Booth, an actor, and son of the English actor, Junius Brutus Booth. In the confusion which followed, Booth jumped from the box to the stage, shouting, "Sic semper tyrannis !” ("So be it always with tyrants!"). But, one of his spurs becoming entangled with a flag, he fell, breaking his leg. He recovered himself, however, and cried loudly, "The South is avenged!" as, brandishing his dagger, he made his escape. Although he did not die until the next morning, Mr. Lincoln was never conscious after the ball entered his brain. They took him to a house opposite the theatre, where his cabinet, and many persons high in the State, kept watch by his bed. Six hours after Mr. Lincoln's death, the oath of the presidential office was privately administered to the Vice-President, Andrew Johnson, by Chief Justice Chase.

Booth's part in the tragedy had not been due to the mere fancy of a madman. It was but one thread in the web that a band of wicked men had woven to catch the chief officers of the government. General Grant was to have shared the fate of the President, but his timely journey saved his life. One who was concerned in the plot succeeded in getting into Secretary Seward's bed-chamber, where he was lying ill, and stabbed the secretary three times with an ugly knife. Mr. Seward was seriously injured, but the would-be murderer got away. To each one of the gang of desperate men, had been allotted a victim to despatch; but only Booth accomplished his purpose. It is little wonder that this crime, following so closely upon the heels of the late Confederate defeat, and taken in connection with Booth's exclamation, "The South is avenged!" should have been charged upon the Confederacy. The new President even offered a reward of one hundred thousand dollars for the arrest of President Davis, believing him to have suggested the plot. Afterwards, when the public mind grew calmer, that idea was abandoned. Booth was hunted like a wild animal. With one other of the

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX

TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

conspirators, a youth named Harold, he was captured in Virginia. Booth was mortally wounded in the struggle. His companion and two others were speedily hanged.

The body of the martyr President was prepared for burial, and lay in state in Washington until the funeral, where it was visited by throngs of weeping people. It was afterward carried to his home in Springfield, Ill. Countless thousands looked at that beloved face when the procession stopped at all the large towns or cities on the way. After nearly twenty years his memory is as fresh in the hearts of a grateful people as when he paid for their liberty with his life. How inglorious, on the other hand, was the career of the President of the boasted Confederacy! Mr. Davis waited anxiously at Danville for Lee, who never came. Having escaped Grant, he hastened to join Johnston at Greensborough, in the interior of North Carolina. On the very day of Lincoln's assassination, Davis was living in a box-car on the railroad, because nobody offered him hospitality. The armies of Lee and Johnston were not more than a hundred and fifty miles apart at this time; but Sherman and Grant were between, and a junction was impossible. Immediately upon the surrender of Lee, Sherman hastened to execute Grant's orders to "push on and finish the job." As Sherman advanced, Johnston retreated, until on the 13th of April the Union army entered Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina. The next day a message arrived from Johnston, asking if Sherman would suspend operations, that some terms of peace could be arranged. Sherman had in the mean time heard of Grant's success in Virginia, and he answered Johnston that he could surrender on the same terms as Lee. An appointment was then made for a meeting between the two generals.

Sherman in the mean time received the news of the death of the President and the attacks upon the lives of members

of the Cabinet. When he arrived at the meeting-place, the generals shook hands, and passed into a small farmhouse not far away. When they were left alone, Sherman showed Johnston the telegram that he received at starting. The rebel general was greatly agitated. "The perspiration came out in large drops on his forehead, and he did not attempt to conceal his distress. "And," adds Sherman, "he denounced the act as a disgrace to the age, and hoped that I did not charge it to the Confederate Government." After much talk, Johnston admitted that to carry on the war further would be "murder," and wished to make terms for all the rebel armies as well as his own. They parted, to meet again the next day at noon. Johnston hastened to Jeff. Davis for advice and instruction. Sherman returned to his headquarters, and told his army of the assassination of the President. On the 18th Sherman and Johnston again met, unfortunately, for much trouble came out of Sherman's efforts to settle terms of peace. Johnston brought General John C. Breckinridge with him. Of course they wished to get all they could for the rebel armies, and Sherman agreed to send on to Washington for definite orders. At the same time he offered to make very liberal terms, a statement of which he forwarded to the President for approval. What a breeze that bit of paper stirred! Since the death of Lincoln was laid at the rebel door, no terms would seem to suit the Union Government or people. Notwithstanding that the Confederacy had fallen, Johnston asked for more than Lee had. Sherman was blamed officially and by the public press. Stanton telegraphed to him a savage message, and followed it up by sending Grant to look after him.

Halleck once more entered upon the scene, and ordered Meade and Sheridan and Wright to North Carolina. Grant declared that this treatment of a man who had done such service as Sherman was "infamous." But after all, on the