The Trial and Execution of the Lincoln Conspirators

James Thompson examined the plot to assassinate Lincoln, Seward, Johnson, and Grant, the subsequent trial and its outcome in this American Civil War Museum lecture.
Download the lecture handout here- www.acwm.org/sites/default/files/pdf/july_2015_brown_bag_handout.pdf

[@pigmanobvious]

I throughly enjoy these lectures. Just when I think I know everything there is to know about this American tragedy I always pic up at least one fact of which I was unaware. This is why learning is a lifelong experience!

[@michaelryan8213]

Z

[@donniegombel]

Just remember that there are two sides to each story, the truth and the words used to hide the truth.

[@CarolinaThreeper3534]

Truly, an incredible time in American history. Thanks for your work

[@vernsnith2230]

I very much appreciated this presentation. Mr. James Thompson has done his homework. His presentation his masterful; it holds your attention; and, the "extra material" makes the presentation very colorful. Students today could profit by this method of historical presentation lively--and, makes one desire to learn more of the subject. Thank you, Mr. Thompson, for your superb presentation for your make the characters involved in this great event/drama come alive.

[@debbiejohnson7913]

Students today are not even taught about JFK nor about WWII, Nazis, and Jews.

[@VaDemSandi]

Your delivery cracked me up. Well done young sir! (LOL on the "guilt by association" question!)

[@mistervacation23]

I remember the moment as though it happened yesterday evening. The entire dorm I was living in went absolutely Wild when Stanton made this announcement.

[@willoutlaw4971]

The Confederate Conspirators were idiots.

[@happyinscarolina]

I wonder why the government did not just conduct a trial in absentia and convict John Surratt before the statute of limitation ran out. There is nothing in the US Constitution that prevents federal trials in absentia. Especially since they could prove he fled prosecution. This was a very thorough and enjoyable presentation on the conspirators and their ultimate demise. Thank you so much for this educational video.

[@beansmith2465]

I love SC lots of history out that way

[@csmtcqueen]

Good question

[@knowledgeseeker-yy1ix]

I remember reading a book called "they have killed papa dead"...about the assasination and the trial of the conspirators. If I am remembering correctly the trial was conducted by military tribunal because technically the war wasn't over yet..and the military court had a different protocol than federal court. After 1865 the war was over and the military was ""mustered out" so the military didn't have judicial control anymore..and all judicial cases including federal would have to return to civilian juries and it was thought that John Surrat would have been found not guilty by a civilian jury..that's why after the assasination Stanton wanted the trial conducted by the military..because there were still a huge number of civilians who had hated Lincoln..believe it or not..and still had sympathy for the defeated South.

[@knowledgeseeker-yy1ix]

and you have to remember that in the nineteenth century it was considered an outrage to execute a woman..people were shocked and horrified about the hanging of Mary Surratt they considered it in "poor taste" because she was a widow..and her son John might have played on this sympathy with a civilian jury.

[@gnypp45]

Very good presentation. Fluid and captivating.

[@jeffreymeyer1191]

Fascinating presentation. I would love to attend one of James Thompson’s lectures.

[@Jasona1976]

I have been to Mudd's house. It was out of the way and impossible for Booth to go to unless he knew of it in advance.

[@DJ-jn3on]

Really enjoyed that. Well done to Mr Thompson.

[@hisokaspider4882]

Just watched that movie "The Conspirator"... sparked an interest & saw your video...very informative...

[@lekmirn.hintern8132]

Really enjoyed that. I would also recommend a movie that I'm surprised he didn't mention: it's THE PRISONER OF SHARK ISLAND (1937), a very good John Ford movie about Dr. Mudd, with the lead played by Warner Baxter (you might remember him from 42ND STREET). Based on this talk, I see that the movie was almost entirely myth... but it's still a very good movie! I also would have liked to hear about Jefferson Davis's feelings about the assassination (if they're known), and about how it ultimately affected his fate.

[@salesuzi]

You are fantastic. Just watched the Apple TV movie Manhunt. And you are piecing a lot of things together!!! Thanks

[@ghostcityshelton9378]

Very Interresting. Never fails that Mary's son doesn't even try to warn or help his mother & gets off scot free! (I believe he answered for it after his death. That's just my thoughts)

[@bunchie7931]

Maybe they discussed it prior.

