Chasing Lincoln’s Killer Characters

The owner of two boardinghouses, Mary Surratt was a Confederate sympathizer who provided material support to Booth on the day of the killing. She lied to investigators about what she knew and was eventually executed for her involvement in the assassination.

The son of Secretary of State Seward, Frederick was the first family member to try to stop Powell’s attack. Powell nearly shot him but his gun misfired. Instead Powell savagely bludgeoned Frederick with the pistol, crushing his skull.

The son of Secretary of State Seward, Augustus was awoken by the sounds of fighting. He entered his father’s room and wrestled with Powell along with Sergeant Robinson. He was stabbed in the fight with Powell, who told him that he was mad.

A wounded Union veteran, Sergeant Robinson was serving as a nurse for Seward on the night of Powell’s attack. Although Powell stabbed him multiple times to the bone, Robinson continued fighting, doing everything in his power to protect the Secretary of State.

A conspirator in Booth’s failed 1864 plot to kidnap Lincoln, Arnold had nothing to do with the presidential assassination but was implicated in a letter found in Booth’s room. He was arrested and sentenced to prison.

An employee at Ford’s Theatre, Spangler briefly held Booth’s horse in the alley outside the theater. He was suspected of having aided the actor and arrested, but later freed when no evidence of his guilt emerged.

Samuel Mudd’s cousin and a loyal Unionist, George Mudd made a vague report to the authorities about strangers who had visited Samuel’s farm. Samuel hoped in this way to keep the authorities from discovering the true extent of his involvement with Booth and Herold.

A farmer and fisherman in Port Conway, Rollins ferried Booth, Herold, Willie Jett, Ruggles, and Bainbridge across the Rappahannock River. He was not aware that he was transporting fugitives and confessed all he knew to investigators, giving them an important tip on where to search for Booth and Herold.

A Confederate soldier and friend of Willie Jett’s, Ruggles accompanied Booth on Willie Rollins’s boat across the Rappahannock River. He also rode to the Garrett farm to warn Booth and Herold that cavalry had arrived in nearby Bowling Green.

A Confederate soldier and friend of Willie Jett’s, Bainbridge accompanied Booth on Willie Rollins’ boat across the Rappahannock River. He also rode to the Garrett farm to warn Booth and Herold that cavalry had arrived in nearby Bowling Green.

The First Lady, Abraham Lincoln’s wife Mary Todd was a sensitive woman, often criticized in the press. She had struggled to recover from her grief after the death of her son Willie in 1862.

The Lincolns’ eldest son, Robert had been present at General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, which he described to his father on the day the president would be shot. He delivered the news to his mother that his father had passed away.

The Lincolns’ son who died in 1862 at the age of eleven. Mary Todd Lincoln struggled to get over his death, while Abraham Lincoln buried his sorrow in work.

The Lincolns’ younger son, Tad stood by his father and lit Lincoln’s face with a light on the night that the president announced voting rights for emancipated blacks.

A friend of the Lincolns, Rathbone was in the presidential box at Ford’s Theatre when John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln. He tried to halt Booth and received severe stab wounds in his shoulder.

The fiancée to Major Henry Rathbone, Clara Harris was also watching the play at Ford’s in the presidential booth during the assassination.

The lead actor in the play at Ford’s Theatre, Booth timed his shot for the moment when Hawk would deliver a comedic line that elicited laughter from the audience.

An actress in the play at Ford’s Theatre, Keane mounted to the presidential box and asked Dr. Leale’s permission to cradle the mortally wounded Lincoln’s head in her lap. She later gave away pieces of her blood soaked dress asmementos.

An employee at Ford’s Theatre, Peanut held Booth’s horse for him briefly on the night of the assassination.

The only person in Ford’s Theatre to try to chase Booth as he escaped.

Charged with enforcing a 9 PM curfew at the bridge out of the city, Cobb nonetheless allowed both Booth and Herold to cross the bridge into Maryland.

An important part of president’s cabinet, Welles initially suspected that the Confederate authorities were responsible for the attacks of April 14, 1865. He rode with Stanton to the Petersen house that night, pushing through the crazed mob to reach the dying president.

A close friend of Mrs. Lincoln’s, Mary Jane Welles had nursed Willie Lincoln before his death and then comforted Mrs. Lincoln on her child’s loss. She then lost her own young son to illness the same year, bringing the two women even closer as friends.

The Lincolns’ family pastor, Gurley came to Lincoln’s deathbed and said a prayer after the president passed away.

The Lincolns’ family physician and the chief doctor of the United States, Barnes arrived at Lincoln’s bedside in the Petersen house. There was little he could do to help the president but monitor the signs of Lincoln’s approaching death.

Halleck was in charge of imprisoning captured conspirators.

The Confederate President, Jefferson Davis was on the run from manhunters at the time when Lincoln was shot. He was revered by Confederate sympathizers like Mary Surratt, who kept a picture of him in her house.

A friend of George Atzerodt’s.

George Atzerodt’s cousin.

The daughter of Mary Surratt, Anna Surratt was also interrogated and arrested during the investigation.

A boarder at Mary Surratt’s boardinghouse, Lewis Weichmann accompanied Mrs. Surratt to Surrattsville to prepare John Lloyd for a nighttime visit from Booth. He was also arrested and interrogated during the investigation.

A conspirator in Booth’s failed 1864 plot to kidnap Lincoln, O’Laughlen had nothing to do with the presidential assassination but was implicated in a letter found in Booth’s room. He was arrested and sentenced to prison.

A farmer and loyal Confederate, Cox showed Booth and Herold the thicket where they could hide from cavalry and summoned Thomas Jones to give them further help. Booth was sent to Cox by Dr. Samuel Mudd.

A Virginia farmer who denied Booth and Herold hospitality. Booth later sent him payment for the meal he begrudgingly fed them, as an insult to Stuart for his failure to extend his home to them willingly.

A black man in Maryland who was forced to give Booth and Herold shelter. He then rented them a wagon driven by his son.

The man who drove Booth and Herold from his father’s farm in a wagon.

A Confederate agent in Virginia, Elizabeth Quesenberry helped Booth and Herold to find transportation deeper into the South. She was a contact of Thomas Jones’.

One of the commanders in the party of manhunters who found Booth and Herold at Garrett’s farm. He was awarded $5,250 for his role in locating the fugitives.

The cousin of Colonel Lafayette Baker and one of the commanders in the final party of manhunters who found Booth and Herold. He received $3,000 in reward money.

The head of the 13th New York Cavalry, which pursued Booth and Herold without success throughout Maryland.

A defeated Confederate General and leader of the Army of Northern Virginia.

A victorious and respected Union general, Grant was invited to go with the Lincolns to Ford’s Theatre on the night of the assassination. He would become President of the United States in 1869, after Andrew Johnson.

One of the manhunters searching for Booth.

An interogator working to identify Lincoln's killer after Lincoln was assassinated.

A free black woman and Mrs. Lincoln's dressmaker, she attended the performance at which Lincoln was shot.