A Trooper's Account of the Death of Booth
by Steven G. Miller

On March 20, 1892, the BUFFALO (N.Y.) EXPRESS ran the following account of the shooting of John Wilkes Booth after their reporter, B. J. Hollister, visited the farm of Frederick Deitz (or Dietz), who was one of the soldiers present on April 26, 1865 at Garretts Farm. This article should be of particular interest to Lincoln Assassination students because of the wealth of detail supplied and the vividness of the account. Frederick Deitz was born in Germany in 1838. He and a brother immigrated to the Buffalo, New York, area in the late 1850's. He lived in Western New York and worked as a farmhand until he enlisted in the 16th New York Cavalry on April 8, 1864, at Buffalo. At least one brother, John, also served in the same regiment, as did several of their friends from Western New York state. As a member of the 16th New York Cavalry he took part in Lincoln's Funeral procession in Washington, D.C. and the hunt for the assassins. As is touched on below, Deitz also had the distinction of being a member of both of the expeditions that visited Garretts Farm in April and May 1865. Pvt. Deitz was discharged from the army on September 21, 1865, after which time he returned to the Buffalo area. As detailed in the article, he purchased a large farm with his share of the Booth Reward money. He farmed the property described by Hollister for the rest of his life. He died in Colden Center on September 13, 1904, and is buried next to his wife Fredricka. To the best of your editors knowledge, this is the first time that the full account has been reprinted since it appeared over a hundred years ago.

"The Capture Of Booth"

"An Erie County Man Who Took Part In It."

"Frederick Deitz of Colden Center Tells of His Part in the Punishment of Abraham Lincoln's Assassin."

