Killing Lincoln takes the reader through a spectacular and behind-the-scenes look at the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The book starts with the introduction of John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s eventual killer, as a showy and conceited white secessionist. It then flashes to the city of Petersburg, where a Union victory is under way. Confederate general Robert E. Lee, or “Marse Robert”, has been forced to retreat into the Virginia country-side by Union general Ulysses S. Grant. Grant lets Lee feel safe as Lee marches his men south to North Carolina. However, Grant has a plan. He will cut Lee off halfway down the trek to prevent him from reaching the safe-haven Carolina. Many of Lee’s men die on the march, and eventually the army is cut off just before Lee can resupply his troops. This battle that takes place is known as the Battle of Sayler’s Creek, which would go down as one of the bloodiest in the war. Soon after the battle, Lee was forced to surrender to generous terms and the war was ended.
The book then moves on to address the assassination itself. Abraham Lincoln is seen as an easy target, as he has virtually no protection as he strolls through the streets. He even took a walk, completely unprotected, to the recently destroyed, secessionist town of Richmond. Nearly everyone here, other than slaves, despises the man, yet he lives to see another day. John Wilkes Booth has created an elaborate plot to kill Lincoln and many associates of him, including Secretary of State William H. Steward and Vice President Andrew Johnson. As far as Booth is concerned, “Powell’s job should be as easy as sneaking into Secretary of State Seward’s house, shooting the sleeping man in bed, and galloping off with Booth for a life of sunshine and easy living in Mexico” (O’Reilly 75). However, this life would not pan out. Powell would not succeed in murder, but rather brutal mutilation of Seward. Powell came into Seward’s home, cracked the skull of Seward’s son, stabbed his daughter multiple times, and repeatedly stabbed Seward in the face and the body. Miraculously, Seward would survive. His accomplice, David Herold, who was designated to guide Powell through the unfamiliar streets of Washington, would eventually leave him. George Azerodt, who was designated to kill the vice president, copped out.
After Lincoln’s bodyguard left his post the night of the murder, John Wilkes Booth was easily able to kill Abraham Lincoln. John Wilkes Booth then fled with an accomplice, David Herold, to the Maryland countryside where he stayed with Dr. Samuel Mudd. Mudd was later imprisoned for aiding and abetting a crime. Booth and Herald then hid in swamps until they could safely cross the Potomac where supposed safety awaited in the mountains of Kentucky. When he finally did cross the Potomac, he was quickly found by Lafayette Baker, the chief inspector on the case. As he and Herold hid in a barn, completely surrounded by Baker and his cavalry, Booth would not quit. Although Herold surrendered, Booth stayed until the last and was shot in the neck. Eventually, the accomplices were ratted out and many were hanged. Those hanged included Lewis Powell, James Azerodt, and Mary Surratt, the first woman to be hanged in American history.
This book deserves a four and a half stars out of five rating. Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard take the reader on an exceptional journey about the unknown conspiracies dealing with John Wilkes Booth and his accomplices. The book’s start sets the scene well, and the reader can really get a feel for Lincoln’s personality, which is very important. As the reader is progressed through the book, the reader can feel attached and connected to the characters of the book and completely involved, rendering a great feel in the book. The only negative aspect is the sometimes dragging on of the book, but these situations are few and far between. Overall, Killing Lincoln is an entertaining read for all.
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Mary Surratt becomes the first and only woman ever hanged by the United States government.Highlighted by 1,029 Kindle readers- “Whichever way the war ends, I have the impression that I shall not last long after it is over.”Highlighted by 750 Kindle readers
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Great History Lesson
I enjoyed this book a lot. The first half is very war story heavy which is a bit boring for me. The second half is more interesting. I learned a lot about the civil war and the assassination. Excellent read. On to the next!
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- Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2013
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- Gary AndersonReviewed in Spain on August 27, 2015
Wonderful new perspective on an old story
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