Lincoln, the unknown

230 • LINCOLN THE UNKNOWNorders. Corbett afterward declared that he had had ordersorders direct from God Almighty.Through the wide cracks of the burning barn, "Boston" sawBooth throw away his crutch, drop his carbine, raise his revolver,and spring for the door."Boston" was positive that he would shoot his way out andmake a last, desperate dash for liberty, firing as he ran.So, to prevent any futile bloodshed, Corbett stepped forward,rested his pistol across his arm, took aim through a crack,prayed for Booth's soul, and pulled the trigger.At the crack of the pistol Booth shouted, leaped a foot in theair, plunged forward, and fell face down on the hay, mortallywounded.The roaring flames were moving rapidly now across the dryhay. Lieutenant Baker, eager to get the dying wretch out of theplace before he was roasted, rushed into the flaming buildingand leaped upon him, wrenching his revolver from his clenchedfist and pinioning his arms to his side for fear that he mightmerely be feigning death.Quickly Booth was carried to the porch of the farmhouse,and a soldier mounted a horse and spurred down the dustyroad three miles to Port Royal for a physician.Mrs. Garrett had a sister, Miss Halloway, who was boardingwith her and teaching school. When Miss Halloway realizedthat the dying man there under the honeysuckle vine on theporch was the romantic actor and great lover, John WilkesBooth, she said he must be cared for tenderly, and she hada mattress hauled out for him to lie upon; and then she broughtout her own pillow, put it under his head, and, taking his headupon her lap, offered him wine. But his throat seemed paralyzed,and he couldn't swallow. Then she dipped her handkerchiefin water and moistened his lips and tongue time aftertime, and massaged his temples and forehead.The dying man struggled on for two and a half hours, sufferingintensely; begging to be turned on his face, his side, hisback; coughing and urging Colonel Conger to press his handsdown hard upon his throat; and crying out in his agony: "Killme! Kill me!"Pleading to have a last message sent to his mother, he whisperedhaltingly:"Tell her ... I did .. . what I thought . . . was best . . . andthat I died ... for my country."