"East Concord, March 18 -- Twenty-six years ago last April the whole Nation was plunged into the most poignant anguish by the report that the Chief Magistrate of the United States had been stricken down by the hand of an assassin. Vague forebodings, nameless fears and widespread consternation seized upon all as in dread suspense they awaited the final message from the bedside of Abraham Lincoln. At 7:22 A.M. the news flashed along the wires, 'The President is Dead,' and the heart of a great Nation stood still. As the people came to realize the full enormity of the conspiracy, the universal sorrow was in a measure replaced by the popular clammerings for vengeance upon the red-handed murderer. "Erie County claims as a citizen one of the 28 troopers who, under command of Lieut. Doherty, were instrumental in effecting the capture of John Wilkes Booth. Frederick Deitz of Colden Center heard the final shot which launched the actor-assassin into eternity and, with three comrades, carried the unconscious man from the burning barn and deposited him upon the veranda of the Garret house, where he was an eyewitness of his subsequent sufferings and death.
"The writer recently journeyed a distance of eight miles over the Colden hills for the purpose of learning from Mr. Deitz's own lips the story of his participation in that exciting chase and capture. Mr. Deitz is 54 years of age, a thrifty German farmer, and he owns 100 acres of excellent farming land which is situated on an elevated plateau one mile north of Colden Center. It is a beautiful and healthful locality. Away to the north and westward stretch the blue waters of Lake Erie until at last they blend and unite with the arching dome above and human vision is at fault regarding their identity. Evidences of thrift and prosperity are not lacking about the Deitz farm, and it is plainly apparent that the industrious German's share of the prize money offered by the Government for the apprehension of Booth and Harold has served as the nucleus of a very comfortable fortune. Mr. Deitz accommodatingly suspended work and led the way to the house, where he related substantially the following incidents in connection with one of the most momentous chapters of our national history. He said:
'I was a member of Co. E, 60th {1} New York Cavalry, and was with my regiment in the old Dominion State when President Lincoln was assassinated. Accustomed as we were to scenes of carnage and bloodshed, the shock to the Boys in Blue was more distressing that the most serious reverse sustained by the Federal armies during the Civil War. We had learned to love and venerate Abraham Lincoln as sons love a kind and indulgent father. My regiment was immediately ordered to Washington, where we participated in the funeral. It was then thought that Booth might still be secreted within the city and Government detectives were searching vigorously for the fugitive. The military, too, were straining every nerve to locate the miscreants. As the days wore slowly away, bringing no tidings of Booth and his companion, the conviction that they had escaped began to force itself upon the public mind, but the hand of Providence was over all and a just God began to mete out retribution ere Booth escaped from Ford's Theater.
"'On the morning of April 24th, 28 {2} men, myself included, responded with alacrity to the call of 'Boots and Saddles,' for, although unaware of the nature of the work in store for us, we felt instinctively that our mission was to relate to the pursuit of Booth. We marched to the Navy Yard, where we were joined by Col. Baker's secret service men. Lieutenant Doherty, who was in command of the military, gave us a minute description of Booth, showed us his picture, and told us to take any man we saw who resembled the picture. We then steamed up the Potomac to a point near the junction of Stafford and King George counties, and disembarked about 2 A.M. After marching steadily until daylight, the pangs of hunger began to assert themselves, and, having no rations with us, were were compelled to subsist off the farmers, who treated us with great hospitality, notwithstanding the fact that their sympathies were with the 'Lost Cause.' We crossed the Rappahannock River about 7 P.M. and, searching in a southerly course passed the house where Booth and Harold lay in concealment. They saw us as the passed by as we afterwards learned, and were of course aware of the nature of our business. We pressed forward until well along in the night when we stopped at the hostelry of a typical Southern landlord. It was at this house that we captured Dr. Mudd, whose friendly offices and surgical skill were exerted in Booth's behalf and who afterwards received, as a reward, a life sentence to the Dry Tortugas. The capture of Dr. Mudd proved a veritable bonanza, for though him we learned of Booth's whereabouts.{3} 'About face!' was the order and, taking our prisoner in charge, we rapidly retraced our steps over the same road we had so recently traversed. In our eagerness to locate the more important quarry, the Doctor was allowed to straggle in the rear until, finally, taking advantage of our carelessness, he escaped altogether. He was, however, soon recaptured and not again allowed to escape the watchful surveillance of Col. Baker's sleuth-hounds. It was 2 o'clock in the morning when we surrounded the Garret house, a low, rambling structure encircled by the conventional Southern veranda. In response to our rather unceremonious call, there issued, not from the house, but from a small outbuilding which stood near, a frightened man who asked what was wanted.
"'Have you any strangers in your house tonight?' came from the commanding officer in tones which admitted of no bandying.
"'No, sir,' replied the scared fire-eater, 'There's nobody in there but the women folks' -- adding in an affrightened undertone, 'There are two men in that barn,' indicated by a jerk of the head another barn a short distance away. We immediately surrounded this barn, my position being at the rear, where there was no door. Our confederate friend was then ordered to go in and produce his guests. He hesitated but as there was no alternative save to run the gauntlet of a dozen drawn revolvers, he went in.{4}
