received medical treatment for his injured leg and both men were extended hospitality by the Mudds. Early that afternoon Booth and Herold headed into the nearby Zekiah swamp and were guided by Oswell Swann, a free black. About midnight, Swann brought the two men to their next destination, the home of southern sympathizer, Colonel Samuel Cox, who provided them with food for the next four days. On April 20, Thomas A. Jones, Cox's adopted son, led them to the Potomac River. Instead of crossing the river to Virginia, they headed north on the Potomac and landed on the Maryland side at the home of southern sympathizer Peregrin Davis. The next night, they successfully crossed the river to Virginia, where they stayed at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Quesenberry, a woman who was well connected to the Confederate spy network. Thomas Harbin, an acquaintance of Booth and originally part of the plan to capture President Lincoln, took them to William Bryant and then to Dr. Richard Stuart's home. Stuart, however, did not allow the two men to remain at his home. Booth and Herold went to the cabin of William Lucas, another free black man, forcibly removing Lucas and his wife from the cabin for the night.

Unknown to Booth, the others in the conspiracy were rounded up within days.  Powell had hidden in a wooden lot near the Old Navy Bridge for three days after his attack on Seward; he was quickly arrested as he entered the Surratt boarding house pretending to be a laborer.  His small act further incriminated Mrs. Surratt, who was being led away at that time after her name came up from the many tips about Booth at her home.  Atzerodt was found in his cousin’s home on the 20th, sleeping off a drunken bout.  Spangler, O’Loughlin, and Arnold were already in jail by then.  John Surratt, scouting a Confederate prisoner of war camp near [[Elmira, New York]] when Lincoln was shot, found out he was the subject of a $25,000 reward for his arrest.  He quickly fled to [[Canada]], then disappeared.

Unknown to Booth, the others in the conspiracy were rounded up within days.  Powell had hidden in a wooden lot near the Old Navy Bridge for three days after his attack on Seward; he was quickly arrested as he entered the Surratt boarding house pretending to be a laborer.  His small act further incriminated Mrs. Surratt, who was being led away at that time after her name came up from the many tips about Booth at her home.  Atzerodt was found in his cousin’s home on the 20th, sleeping off a drunken bout.  Spangler, O’Loughlin, and Arnold were already in jail by then.  John Surratt, scouting a Confederate prisoner of war camp near [[Elmira, New York]] when Lincoln was shot, found out he was the subject of a $25,000 reward for his arrest.  He quickly fled to [[Canada]], then disappeared.

“We have advanced the Lincoln Assassination study more in one year then it has been advanced in the previous 112 years” wrote authors David Balsiger and Charles E. Sellier, Jr. in the preface of their 1977 book ''The Lincoln Conspiracy''.  Both authors claimed to have exposed a “massive cover-up by government officials from ever learning the real truth about the assassination,” similar, they stated, to government actions in [[John F. Kennedy]]’s assassination in 1963.  Balsiger and Sellier were able to discover the “truth” due to a reliance on primary-source documents and material overlooked or ignored by historians, one of which was the eighteen missing pages from Booth’s diary, which they said was found in the home of one of Stanton’s descendants.  

“We have advanced the Lincoln Assassination study more in one year then it has been advanced in the previous 112 years” wrote authors David Balsiger and Charles E. Sellier, Jr. in the preface of their 1977 book ''The Lincoln Conspiracy''.  Both authors claimed to have exposed a “massive cover-up by government officials from ever learning the real truth about the assassination,” similar, they stated, to government actions in [[John F. Kennedy]]’s assassination in 1963.  Balsiger and Sellier were able to discover the “truth” due to a reliance on primary-source documents and material overlooked or ignored by historians, one of which was the eighteen missing pages from Booth’s diary, which they said was found in the home of one of Stanton’s descendants.  

The questions they had raised in ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' were a repeat of the same questions posed by Eisenschiml some forty years before.  Readers were promised, as well as audiences for a simultaneously-released theatrical documentary film, that new evidence would be shown that would settle those questions once and for all.  But after all was said and done, after a media blitz for both the book and film, after the authors received honorary doctorates and the film a prestigious prize, the impact of ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' was less than expected.  Further complicating matters was the fact that no new evidence was ever presented by Balsiger and Sellier at all.  The most damning evidence against the claims presented in ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' was the revelation that few, if any, primary sources were used in their work; what they actually used were either copies or transcripts.  The missing Booth pages, which by the end of the 1970s had been established that they were never in the possession of Stanton’s descendents, much less known of by them, turned out to have been a 3,000 word transcript for which they had paid the “owner” some $6,500.  In the end, after being exposed for what it was by leading historians from both the ''Civil War Times'' Magazine and the [[Lincoln Historical Association]], all Balsiger and Sellier succeeded in doing was to bury Eisenschiml’s thesis once and for all. (Hanchett, pp. 226-233)

The questions they had raised in ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' were a repeat of the same questions posed by Eisenschiml some forty years before.  Readers were promised, as well as audiences for a simultaneously-released theatrical documentary film, that new evidence would be shown that would settle those questions once and for all.  But after all was said and done, after a media blitz for both the book and film, after the authors received honorary doctorates and the film a prestigious prize, the impact of ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' was less than expected.  Further complicating matters was the fact that no new evidence was ever presented by Balsiger and Sellier at all.  The most damning evidence against the claims presented in ''The Lincoln Conspiracy'' was the revelation that few, if any, primary sources were used in their work; what they actually used were either copies or transcripts.  The missing Booth pages, which by the end of the 1970s had been established that they were never in the possession of Stanton’s descendents, much less known of by them, turned out to have been a 3,000 word transcript for which they had paid the “owner” some $6,500.  In the end, after being exposed for what it was by leading historians from both the ''Civil War Times'' Magazine and the [[Lincoln Historical Association]], all Balsiger and Sellier succeeded in doing was to bury Eisenschiml’s thesis once and for all. (Hanchett, pp. 226–233)

===Roman Catholic conspiracy===

===Roman Catholic conspiracy===