Finally
breaking away, he ran downstairs, reached the door unhurt, and
springing upon his horse rode off. It was feared that neither the
Secretary nor his eldest son would live, but both in time
recovered.
Although Booth had been recognized by dozens of people as he
stood before the footlights brandishing his dagger, his swift
horse soon carried him beyond any hap-hazard pursuit. He crossed
the Navy Yard bridge and rode into Maryland, being joined by one
of his fellow-conspirators. A surgeon named Mudd set Booth's leg
and sent him on his desolate way. For ten days the two men lived
the lives of hunted animals. On the night of April 25 they were
surrounded as they lay sleeping in a barn in Caroline County,
Virginia. Booth refused to surrender. The barn was fired, and
while it was burning he was shot by Boston Corbett, a sergeant of
cavalry. He lingered for about three hours in great pain, and
died at seven in the morning. The remaining conspirators were
tried by military commission. Four were hanged, including the
assailant of Secretary Seward, and the others were sentenced to
imprisonment for various lengths of time.
Upon the hearts of a people glowing with the joy of victory the
news of the President's death fell as a great shock. In the
unspeakable calamity the country lost sight of the great national
successes of the past week; and thus it came to pass that there
was never any organized celebration in the North over the
downfall of the rebellion.
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