"It was then that we were treated to a practical illustration of the dramatic powers and histrionic ability of Wilkes Booth. Talk about Edwin Booth in mock tragedy. You should have heard the torrents of invective which rolled from the lips of John Wilkes Booth as he hurled withering maledictions upon the the head of his betrayer. The fellow probably found it more pleasant outside than inside, for he soon came out declaring that he dared not stay another moment, as Booth had threatened to shoot him down like a dog. Presently Booth called out:
"'Who are you and what do you want?'
"'Booth, you know us and we know you. You cannot escape. Come out and surrender,' was answered back.
"'Never,' came in defiant tones from the dark interior of the barn, and then he added, 'Col. Baker, I might have shot you tonight had I decided to do so.{5} You are a brave man and I have no desire to harm you. I am suffering from a broken leg. Draw off your men at 50 paces and I will come out and fight you.' Booth carried two or three revolvers and a carbine, and I have often wondered why he did not shoot some of us. The barn was full of cracks through which he might easily have killed some of our men as they moved about. As for myself, I am free to confess that I have never more fully realized the commercial value of a wide board than on that occasion. "'The second summons to surrender came from Lieut. Doherty. 'You have my answer,' said Booth, grimly. 'The young man who is with me will surrender.'"
"'Pass out, you coward,' hissed the tragedian, addressing Harold.
"'Let him pass out his {fire}arms,' said the officer.{6}
"'He has no arms,' replied Booth, 'they belong to me.'
"'Hold out your arms and come out,' commanded Doherty, and Harold obeyed, receiving in the meantime another volley of curses from Booth.
"'Misguided murderer that he was, there was something in Booth's manner which commanded our respect, if it did not win our admiration. His cool nerve in the face of such desperate odds was something wonderful. Had it not been for the fact that he was suffering from a disability, the story of Booth's capture and death might have been quite different.
"Soon after Harold surrendered, the barn was fired. I do not know the name of the man who applied the match.{7} There was a considerable quantity of loose straw lying about on the barn floor and under the sills outside. The man who did the incendiary act came around to the back side of the barn where I was and ignited the dry straw, which blazed up like a tinder-box. Booth tried to trample it out, but his broken leg rendered him almost powerless and the flames soon gained such headway that he abandoned all hopes of extinguishing them and started for the front door.
"'The interior of the barn was all aglow, and Boston Corbett, who was stationed near the door, {8} was enabled to see Booth distinctly as he drew near. Corbett placed his heavy revolver to a crack and fired. The bullet passed through Booth's neck, entering at one side and passing out at the other. The heavy bullet inflicted a terrible wound, and Booth pitched headlong to the floor as if stricken by an electric bolt. It has often been stated that Boston Corbett shot Booth with a carbine. That is not true. We carried no weapons except our side-arms, which consisted of a saber and revolver.{9} The effect of Sergeant Corbett's shot was immediately known. I ran around to the front side of the barn and entered at the open door, two or three men having already preceded me. Four cavalrymen, myself included, carried the unconscious man from the burning barn and deposited him upon the veranda of the Garret house. I do not remember that we placed anything under him. We sent for a doctor who, however, was unable to do anything for the unfortunate man, save to wash the blood from his wound and administer something in the way of a stimulant. He lived less than two hours and suffered untold agony. His broken limb must have given him excruciating pain, and his breathing was labored and difficult. On recovering consciousness, he gave utterance to the words with which he was at that accredited: 'Give my respects to my parents and say I died for my country.'{10} He never spoke again. The flames from the burning barn now lit up the place with a lurid glare, disclosing a scene worthy of the pencil of a Rembrandt or the brush of a Raphael. Booth was the center of attention, and about him were gathered a knot of cavalrymen and secret-service men. Harold, guarded by two or three stalwart troopers, awaited in grim silence the dissolution of his accomplice in crime. Probably none of the actors in the tragic, early-morning episode paused to consider that they were making history for future generations.
"I might easily have secured the bullet which killed Booth, and I suppose it would have been worth more than my whole farm. After passing through Booth's neck the leaden missile penetrated an inch board and imbedded itself in the ground a few steps from me.{11} I saw the dirt fly when it struck the ground. Booth died about 4 o'clock in the morning. We placed the body in a wagon and started back to the steamboat landing. The same boat which brought us up the river was laying at the wharf. I do not know whether she had lain there during our absence or not. We marched all day and deposited our ghastly charge on ship-board just at night. The balance of the 24 hours was consumed in making the run to the Navy Yard, where we left the body. Of the corpse the news had preceded us by wire {12} and the Navy Yard was thronged with excited citizens anxious to see the body of Booth, or failing in that, to see and congratulate his captors. We went back to the Garret farm a few days later and took a picture of the place, from which many of the illustrated newspapers made reproductions.{13}
"'As to the vexed question regarding the final disposition of Booth's body, I can furnish no additional light whatever. My share of the prize money offered by the Government for the apprehension of Booth and Harold was $1,683.70.{14} It was nearly a year after I received my discharge before I got the check, which was sent to Springville, Erie County, N.Y. I owned a small farm in the town of Concord at that time which I sold soon after and bought the farm where I now live. As to the present whereabouts of my comrades on that eventful night, I know but very little. I have positive knowledge concerning only one of them, a man by the name of Wendell, who now lives in Chicago. {15} I have lately heard there is a man living in Lancaster who was a member of Col. {16} Doherty's squad, although I cannot vouch for the reliability of the report.'"

