Garrett Farm (site): 1865

USA / Virginia / Port Royal /
 interesting place, historical layer / disappeared object
April 26, 1865 troopers from the 16th New York Cavalry track down and corner John Wilkes Booth and accomplice David Herold in a tobacco barn at Richard Garrett's farm at this site. Booth was the prime suspect in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln at Fords Theatre in Washington DC twelve days earlier. Herold surrenders, but Booth, nursing a leg broken in his escape from Ford's Theatre refuses to come out. At length, after a parley between Booth and the surrounding Federals, the barn is torched. Booth is observed through slats in the wall making preparations for a breakout and is shot in the neck by Sgt. Boston Corbett. He dies three hours later on the steps of the Garrett farmhouse.

Note: Nothing remains of the farmhouse or barn. A Virginia Historic Marker notes the location roughly 3 miles south of Port Royal on US 301. The actual site is in the median between the north & southbound lanes of the highway. Use caution if visiting this site.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   38°7'55"N   77°14'14"W

Comments

  • Although I am unrelated to the Richard Garrett of the site of Booth's killing, the story of this innocent farmer and his role in history has always interested me. I was able to scratch off another item on my bucket list last summer when my wife and I travelled from California and made this a stop on our east coast vacation. There are many signs from the military base posted everywhere that trespassing is not allowed. We were northbound on the highway, found the marker on the right side of the road, and stopped for a cheesy tourist picture. I'm not sure if there's a sign in the southbound lane.
  • I once heard that Booth stepped out on the roof of the building through a window to get out of the smoke. As he approached the edge of the roof, the soldier drew, and shot him in the neck. Lying on the ground, he watched his hand drop away from his view as his world faded away into pins and needles.
This article was last modified 13 years ago