Dave Taylor

Thousands of soldiers, detectives, and civilians were on the manhunt for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, and yet John Wilkes Booth still managed to evade capture for 12 days. In the end, it was a stroke of luck that a detachment of the 16th New York Cavalry happened to stumble upon Booth’s trail while in Port Conway, Virginia. While resting there on the banks of the Rappahannock River, the troopers talked with residents William and Bettie Rollins. They mentioned having seen a man with a broken leg matching Booth’s description cross the river just a day before. They also noted that the fugitive was joined by three Confederate soldiers who had crossed the river with him. One of the soldiers was Private Willie Jett. William Rollins couldn’t help the Union troopers further, but Bettie Rollins knew some important information. She knew that Willie Jett had been courting a girl named Izora Gouldman, whose father owned a hotel in the town of Bowling Green. That gave the troopers a destination to head to, and sure enough, they found Jett at the Star Hotel in Bowling Green just as Bettie Rollins predicted. When questioned, Jett immediately told the troopers that Booth could be found at the Garrett farm, and he led the soldiers back there. In the end, it was Bettie Rollins who provided the essential information needed to capture Lincoln’s assassin. #WomensHistoryMonth

Bettie Rollins in Port Conway, Virginia, gave the vital piece of information that led to John Wilkes Booth’s capture. Read more about her actions in the ALT text. #WomensHistoryMonth

We had such a blast joining Mary and Darin on @cwbc.bsky.social to talk about Lincoln Assassination Tours! In addition the podcast version, you can watch a video of the discussion here: youtu.be/yQ13Oy4LBXc?...

Both coats bear physical evidence of the medical treatment Lincoln received. Suspecting the President had been stabbed, Dr. Leale asked a gentleman in the box to cut Lincoln's clothing from the neck to the elbow to search for wounds."

Image: Public Domain

1. A Brooks Brothers greatcoat (overcoat), which currently rests in storage under the care of the National Park Service.
2. A frock coat (suit coat) held by the Chicago History Museum.
For the first half of the century, this garment was considered an authentic assassination relic.

"#OTD in 1924, the press wires and the Chicago History Museum (formerly the Chicago Historical Society) asked: 'How many coats did Abraham Lincoln wear when he was shot?'
My new book, "Lincoln's Frock Coat: The Enduring Mystery of an Assassination Relic," provides the answer: TWO.

Participants on a Lincoln Assassination Tour this spring will be among the first to visit this brand new historic house museum which was also the home to George Washington’s doctor. #skystorians 🗃️

During the manhunt, Mary Swann was arrested along with Cox & taken to D.C. She gave two statements stating that the men never entered the house. Cox swore to the same. They were both eventually released. The statements of Cox & Mary were contrary to the testimony of Oswell Swann – the guide who innocently took the fugitives to Rich Hill. Oswell Swann (no relation to Mary) stated that the men spent lots of time inside Rich Hill & were fed a meal. Mary Swann continued to live at Rich Hill after 1865, working as a servant for the Coxes. In 1882, she had married Oscar Kelly, a fellow servant. That same year, Sam Cox, Jr. sold the Kellys a plot of land to make a home. When Booth historian Stanley Kimmel visited the region in the late 1930s, he met “Aunt” Mary Kelly. She still claimed that she had told the truth in 1865 – while also acknowledging that her statement helped saved Samuel Cox’s life. While publicly & to white interviewers like Kimmel, Mary Kelly always swore she told the truth in 1865, amongst the Black residents of Charles County, it was understood that she had lied to protect the Coxes from danger. Mary Swann had a difficult choice in 1865 & beyond. Angering a wealthy white landowner like Cox would have had lifelong repercussions for her, so she chose to be his lifelong ally. Many other formerly enslaved people who didn’t move away after freedom likewise chose appeasement. This appeasement became misconstrued by white authors as the “loyal slave” & “good master” narratives, contributing to the myth of the Lost Cause. But Cox was far from the oxymoronic good enslaver. In fact, in 1862, Cox beat one of his enslaved men to death for reporting on him. It’s not surprising then that Mary Swann Kelly and so many others spent their whole lives appeasing the white folks around them & telling them what they wanted to hear. During Reconstruction and beyond, such appeasement was sometimes the only way to survive. #BlackHistoryMonth

