“Booth Killed Lincoln”
Description
"Wiles Booth came to Washington, An actor great was he, He played at Ford's Theater And Lincoln went to see." Booth sneaks up on Lincoln and shoots him, then flees. The dying Lincoln says "'Of all the actors in this town, I loved Wilkes Booth the best'"
Notes
Five days after Lee's surrender, John Wilkes Booth (1838-1865) entered Abraham Lincoln's box at Ford's Theatre and shot the President. Booth fled across the stage and, despite breaking his leg, escaped. Eventually he and his fellow conspirators were caught; Booth died when the barn in which he was hiding took fire. Most of the other conspirators were sentenced to death or long imprisonment. - RBW, (PJS)
Historical references
- Apr 14, 1865 - John Wilkes Booth shoots Abraham Lincoln.
- Apr 15, 1865 - Lincoln dies
References
- Burt, pp. 224-225, "(Booth Killed Lincoln)" (1 text)
- Silber-CivWar, pp. 90-91, "Booth Killed Lincoln" (1 text, 1 tune)
- BI, SCW90