Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer

Herold and Booth ride toward the safehouse at Surratt Tavern in Surrattsville, Maryland.

In Washington, people begin running from house to house to inform others of the president’s assassination. A crowd forms outside Ford’s Theatre to sit vigil for the president. Meanwhile, another group of messengers runs into town to inform of the attempted assassination of Secretary Seward. Secretary of War Edwin “Mars” Stanton had visited Secretary Seward earlier that evening. A little after 10 o’clock, a messenger arrives at Stanton’s house and informs him that Secretary Seward has been killed. Stanton goes to Seward’s house, where he is met by Navy Secretary Gideon Welles, who has just been informed of the president’s assassination. After seeing that Seward is alive, the two men decide to go to Ford’s Theatre. The president is meanwhile brought into the Petersen boardinghouse on 10th Street.

Herold and Booth arrive at the tavern. John Lloyd, the manager, gives them the field glasses, whiskey, and guns Mary Surratt had left for them that afternoon. They then leave. They head to a doctor’s house because Booth had injured his leg jumping from the balcony.

Dr. Leale and the other doctors do a full examination of Lincoln. Mary Lincoln is despondent.