B.J. Hollister

Editors Notes: General note -- Hollisters spelling is as per the original article. The spelling of the family name, Deitz or Dietz, is confused by the fact that Frederick spelled it different ways at different times. For instance, in a pension application statement dated June 30, 1890, he signed it Fred. Deitz. It appears, however, that the pension was granted under the spelling Dietz which suggests that the spelling change occurred then. The family tombstone in the Colden Cemetery, Colden, New York has the spelling Dietz.

{1} The author of this article, B.J. Hollister, heard Deitz wrong. What Deitz really said was that he had been a member of the 16th New York Volunteer Cavalry. {2} Actually there were twenty-seven members of the 16th New York Volunteer Cavalry: 1st Lieut. Edward P. Doherty, two sergeants (Boston Corbett and Andrew Wendell), seven corporals and seventeen privates. The total command, including detectives Conger and Baker, numbered twenty-nine.
{3} The passage of time had caused Deitz to confuse and intertwine the stories of two different expeditions and two doctors who met Booth. The First Garretts Farm Patrol left Washington on April 24th and returned from Virginia on the morning of April 27th with the body of Booth, and prisoners David Herold, Jack and Willie Garrett. They left on the government steam tug John S. Ide and returned the same way -- except for detective Everton Conger who returned earlier on another steamer. A second Garrett's Farm patrol was sent to Virginia to secure evidence and make arrests. This group was guided by National Detective Police operative Luther Byron Baker, who had been present when Booth died. The patrol was led by Capt. Francis M. Baker and Lieut. Peter McNaughton, 16th N.Y.V.C., and consisted of around twenty troopers of the 16th. Pvt. Dietz was apparently one of these soldiers, giving him the distinction of being the only soldier who was on both squads. This second group visited many of the places that the first patrol had gone and made several arrests including "Willie" Jett and Mrs. Quesenberry. They also arrested Dr. Richard Stuart, not the more famous Dr. Samuel Mudd. In accounts left by members of the Second Garretts Farm Patrol it was quite common to confuse Dr. Stuart with Dr. Mudd. The second patrol was accompanied by reporter, William N. Walton, of the NEW YORK HERALD. Walton wrote an excellent article about the expedition. (See "Mr. Walton's Dispatch," May 3, 1865.) Miss Holloway also confused the two expeditions and wrote that the group that captured Booth was accompanied by a New York reporter named Waters.
{4} Deitz's story is somewhat garbled here. The Garrett who opened the farmhouse door to the troops was the father, Richard Henry Garrett, but the one who told the soldiers where Booth and Herold were was John Muscoe "Jack" Garrett, son of Farmer Garrett. He was found by one of the troopers in the granary near the barn where he and his brother had gone to watch the family horses fearing that Booth and Herold might try to steal them.
{5} Two points need clarifying: First, the members of the patrol did not identify themselves to Booth at any time, so he had no way of knowing exactly who had surrounded the barn. Secondly, the Baker who was outside was a civilian detective; ex-Lieutenant Luther B. Baker, not his "double cousin" Col. Lafayette Charles Baker, head of the National Detective Police.
{6} Editor's addition to the text for clarity.
{7} It was civilian detective, Everton Judson Conger, N.D.P. He was a former Lieut. Colonel and "Field Commander" of the First District of Columbia Cavalry, the same regiment in which Lieutenant L.B. Baker was the Quartermaster.
{8} Deitz' memory erred about this. Corbett was certainly stationed at the back of the barn.
{9} Another of the troopers, Pvt. Emory Parady, said elsewhere that they had received orders for those who had them to strap sabres to their saddles so as to make less noise. He said, too, that they were instructed to not talk above a whisper during the pursuit.
{10} According to most eyewitnesses accounts, and there are quite a number, among Booth's last words was the statement, "Tell Mother I died for my country. I thought it was for the best."
{11} The ultimate souvenir of the death of J. Wilkes Booth! Unfortunately, Deitz couldn't have seen this if he was at the "back of the barn" since Corbett was at the rear of the barn and fired diagonally across towards the front. Deitz would have to have been near the front in order to have seen the bullet hit the ground. His exact position is uncertain since he didn't give an affidavit in 1865 and he wasn't mentioned by any of the other troopers either then or later. This wonderful (and new) piece of Boothie folklore must also be tempered by the fact that it wasnt quite dawn when Corbett fired. If true, the bullet would have had to passed very close to Dietz for him to have seen it.
{12} Actually, detective Conger went on ahead on another boat and brought the news to the War Department. The public heard it from the War Department and stormed to the wharf.
{13} See note 2. Deitz apparently was a member of both patrols to Garrett's Farm. The illustration which he mentions was done by journalist W.N. Walton and published in the May 23, 1865, FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED and George Alfred Townsend's collection of his dispatches. .
{14} Deitz' share of the Reward, like that of all the other soldiers, was $1,653.58. Of the twenty-nine men at Garrett's Farm, only Lieut. Doherty, Mr. Conger and Mr. Baker got different amounts: $5,200, $15,000 and $2,750 respectively. (See the editors article, Were The War Department Rewards Ever Paid?, SURRATT COURIER, Vol. XIX, No. 2, February 1994.)
{15} This was Sergt. Andrew Wendell, the other sergeant of the patrol. He moved to Chicago in 1867, was burned out in the Great Fire of 1871, rebuilt and spent the rest of his life in the Windy City. He died in 1908.
{16} Sic. Doherty was at First Lieutenant during the expedition and was promoted to Captain immediately after the patrol returned. In later years he was called Major Doherty though he never held rank above that of Captain.

Sources:

-- Service Record/Pension File for Frederick Deitz, National Archives
-- Information in Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society files
-- Benedict R. Maryniak Research
--"Deitz Farm: Heritage of Lincoln Tragedy," SUN SUBURBAN (Hamburg, NY), July 16, 1959.
--"Seven WNY Soldiers Helped Capture Lincoln's Assassin," BUFFALO EVENING NEWS, April 28, 1965.