The night of April 14, 1865, changed American history forever when actor John Wilkes Booth fatally shot President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre. What followed was a desperate 12-day manhunt that culminated in a dramatic midnight crossing of the Potomac River.
The Escape Route
Booth, accompanied by co-conspirator David Herold, fled Washington D.C. through Maryland, stopping at Dr. Samuel Mudd's home where Booth's broken leg was treated. This crucial stop would later implicate Mudd in the conspiracy.
The Potomac Crossing
On the night of April 21, under cover of darkness, the fugitives attempted to cross the Potomac River into Virginia. Historical accounts describe how they became lost in the fog, accidentally circling back to Maryland before finally reaching Virginia the following night.
The Final Stand
Federal troops finally cornered Booth at Richard Garrett's farm in Virginia on April 26. When Booth refused to surrender, soldier Boston Corbett fired the fatal shot. Some historians question whether Booth could have survived had he been taken alive.
Enduring Mysteries
The assassination continues to fascinate historians, with unanswered questions about:
- The extent of the conspiracy
- Possible Confederate government involvement
- Why security was so lax at Ford's Theatre
- What information Booth took to his grave
