John Wilkes Booth, the name forever linked with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, was more than just a murderer; he was a celebrated actor from a prominent theatrical family. Born into the world of performance, Booth’s final act was played out not on stage, but in the tragic theater of American history. While his assassination of Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre is widely known, the details surrounding his own death are equally compelling and crucial to understanding the aftermath of this pivotal moment in American history. This article delves into the question: how did John Wilkes Booth die, exploring the dramatic conclusion to his life following his infamous crime.
Following his audacious act at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, Booth, despite a possibly broken leg from his leap onto the stage, managed to escape Washington D.C. The assassination of President Lincoln threw the nation into mourning and ignited a massive manhunt for Booth and his co-conspirators. Federal troops and detectives were mobilized, relentlessly pursuing Booth as he fled into the Maryland countryside. This intense pursuit was fueled by national outrage and the determination to bring Lincoln’s assassin to justice. The manhunt itself became a significant chapter in the unfolding drama, captivating the nation as every detail was eagerly followed by a grieving public.
Booth, accompanied by David Herold, another conspirator, initially sought refuge with sympathetic Confederate supporters in Southern Maryland. They crossed the Potomac River into Virginia, continuing their desperate flight southwards. For days, they evaded capture, relying on the clandestine network of Confederate sympathizers for food and shelter. However, the relentless pressure of the Union Army’s pursuit was closing in. The network of Confederate sympathizers, while initially helpful, could not ultimately shield them from the overwhelming resources dedicated to their capture.
On April 26, 1865, just twelve days after the assassination, Booth and Herold were cornered at Garrett’s Farm, near Port Royal, Virginia. Troopers from the 16th New York Cavalry Regiment surrounded the farm, finally closing in on their quarry. Herold, realizing the futility of further resistance, surrendered to the Union soldiers. Booth, however, refused to yield. He barricaded himself inside a barn on the Garrett property, determined to evade capture or perhaps go down in a blaze of defiance.
As Booth remained defiant inside the barn, the Union soldiers took action. To force his surrender, they set the barn ablaze, hoping to smoke him out. Amidst the escalating flames and smoke, a shot rang out. Boston Corbett, a Sergeant in the 16th New York Cavalry, had disobeyed orders to capture Booth alive. Corbett claimed that he saw Booth raising his weapon, preparing to fire upon the soldiers. Acting on this perceived threat, Corbett fired his revolver through a crack in the barn wall.
The bullet struck Booth in the neck, severing his spinal cord. The injury instantly paralyzed him. Dragged from the burning barn, Booth was laid out on the porch of the Garrett farmhouse. He lingered for approximately three hours, conscious but unable to move. In his final moments, Booth reportedly looked at his hands and uttered his last words: “Useless, useless.” John Wilkes Booth died from the gunshot wound inflicted by Boston Corbett, bringing an end to the manhunt and the life of Abraham Lincoln’s assassin. His body was later buried in an unmarked grave in the family plot at Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore, a final act of anonymity for a man who sought fame but achieved infamy.
