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

In the early hours of Saturday morning, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton reads the letter found in Booth’s bedroom confirming the conspiracy against Lincoln. He writes a letter to Major General Dix informing him that the president is dying, Booth was the assassin, and his accomplice had attacked Seward.

Lieutenant David Dana and the 13th New York Cavalry regiment meanwhile leave Washington and arrive in Piscataway, Maryland, where he notifies the cavalry in Chapel Point, Maryland, on the Potomac River to be on the lookout for Booth trying to cross over to Virginia.

At 7:22 am, President Lincoln dies. Everyone leaves the room except Stanton, who weeps over his body. Lincoln’s body is wrapped in a United States flag, carried out in a plain wood coffin, and taken to the White House. The Cabinet contacts Andrew Johnson and the oath of office is scheduled for 11 am that day. Newspapers speculate wildly about the events.

In Elmira, New York, clothing store owner John Cass tells John Surratt of the president’s assassination.

Atzerodt throws his knife into the gutter near Ford’s Theatre, where it is recovered by a passerby and given to the chief of police. Stanton continues to coordinate the investigation and manhunt for Booth. Authorities are searching throughout Washington, Maryland, and Virginia. The fear is that Booth will flee into the Deep South and evade capture.

The night Lincoln is assassinated, Booth’s friend John Matthews destroys the letter his friend had given him to be published in the paper for fear he would be connected with the assassin. Women with whom Booth had had relations are also worried that their connections to him will be discovered. One of them, a sex worker in Washington, attempts to take her own life.

In Maryland, Dr. Mudd makes Booth a pair of crutches after breakfast. In Georgetown, Washington, Atzerodt pawns his revolver for $10 to John Caldwell at the Matthew & Co. store. In the White House, the doctors autopsy Lincoln’s body and recover the bullet to preserve for history. Back in Maryland, Herold asks Dr. Mudd where he could get a carriage or buggy for Booth. They go to Mudd’s father’s house for a carriage, but they are not able to get one there. They decide to go to Bryantown to find one, but as they approach, they see the cavalry; Lieutenant Dana has commandeered a local tavern as a base of operations for the manhunt. Herold returns to the Mudd residence. Dr. Mudd goes into town where he learns of the president’s assassination and the manhunt.

Stanton, Justice Cartter, Clara Harris, and her father inspect the crime scene. Stanton orders the actors to recreate the play to learn more about the timing of the shooting. Then, he closes off the crime scene and has it photographed.

Around six and seven pm, Dr. Mudd returns home. He is angry that Booth has put his family in danger. He tells Booth to go to either William Burtles or Colonel Samuel Cox, Confederate sympathizers, and sends them away. On the way to Cox’s residence, Booth and Herold get lost. They are led through the swamp by Oswell Swann. They arrive in the early hours of Easter Sunday. Cox tells Booth and Herold to hide in a pine thicket “some distance from his house” (165). Cox sends his son to Huckleberry Farm to get Confederate secret service agent and expert river boatman Thomas A. Jones to assist the pair. Jones agrees to help the assassins cross the river into Virginia. Jones goes to Cox’s residence, gets the directions to the pair’s location in the thicket, and meets them there. He advises them to remain in hiding until the manhunt dies down and they can cross safely.

The “Sam” mentioned in Booth’s letter has been located in Baltimore and sent for. The Confederate leaders send a letter to General Grant denying any involvement in the assassination plot, but Stanton does not believe their claim.