[@theresekarabin8341]

I loved your presentation!

[@russellhurst3041]

Riveting, could not tear away, much enjoyed!!

[@Eatmyyshorts]

This guy is a great speaker very entertaining

[@usethenoodle]

Being a reader I was interested in the book he said was the best he's read on this subject. Answering the 1st question the speaker called it "Blood on the money"... a mis-speak. "Blood on the moon" is available on Kindle Amazon at the princely price of ~$20. The hard cover is like $21. It's too bad the cost of e format books is so high considering they don't have to go through all the printing and shipping. None the less, I had a copy sent to my Kindle Library. I look forward to reading it. Nice talk. Thanks for the book recommendation.

[@marcusdavenport1590]

The best talk on this on the internet that I've seen so far.

[@lhzook]

Spangler worked as a handyman on a farm in the dc/Baltimore area. The farmer’s family loved him & took care of him till he died.

[@Buckeystown]

Atzerodt was arrested at his cousin Hartman Richter's house in Germantown MD. After leaving Washington, he spent the night at the Clopper Mill. The mill-keeper was jailed for 6 weeks for that. He stopped for Easter dinner with the Metz family before reaching the Richter farm. He blabbed a bit to much and other visitors to the Metz's, James and Somerset Leaman among others, turned him in. Lafayette Sabine Foster, Senator from Connecticut would have been President if he had killed Johnson. His successor as President Pro Tem was Ben Wade who lead the impeachment of Johnson and would have become President if it had passed.

[@Buckeystown]

Oops. The Leaman brothers were arrested as well. Bad memory but others turned him in and split the reward. Related in Blood on the Moon

[@gkelly9448]

There were tons of confederate sympathizers not only in Montreal but also in Halifax. The political situation was very complicated at that time. Many Canadians went to fight and die for both the south and north.

[@andrewsilverstein6186]

Great job

[@jacquelinedevlin6381]

Excellent

[@daviddobson8933]

Well done why did you not cover any involvement of Jefferson Davis?

[@geraldmantel4955]

There's obviously much more to this story than the "official" version ...

[@greghanson407]

One of the military judges General Lew Wallace wrote the book Ben-Hur which was turned into a movie in the 1950s.

[@lekmirn.hintern8132]

First, a legendary stage production around the turn of the 20th Century. Back then stage productions were very visual, with a lot of 'spectacle' -- and the chariot race was done live, with real horses running on treadmills! Then the original (silent) movie, one of the first movies released by MGM, also a tremendous spectacle, and extremely impressive (1924); and then of course the best-known version, the 1959 William Wyler movie, with Charlton Heston (1959).

[@robinrobyn1714]

He was the same person who Billy the Kid once wrote a letter to, when Wallace was Governor of New Mexico

[@joslynscott466]

Very interesting

[@Imtahotep]

Similar in appearance: was Powell's pistol (dropped on the scene) was it a Spiller & Burr or was it a Whitney? And had somebody filed off the serial number? Indicating late manufacture?

[@enriquemireles8947]

Not sure why the speaker was upset about Johnson not being assonated.

[@Bob31415]

"assonated"?? You mean "assassinated"?

[@crimony3054]

If Grant was also a target, does that mean Booth carried a second pistol?

[@donbenevento2805]

Great question.

[@bobtaylor170]

That is a great question. I think that's why Booth had the knife. But a second pistol would have made sense.

[@gordondeans2549]

He also had a Colt revolver and a carbine waiting in the alley with his horse.

[@fatjec]

Very nice presentation. Lewis Powell looks like Harry Styles. He's on the cover of Rolling Stone and the resemblance is uncanny. Lol

[@kateealer7]

As a Civil War history buff, and someone with experience working in a prison, these people where in jail, not prison, before their sentencing. Sure, they might have been housed in special housing with special rules, but they were still in jail awaiting trial before they were convinced. Historical and modern pet peeve of mine.