In 1865, Mary Swann lived at Rich Hill, the home of her former enslaver, Samuel Cox. She was present when John Wilkes Booth & David Herold were led to her home after they had left Dr. Mudd’s house. She lied about the fugitives time there. Read more about her story in the ALT text. #BlackHistoryMonth

A Buffalo Resident and Lincoln’s Assassination On Saturday, April 15, the news of Lincoln’s assassination in Washington, D.C. reached the residents of Buffalo, New York. The entire city followed the rest of the nation with massive demonstration…

Rather than partaking in the traditional mattress sale to mark the occasion, why not spend this Presidents' Day learning about how two former Presidents reacted to the news of Abraham Lincoln's assassination: lincolnconspirators.com/2018/01/15/a...

Gen. Kautz led the 19th USCT into the fallen Confederate capital of Richmond on April 3, 1865. The Black troops were among the first Union liberators in the city. Among the 19th USCT was Pvt. Richard Washington, a man who escaped slavery in 1863 from his disloyal enslaver, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd. 🗃

Ms. Bessie Burns hit the road and travelled from D.C. to Prince George's County, Maryland, for this week's #throwback "Trail of Lincoln's Assassin" photograph. This image shows Mary Surratt's tavern property as it appeared in 1921. At this time, it was being used as a private home. It wasn't until the 1960s that PGParks History acquired the property, and the home was slowly restored to its 1865 appearance. The Surratt House Museum opened its doors to the public in 1976. All Lincoln Assassination Tours include a visit to this historic building. Not only was the Surratt House the first stop the assassin made after escaping from Washington, but the building also became an important headquarters for the detectives and military authorities searching for him. Sign up for a Lincoln Assassination Tour and learn some history from the Surratt House Museum. https://lincolnassassinationtours.com/

We're going to church in today's #throwback from Ms. Bessie Burns' album on "The Trail of Lincoln's Assassin." This is St. Mary's Catholic Church - Bryantown, Maryland, as it appeared in 1921. In the fall and winter of 1864, John Wilkes Booth traveled into Explore Charles County to scout the roads and recruit possible co-conspirators into his initial plot to abduct President Lincoln. On November 13, 1864, Booth attended St. Mary's Bryantown in the company of Dr. William Queen and his family. While at church, Booth was introduced to Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, marking the first time the two men met. Booth would return to the area on December 17, this time staying some time at Dr. Mudd's home. How much Dr. Mudd knew about Booth's plot against the President is a matter of great debate, but there is no doubt that the doctor knew Booth before the assassin sought medical attention for his broken leg during his escape. After Dr. Mudd's death in 1883, he was buried at St. Mary's near the front of the church. To the left of the group of standing parishioners in this photograph, you can see a small white headstone. This *might* be the original gravestone of Dr. Samuel Mudd. The Mudd family erected a replacement stone for the doctor and his wife in 1940, but the original gravestone can be seen today at the Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House Museum. On a Lincoln Assassination Tour, we drive right up to St. Mary's Catholic Church and point out the final resting place of the man whose name is Mudd.

Here's another #throwback to 1921 and Ms. Bessie Burns' "Trail of Lincoln's Assassin" photo album. These are two photographs of the home of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd near Waldorf, Maryland. Dr. and Mrs. Mudd were awakened at around 4:00 am on April 15, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth and his accomplice, David Herold. Dr. Mudd provided medical attention to Booth's broken leg, and the fugitives rested at the home for about 12 hours before continuing on. The standing figure in the second photograph is Samuel A. Mudd II, the son of the man who went to prison for his involvement in John Wilkes Booth's plot. Through the efforts of some of Dr. Mudd's grandchildren in the 1970s and 80s, the home and surrounding property were turned into a museum. All Lincoln Assassination Tours visit the Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House Museum, which has done an amazing job over the past decade to tell a more honest and inclusive story about its past.

Another shot of the Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House with Sam Mudd II shown. See the prior image for more info.

We are quite behind in our #throwback “Trail of Lincoln’s Assassin” images from 1921. Here are pictures of Mary Surratt’s Tavern, St. Mary’s Catholic Church Bryantown, and two photos of the home of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd. Click the ALT text for details.

