12 Days on the Run: the Complete Chronological Manhunt That Ended John Wilkes Booth's Life
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
The movement of federal forces and the fleeing conspirators created an intense cat-and-mouse chase across two states. Below is the operational sequence of the 12-day flight:
| Date | Location | Operational Development |
|---|---|---|
| April 14, 15 | Ford’s Theatre to Charles County, MD | Booth shoots Lincoln; flees across the Navy Yard Bridge; arrives at Dr. Samuel Mudd’s farm to set his broken leg. |
| April 16, 21 | Zekiah Swamp, Southern Maryland | Fugitives hide in pine thickets with help from Thomas Jones; Stanton announces a $100,000 bounty; initial river crossing fails. |
| April 22, 23 | Potomac to Rappahannock River, VA | Booth and Herold cross into King George County, Virginia; Confederate sympathizers guide them toward Port Royal. |
| April 24, 25 | Richard Garrett Farm, Caroline County, VA | Booth poses as a wounded Confederate soldier named "Boyd"; suspicious Garrett family locks the fugitives inside the tobacco barn overnight. |
| April 26 | Garrett Farm Tobacco Barn | 16th New York Cavalry surrounds barn at 2:00 AM; Herold surrenders; barn set ablaze; Boston Corbett shoots Booth at roughly 3:15 AM. |
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
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