[@Imtahotep]

Ok, now, which is it? Did the Ranger recently detached from Mosby's Virginia 43rd Cav use his revolver as a war hammer because it jammed?? Or because it misfired??

[@leehafner3730]

I was 8 years old...we felt the shock and disbelief...but, as children I don't think it made us afraid...I remember for weeks afterward there was NOTHING on TV that didn't concern this...

[@geraldmantel4955]

It was John Wilkes Oswald, KBG agent.

[@Jeremy-rp6xq]

He said John Surrat the one who got away,John Wilkes Booth got away also.

[@dannycole6956]

John Surratt Jr. was release in custody in Summer 1868.

[@millspgh]

Who is this guy? I would like to watch more from him.

[@MathewWoodard]

Me too but I can’t find him. My google skills are lacking.

[@johnbrower2738]

James Thompson how could you shoot both Lincoln and Grant with a one bullet derringer???

[@D-Coop24]

JOHN BROWER Booth had a knife which was meant to stab Grant.

[@michaelberry1382]

Derringers can have two barrels and two shots

[@Bob31415]

@@michaelberry1382 Booth's did not.

[@gordondeans2549]

He also had a Colt revolver and a carbine waiting in the alley with his horse.

[@voraciousreader3341]

“Maltrition”?? This man said that word instead of “malnutrition” at about 3:55. Was it nerves? I certainly hope so!

[@baire702]

The metal thing around his neck which deflected the knife.

[@Meine.Postma]

Booth's gun only had one bullet, how could he also kill Grant if Grant was there?

[@gordondeans2549]

He also had a Colt revolver and a carbine waiting in the alley with his horse.

[@scottoftroy9663]

I'm pretty sure John Surrat was a Papal Zouave (volunteer soldier for the army of the Papal States) and not a papal "guard"? The pope's "guards" would be the Swiss Guard (Swiss citizens), Noble Guard (Roman nobility), or Palatine Guard (Papal State residents).

[@CAROLUSPRIMA]

Surely he knows why Seward survived. Maybe not.

[@Xcerptshow]

Because he got slashed on the left side of his face and afterwards his pics are always a profile. It wasnt a mortal wound.

[@morehyeshiahhistorylessons94]

I didn't know they wanted to kill Grant

[@Hurricaneintheroom]

I wish I could have been there to ask questions. One being, I've always wondered if Mary Surratt and Booth had some kind of romantic or physical relationship? Funny about the "creepy" picture of Powell. John Surratt must have not loved his mother at all. He knew she had been arrested and yet didn't return to take her place. Terrible.

[@adrian72300]

Booth was a Celebrity,the Booth family was like the Barrymore's of their day,i wouldn't doubt he used that to his advantage over her,i think Mary wanted her son to live,she protected him to the end.

[@104thDIVTimberwolf]

I agree that he should have been more concerned for her, but he wouldn't have taken her place. Her guilt was as well established as Powell's.

[@bobtaylor170]

@@104thDIVTimberwolf , my hunch is he didn't think she would be convicted, or that if she was, she would be hanged. And there is nothing he could have done anyway.

[@markblain8438]

Is the saying your name is mud. Attributable to Dr mudd

[@ealswytheangelicrealms]

According to the book The Lincoln Conspiracy by David Balsiger published in 1977 Booth escaped Washington DC with a smuggler friend named Ed Henson and NOT David Herold. The book also says that Lewis Thornton Powell and Lewis Payne were 2 different people and although Lewis Powell carried out the attack on Steward Lewis Payne was found guilty. The book says confession statements by O'Laughlin and Atzerodt state that Payne and Powell were separate individuals. Evidence indicates that Payne was arrested and framed for his cousin, Powell's evil deed. Is any of this true? These facts in The Lincoln Conspiracy book differ from what I have read in all the other Lincoln Assassination books. The Lincoln Conspiracy book also says a man named James William Boyd was killed in Garrett's barn ant NOT Booth. Is that true?

[@willoutlaw4971]

Like so much "history" associated with the Confederates, too many lies and half truths. The fake "history" was perpetrated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and former Confederate General Jubal Early.

[@laurapeter3857]

None of the allegations made in The Lincoln Conspiracy were true.