New on our bookshelf:

Lincoln’s Frock Coat: The Enduring Mystery of an Assassination Relic
By Reignette G. Chilton

mcfarlandbooks.com/product/Linc...

🗃️ Don’t miss your chance to experience the manhunt for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin this spring. Tickets for our 10.5+ hour tour through D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are going fast. #skystorians

Oooo. Tell me more!

A Lincoln assassination your badge with an image of the trial testimony from Robert Nelson. The text on the badge reads: “26. Robert Nelson - On April 15, Nelson discovered the knife used by Lewis Powell to attack the Seward household lying in the street. He turned it over to the authorities.”

The knife used by conspirator Lewis Powell when he attacked the home of William Seward which was picked up by Robert Nelson and turned over to the authorities. It was later gifted to George Robinson, the army nurse who saved Seward, and his descendants gave it to the Huntington Library in California.

On April 15, 1865, Robert Nelson found a knife laying in front of William Seward’s home. Hours earlier, Seward was attacked with the knife by conspirator Lewis Powell. Nelson turned it over to the authorities & later testified about it at the trial of the conspirators. #BlackHistoryMonth

Over the last two days I started seeing many 0 results in Google Books for phrases that absolutely exist in books. I didn’t realize how much I relied upon Google Books until now. It sucks.

This painting depicts the 16th President surrounded by small scenes related to his life and death. The small log cabin and U.S. Capitol represent his rise from humble beginnings to the highest office in the land. The flags, hands holding a piece of paper, quill, and graves reference Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The capture and death of Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, is shown on the top right. This is followed by a depiction of the gallows where four of Booth's co-conspirators were executed and the prison bars for the remaining conspirators. William H. Johnson (1901-1970) was born into a poor African American family in South Carolina. At the age of 17, he moved to New York and held multiple jobs to pay for classes at the National Academy of Design. He later traveled to Europe, where he met and married Danish artist Holcha Krake. Inspired by Krake's background in Scandinavian folk art, Johnson began to create American folk art scenes, often focusing on the lives of Black Americans. The rise of Nazism led Johnson and Krake to return to the U.S., where Johnson became a teacher at the Harlem Community Art Center. Back in New York, Johnson was motivated to "paint his own people" and produced hundreds of paintings showcasing African American culture and history. Johnson was deeply affected by the death of Holcha Krake in 1944 from breast cancer. His grief, combined with medical issues, led him to be institutionalized on Long Island starting in 1947 until his death in 1970. His collection was almost lost during his institutionalization, as he had no funds to pay for its continued storage. Luckily, a group of friends had the works transferred to the Harmon Foundation, which funded and collected the work of Black artists. In 1967, the Harmon Foundation presented the Smithsonian with over 1,000 paintings and prints by William H. Johnson. Johnson is considered one of the nation's foremost African American artists of the 20th century. #BlackHistoryMonth

Abraham Lincoln by William H. Johnson, ca. 1945.
This painting shows scenes surrounding the life and death of Abraham Lincoln. It was painted by William H. Johnson, one of the nation's foremost Black artists of the 20th century. Check out the ALT text for more. #BlackHistoryMonth #skystorians 🗃️

An image advertising the April 19, 2026 Lincoln Assassination Tour of the escape route of John Wilkes Booth, with the word “Confirmed” written in big green letters on top.

Hooray! Our John Wilkes Booth escape route tour on Sunday, April 19, 2026, is now confirmed. Thanks to everyone who purchased their tickets early in advance to make this happen. There are still tickets available for all 3 of our spring tours. Register now: lincolnassassinationtours.com/register/

I had a wonderful time talking to Lincoln historian Reignette Chilton about the many coats of Abraham Lincoln. #skystorians 🗃️ lincolnconspirators.com/2026/01/28/t...

Pvt. George F. Robinson was an army nurse who saved the life of William Seward during an assault on his home at the hands of a white supremacist conspirator. For his bravery in standing up to an assassin, Robinson received a Congressional Gold Medal and has an Alaskan mountain named after him. 🗃️

The regimental flag of the 22th United States Colored Troops showing a Black Union soldier forcing a Confederate officer to surrender at the point of a bayonet. Above the illustration are the words “Sic Semper Tyrannis.”

This is absolutely an appropriate response and has an even better historical analogy to the current white supremacist regime.

