Booth's Trail, Reversed

I started from Port Royal, Virginia. The Garrett Farm, where John Wilkes Booth was caught and shot, is located a few miles south of here. Nothing is left of the farm - just a marker in the Rt. 301 median.

In Port Royal I stood in the front yard of the Peyton House, where Booth and Herold stopped briefly on the afternoon of April 24, 1865. There were no men at home that afternoon and the fugitives made the ladies of the house nervous so they were booted out.

I crossed the Rappahannock, heading north, following the trail in reverse back over the Potomac.

The Pine Thicket where Booth and Herold hid for five days is a short distance to the east of Rt. 301. There isn't much there, except a "Civil War Trails" historical marker. The Bel Alton, Maryland Post Office is across the street, a rustic little building.

I got back onto Rt. 301 and headed north to the Dr. Samuel Mudd farm. Mudd was a southern sympathizer who was acquainted with Booth, although he pretended he wasn't. He set Booth's broken leg early on the morning of April 15, 1865.

The house was closed to visitors, a wide iron gate across the driveway. I peered at the house through the bars, then read the historical markers. The farm is in good shape and sits in a picturesque location. The landscape looks much the same as it would have in 1865.

I skipped the Surratt Tavern. There was too much traffic by this time and I was ready to head home.

I'll back in the area next March so I can fill in the blanks then.

A detailed description of all the stops can be found here, and James Swanson's book Manhunt is well worth the time.