[@servico100]

History does become distorted with time. General Grant "serendipitously" decides to pass on attending the Ford Theater and visit his children. Thus saving himself from harm as Booth intended to shoot them both. Fact: Booth had a single shot pistol!

[@janetprice85]

Grant was loyal to Lincoln. Suggestions otherwise are nonsense. And John Wilkes Boothe was almost the ruin of his even more reknowned brother's career who was horrified at his brother's actions.

[@servico100]

@@janetprice85 My comment had no bearing on Grant's loyalty. JWB was focused on Lincoln he only brought a SINGLE shot pistol. It was Mr. Thompson's interpretation of that non event that my comment concerned.

[@servico100]

@Grassy Sands Battlefield champions, know when the "ground" is unsuitable.

[@gordondeans2549]

He also had a Colt revolver and a carbine waiting in the alley with his horse. He did not need them because Stanton had ordered Grant NOT to attend with Lincoln.

[@llewev]

Is that a Papal Guard uniform? 1) If he was on the run, he would have been foolish to have his photo taken, perhaps> 2) It looks much more like the uniform of one of the many Zouave regiments who wore uniforms replicating the uniforms of the famous French North African colonial troops.

[@BourbonBabe1]

"...HE and his mother ran." NOT "...HIM and his mother..."

[@mobilechief]

Can hardly hear it ?

[@Bob31415]

David Herold is 22. He looks like mid 30s.

[@Johnnypensful]

hes wrong about john sturattbc he a mistrial....not charged in amy court but civilian court...''mistrial ''became a teacher,n gvae talk....

[@erin19030]

General Hartranphft was the executioner . Later in life he was the Governor of Pennsylvania and hung 20 Irish coal miners for union organizing.

[@johnnickle4180]

Harold was blowing a goa

[@dgatsf]

Booth did not count on breaking his leg…best laid plans.

[@user-dp3iu3hz7u]

I still am not convinced that Mary Surratt was as guilty as the rest. Especially her son. I think she should have gotten prison time but not death. Especially with a military trial

[@msgflash4748]

Imagine how much different our country would be today had Lincoln lived for his 2nd term and beyond . Lincoln was the greatest man in American history . It saddens me every time I think of this horrible tragedy .

[@jackrosario9990]

David herold was a pharmacist assistant he couldn't be dumb witted.

[@mobilechief]

How could Booth shot booth with a 1 shot pistol before getting caught ?

[@Bob31415]

"Booth shot booth"?

[@jeremyfondo4320]

Surratt, Mudd, Arnold, Booth and Spangler were all Freemasons... Funny you didn't mention that, and Spangler was pardoned 4 yrs into his sentence. Ed did open the back door for john and Peanut held his horse, Ed did clothes line the guy chasing Booth, Eds brother was also a Freemason, His name was Benjamin Franklyn Spangler, My great grandfather. And Ed did go back to work at Fords.

[@jackiebinns6205]

You must study JFK cuz mass freakout don't begin to explain the sorrow of this country that had many more people in it then in 1865

[@bobtaylor170]

I was 11. If you look into it, you'll discover that a majority of the country reported feeling physically sick that day and in many cases for the next few days. I was one of them: a bad, bad headache, also, a very bad PTSD reaction immediately after the assassination.

[@robinrobyn1714]

You have 'no idea ' how Seward survived??!!! Wow. You're clueless. It's been very well known exactly why, since day one. He survived due to the metal brace he was wearing, deflecting many of Powell's knife thrusts.

[@robslattery6544]

This presentation suggests much more involvement from the confederacy than I've ever heard. A lot of this is unproven

[@Xcerptshow]

Have you read or heard Edward Steers?

[@michaelberry1382]

There are a lot of historians that say there were at least 3 plots. That Jefferson Davis commissioned at least 3 agents for the job. Booth being one. Don’t know if they found paperwork decades later or what

[@catherinekelly532]

Were Booth caught; a woman is not hanged! Ponder that! Booth lived until 1903

[@judithparker4608]

MASSACHUSETTS....PURITAN MAYFLOWER...BOSTON

[@judithparker4608]

MRS JORDAN.....LOVER AND MOTHER OF....10...KIDS

[@judithparker4608]

FITZ....PREFIX...FOR ILLEGITIMATE.....OFFSPRING

[@judithparker4608]

CHAOS

[@judithparker4608]

SAILOR PRINCE....DOROTHEA JORDAN

[@Imtahotep]

When did Booth know that the Grants would not be at Ford's? Two Deringer's? They may be small and easy to hide, but a 2nd pistol has never been suggested.