A sepia toned photograph of the Lincoln Tomb in Springfield, Illinois m, with snow and ice on the trees, ground, and memorial. The photo was taken in the 1930s and is in the collection of the ALPLM.

The Lincoln Tomb in Springfield, Illinois, after a snowfall in the 1930s.

Sic Semper Tyrannis chalk mural in Charlottesville VA

We know that so many times the people who use the language of our history, people who bastardize the words of our actual heroes like the Rev. Dr. MLK, people who lie project and hide from our true history, are ignorant or weaponizing the words, but despite and because of this, to them I say

“Freedom is not free. We have to work at it. Nurture it. Protect it. Even sacrifice for it.”

I made a typo. Your great grandfather William Booth obviously died in 1972, not 1872.

John, I’m having trouble figuring out which sibling of John Wilkes Booth you are descended from. Your great-grandfather William K. Booth (1886-1872) was the son of Howard L. Booth (1844-1914) who was the son of Ezra Booth (1814-1894). None of these Booths are JWB siblings. Can you enlighten me?

A drawing of the capture of John Wilkes Booth. Booth is shown looking at his hands while a large fire burns in the background.

We're wishing everyone in the path of the big winter storm the comfort of a big, toasty fire. Even if you're snowed in, there's no need to feel "useless, useless." You can still register for a spring 2026 Lincoln Assassination Tour! lincolnassassinationtours.com/register/

Lincoln Assassination Tours is pleased to announce that our John Wilkes Booth escape and manhunt tour on Saturday, April 18, 2026, is officially confirmed! All of our tours require a minimum number of advance ticket sales in order to be confirmed. Thank you to all participants who purchased their tickets for our April 18 tour early to make this happen. There are still tickets available for this tour, and our other upcoming tours on March 14 and April 19, so snag yours today: https://lincolnassassinationtours.com/register/

Our John Wilkes Booth escape and manhunt tour on Saturday, April 18, 2026, is officially confirmed! Thank you to all participants who purchased their tickets early to make this happen. There are still tickets available for this tour & our other upcoming tours: lincolnassassinationtours.com/register/

This week's #throwback image from the 1921 "Trail of Lincoln's Assassin" album by Ms. Bessie Burns is this photograph of the Petersen House, also known as the House Where Lincoln Died. After the shooting at Ford's Theatre, Lincoln was carried across the street, up these stairs, and into the back bedroom of this boardinghouse owned by William and Anna Petersen. It was here that the president died at 7:22 am on April 15, 1865. When this photograph was taken, the home contained the private museum of Lincoln collector, Osborn Oldroyd. The sign hanging on the stoop reads, "House in Which Abraham Lincoln Died / Containing the / Oldroyd Lincoln Memorial Collection / of Over 3000 Articles / Open Day and Evenings * Admission 27¢, Tax 3¢, Total 30¢." Five years after this picture was taken, the government purchased Oldroyd's collection of Lincolniana for $50,000. To learn more, sign up for our March 14, 2026, Lincoln Assassination Tour, where we'll be joined by Petersen House and Osborn Oldroyd expert Alan E. Hunter, who has written two books on the subject.

This week's #throwback image is this 1921 photograph of the Petersen House, also known as the House Where Lincoln Died. After the shooting at Ford's Theatre, Lincoln was carried across the street, up these stairs, and into the back bedroom of this boardinghouse owned by William and Anna Petersen.

The front exterior of the Surratt House Museum in Clinton, Maryland.

Our first Maryland stop is the Surratt House Museum. John Wilkes Booth arrived at this country tavern about two hours after shooting Lincoln. He picked up a rifle & some whiskey, before leaving. Register to visit the Surratt House (& more) during our day-long tour: lincolnassassinationtours.com

A Lincoln Assassination Tours badge featuring an illustration of William Bell. The text on the badge reads “20. William Bell / Servant at the Seward home / Bell answered the door and gave the alarm when Lewis Powell attacked the house. He later identified the culprit.”

On April 14, 1865, conspirator Lewis Powell attacked the home of Sec. of State William Seward. Seward survived, partly because of the quick thinking of William Bell who rushed from the home to sound the alarm. Later, Bell testified at the trial of the conspirators, being one of 29 Black witnesses.