The Death of John Wilkes Booth
by Lt. Edward Doherty, 16th New York Cavalry
    

The following account appeared in the Washington Exchange in 1887. Lt. Edward Doherty commanded the detachment of the 16th New York Cavalry which was sent to track down Lincoln's assassin:

Lt. Edward Doherty and  Sgt. Boston Corbett

Edward P. Doherty, who is now an Indian trader on the Cheyenne River, Dakota, held John Wilkes Booth in his arms when he died. He was in command of the company which captured him. Mr. Doherty was in the city the other day and told the story over to the writer. He said: “I was a lieutenant then in charge of my company, and had been in hot pursuit of Booth ever since he rode from Washington. We knew he was, or had been in the neighborhood where we captured him, but had no definite idea where he was hiding. On the afternoon of April 25, 1865, I was riding at the head of the few soldiers with me, along a country road, when by chance we met a person who told us where Booth was hiding. We had already left the house five or six miles in the rear. That night, or rather the next morning about 4 o’clock, we surrounded the barn where he was concealed. 

It was a kind of tobacco house, and rather small. Of course he was on the alert and heard us closing in upon him. We called upon him to surrender, but he refused. Some one set fire to the barn and I rushed up to the door. Booth’s companion came forward and surrendered to me. At this juncture the soldiers were closing in rapidly, and none too soon, for Booth raised his gun to shoot me when the report of Corbett’s rifle rang out clear and sharp upon the morning air. The actor fell forward as I rushed to him and caught him in my arms. The ball had penetrated his head in the same spot where he had shot Lincoln. I lifted him in my arms and carried him out of the burning barn. I spoke to him, but the only words he uttered were: “Useless! Useless!” I think he had reference to the surrender of his companion and that he meant resistance would be useless. He waved his right hand when uttering the words as if he would have his companion leave. He evidently believed him a traitor. He sank back into my arms unconscious and shortly afterward died. I sewed his body up in my army blanket and went with it to Washington. His face was not badly mutilated as reported, and he was recognized beyond question as John Wilkes Booth. His body was not spirited away, but kept a long time in Washington, and finally carried to Baltimore. It now lies in a cemetery there.

I received quite a sum of money as part of the reward offered for his capture. Many stories have been written about the death of Booth, but the bare details I have given you are correct. I could go into minute particulars, but they would fill columns of your paper and occupy more time in telling than I have at my disposal now. I remember that night as if it were yesterday, and the picture of that burning barn, the fatal shot and Booth’s death is still vivid.”

[Editor's note:] This post-war account differs in some interesting ways from Doherty’s official report dated April 29, 1865: 

1) “On the afternoon of April 25, 1865, I was riding at the head of the few soldiers with me, along a country road, when by chance we met a person who told us where Booth was hiding.” 

In his official report, Doherty and his command went to Bowling Green to apprehend a Confederate captain named Jett. After taking him into custody, Jett agreed to show them where Booth was hiding. “I took him in my own charge. His horse was got out, he was mounted, and we went back to the house of Mr. Garrett, about twelve miles from Bowling Green.” 

2) “Of course he was on the alert and heard us closing in upon him.” 

The official report states: “On arriving at the barn I left the Garrett I had in charge with some of my men, and posted my men around the barn. This accomplished, I returned to the front of the barn, and found Garrett coming out of the barn; it appears that he had been sent in there during my absence to summon Booth to surrender.” It Booth was not aroused at the soldiers’ initial arrival he certainly would have been warned when Garrett entered the barn. Interestingly enough, when David Herold later wished to surrender, Doherty states: “. I ordered Garrett, the younger son, who had the key, to unlock the barn, which he did. I partially opened the door, and told Herold to put out his hand, which he did.” So did Garrett relock the door after exiting? If so, why didn’t Doherty take possession of the key? 

3) “At this juncture the soldiers were closing in rapidly, and none too soon, for Booth raised his gun to shoot me when the report of Corbett’s rifle rang out clear and sharp upon the morning air. The actor fell forward as I rushed to him and caught him in my arms… I lifted him in my arms and carried him out of the burning barn.” 

Official report: “I entered the barn as soon as the shot was fired, dragging Herold with me, and found that Booth had fallen on his back. Messrs. Conger and Baker, with some of my men, entered the barn and took hold of Booth. I proceeded with Herold to find a rope to secure him, there being no irons for that purpose.”