The murder of Abraham Lincoln set off the greatest manhunt in American history. From April 14 to April 26, 1865, the assassin, John Wilkes Booth, led Union cavalry and detectives on a wild twelve-day chase through the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia, while the nation, still reeling from the just-ended Civil War, watched in horror and sadness.
James L. Swanson's Manhunt is a fascinating tale of murder, intrigue, and betrayal. A gripping hour-by-hour account told through the eyes of the hunted and the hunters, this is history as you've never read it before.
Amazon.com Review
The Greatest Manhunt in American History
For 12 days after his brazen assassination of Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth was at large, and in Manhunt, historian James L. Swanson tells the vivid, fully documented tale of his escape and the wild, massive pursuit. Get a taste of the daily drama from this timeline of the desperate search.
April 14, 1865
Around noon, Booth learns that Lincoln is coming to Ford's Theatre that night. He has eight hours to prepare his plan. 10:15 pm: Booth shoots the president, leaps to the stage, and escapes on a waiting horse. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton orders the manhunt to begin.
April 15
About 4:00 am: Booth seeks treatment for a broken leg at Dr. Samuel Mudd's farm near Beantown, Maryland. Cavalry patrol heads south toward Mudd farm. Confederate operative Thomas Jones hides Booth in a remote pine thicket for five days, frustrating the manhunters.
April 19
Tens of thousands watch the procession to the U.S. Capitol, where President Lincoln lies in state. Wild rumors and stories of false sightings of Booth spread.
April 20
Stanton offers a $100,000 reward for the assassins, and threatens death to any citizen who helps them. After hiding Booth in Maryland, Jones puts him in a rowboat on the Potomac River, bound for Virginia. More than a thousand manhunters are still searching in Maryland. In the dark, Booth rows the wrong way and first ends up back in Maryland.
April 20-24
Booth lands in the northern neck of Virginia, and Confederate agents and sympathizers guide him to Port Conway, Virginia.
April 24
Booth befriends three Confederate soldiers who help him cross the Rappahannock River to Port Royal and then guide him further southwest to the Garrett farm. Union troops in Washington receive a report of a Booth sighting. They board a U.S. Navy tug and steam south, right past Booth's hideout at the Garrett farm.
April 25
The 16th New York Calvary, realizing their error, turns around and surrounds the Garrett farm after midnight that night.
April 26
When Booth refuses to surrender, troops set the barn on fire, and Boston Corbett shoots the assassin. Booth dies a few hours later, at sunrise.
April 26-27
Booth's body is brought back to Washington, where it is autopsied, photographed, and buried in a secret grave.
this book deserves more than five stars! November 24, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This bestselling nonfiction book came with outstanding professional reviews. There was no laying it aside for later, as I was unable to put it down. The author completely changed my opinion of John Wilkes Booth, a successful actor who had everything to lose and risked it all. If there were flaws in the writing I certainly never noticed any. This is an achievement I cannot criticize. In fact I almost wished I had a seatbelt. It is a rollicking good read.
Outstanding Read October 19, 2008 Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, by James Swanson, is an excellent read. The author takes the reader to gaslight lit streets and a time of joy, followed by great sorrow. Swanson tells the story of President Lincoln's assassin in an almost - but not quite - sympathetic manner. Swanson introduces the reader to many secondary characters that assisted Booth in his 12-day escape from the authorities.
The book is written in a style that is less text book than mystery thriller. Swanson does an excellent job in making the reader feel the urgency that both sides felt, in trying to locate and/or hide Booth. The P.S. portion of this version of the book provides excellent insight into the author's goals and objectives in telling the story.
This is a 5-star read that I highly recommend. Learning about the strong emotions that existed during this tumultuous time period in U.S. history. Enjoy.
A gem for Civil War enthusiasts October 18, 2008 This book is a real gem. My husband and I have always been interested in Civil War lore. This book is chocked full of interesting facts surrounding the assassination of President Lincoln. We borrowed the book initially but have purchased another copy because we wanted to keep this book as a permanent reference. Our high schooler benefitted immensely from this book for a history project. You won't be able to put this down.
Harrowing "Manhunt" August 26, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Most everyone knows that John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln. But few know the broader plan, how history could have changed, how history indeed did change, the minute by minute saga of the planning of the crime and its twelve day aftermath - the Manhunt for Booth. This chronicle of those days is so harrowing, so page turning, you will give up sleep to finish it. Knowing the history we all know, I still read this story hoping the assassination attempt fails and if not, Booth would be caught before he left the Ford's Theatre. Alas, neither of those hopes were realized but that's how riveting and real this story is. I cannot recall reading a book as exciting or as informative. Take the James Swanson time machine back to 1865 and live there for twelve days. It is unforgettable.
The facts of Lincoln's assassination that you never learned in school. August 25, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Without a doubt, one of the best books I've read in a very long time. This non-fiction book reads like a suspense novel. I read it in a day and a half. So incredibly well researched and written, this account of Booth's 12-day escape after Lincoln's assassination is almost an hour-by-hour account of his every move. Utterly compelling...a must read!!!
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