[@karlburkhalter1502]

Johnson was never a target. first mistake

[@karlburkhalter1502]

callyharley Stanton was military dictator who wanted Seward & Lincoln eliminated because their plans for Reconstuction meant rebuilding South & helping ex-slaves. Stanton took orders from Jay Gould, who expected the money to go for transcontinental RR. transatlantic cable & purchase of Alaska. which is what happened. The man who supposedly lost his nerve was supposed to hold Booth's horse like Herod held Powell's. Johnson had Hotel room directly under Booth's, so he could have heard every word they said. A man named Capt Thomas Conrad, CSA told Lead investigator USA Colonel L.C Baker where to find Booth but is omitted from USA records, Conrad tells us in "Rebel Scout" that Johnson was his ally. Everything Conrad says checks out, Nothing Stanton said fits the facts or common sense. Stanton hid evidence and managed the investigation.

[@letolethe5878]

Does your head hurt you when you have stupid thoughts?

[@104thDIVTimberwolf]

Yes he was. Atzerodt was in the same hotel where he was, but has second thought.

[@tomcockburn653]

@callyharley Lincoln was not "murdered"

[@JoseFernandez-qt8hm]

northern abolitionists lived off Slavery as much as southern planters. northern bankers made loans, northern insurance companies underwrote activities, northern textile mills bought slave cotton, northerners ate slave sugar and smoked slave Tabacco and before 1808, slave ships built and crewed by northerners transported slaves into the United States. Maybe the war happened because the guilty feeling of northern abolitionists and indignation of southern slavers at the hypocrisy of the abolitionists. And, what's crazy is that most people today are decedents of post-bellum immigrants who had nothing to do with slavery and just want to get on with life.

[@judithparker4608]

BORDE4 RIEVERS

[@johnnickle4180]

Azerottwas eating mary

[@judithparker4608]

HANOVARIAN

[@judithparker4608]

NEW FOUND LAND.....NEW AMSTERDAM

[@judithparker4608]

DOROTHEA JORDAN....ACTRESS

[@judithparker4608]

DOROTHEA JORDAN....MOTHER OF...10..WITH.."SAILOR PRINCE""

[@darrinh.2322]

President pro tempore Benjamin Wade of Ohio in 1865

[@judithparker4608]

DOROTHEA JORDAN....COMEDY ACTRESS....AND THE....""SAILOR KING""

[@judithparker4608]

GREGORY CALENDAR ADOPTION...SPAIN.....1582 TO 1752...BRITAIN AMERICA

[@judithparker4608]

BARONS..REVOLT....!!

[@geraldmantel4955]

I think this presentation is a shitty "ball of confusion."

[@judithparker4608]

GREGORIAN CALENDAR ADOPTION......GEORGIA 🇬🇪 1752

[@judithparker4608]

FRENCH....MOROCCO ALLIES...

[@judithparker4608]

PERSECUTION

[@SOULRELIEF22]

THERE WILL BE NO PROFANITY IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD! HALLELUJAH! 🙏🏼🙌🏼❤️✝️❤️

[@SOULRELIEF22]

JESUS GIVES JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY! ✝️❤️✝️

[@SOULRELIEF22]

BELOVED! PLEASE DON'T DIE WITHOUT JESUS IN YOUR HEART! ST JOHN 3:16! ✝️❤️✝️ SOULS LIVE FOREVER...WITH OR WITHOUT JESUS! NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

[@judithparker4608]

THE...SHIRE...RIEFS

[@johnqpublic2718]

Yeeuh boi. Johnny Reb a yella-bellied heathen.

[@PinkSoldier2009]

His humor is a bit annoying :C

[@user-ih5kv9yj5s]

This guy talks too much