Manhunt page 2

 Manhunt page 2 by ric gustafson

John Wilkes Booth woke up in the morning of April 14 1865. He was hungover and depressed. The Confederacy he loved was dead. His dreams of glory was over. His cause was lost. After a week of bad news, he could not take much more. He was not looking forward to another day of Union celebrations. 

The string of bad days started April 3 1865. Richmond fell to the Union. The next day April 4, Abraham Lincoln visited the prize he strived for. On April 9, Robert E Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered. On April 11, Lincoln was giving a speech proposing to give blacks the right to vote. On April 13, all of Washington celebrated. On Good Friday April 14, the Union was going to stage a gala to mark the retaking of Fort Sumter. To John Wilkes Booth, it had been a rotten 11 days.

As Booth sat down to breakfast that Good Friday , a letter arrived at Ford's Theatre. It was from Mrs Lincoln herself. Herself and the President would be attending the play there that evening. The Theatre was thrilled. The play that evening was ' Our American Cousin'. Booth was elated. His opportunity had come. He knew Ford's Theatre inside and out. He did not need to hunt Lincoln. Lincoln was coming to him in eight hours. He had the afternoon to prepare.

research help: ' Manhunt' by James L Swanson

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric