A Night of Horrors: A Historical Thriller about the 24 Hours of Lincoln's Assassination by John C. Berry Read Free Book Online Page A

soldier named Lewis Powell. As they gathered in the darkening night, Lincoln stepped up to a window. The crowds cheered for him and called for him to give a speech. He asked for more light and soon the room he was in was illuminated nicely, and someone stood next to the President holding a candle so he could read his prepared remarks.
    As Lincoln began to speak, Booth clenched his jaw. The President had a high-pitched tone to his voice and a distinct Kentucky accent. The man’s voice always annoyed Booth. To his surprise, Lincoln did not spend too much time congratulating Ulysses Grant and the North on the recent victories. Rather he began a meandering statement about the importance of reconstructing the union of north and south. He felt that was the next great work that must be done. Booth looked around the crowd and noticed they were looking at one another in disappointment that they were being treated to a policy speech on a night when celebration was due. But the crowd stayed and looked up at the President. Booth scoffed at the moony looks of adulation on their upturned faces. He looked at Herold and Powell and shook his head and made a deprecating remark about Lincoln under his breath. They were standing apart from anyone else in the crowd so Booth felt confident in making his remark. Then, he looked back up as he caught some of Lincoln’s comments. He was talking about how the southern states might be readmitted to the union and then suddenly turned to the subject of Negro voting rights.
    “I believe that those brave Negro men who have fought for our cause or who are very intelligent ought to be able to vote,” Lincoln said very clearly in his nasal tone. Wilkes Booth’s eyes suddenly flashed in the night light in fury. He spun his head over to his friends and then back up to Lincoln who continued talking.
    “Did you hear that?” Booth demanded of both of his friends. “Did you hear that? He’s talking about nigger suffrage!” He spoke low but his voice was pitched into fury and he spit the words from his mouth.
    “Do you have your gun?” He asked Lewis Powell.
    “Yes, sir, I do.” Powell responded obediently. He pulled his overcoat away from his side so that Booth could see the Navy revolver in his belt at his side.
    “Then shoot him! Shoot him right here on the spot!” Wilkes’ voice was getting louder and he was gesticulating and pointing up to the window where the President stood. Powell and Herold exchanged glances and told Booth to calm himself. Some of the people in the crowd turned and looked back at the three men standing apart from the group and making noise. The President was fully illuminated by the candles and gas jets lighting the room behind him. He was a perfect target for shooting, if someone was so inclined. Powell hesitated and looked from Booth to Herold.
    “Did you hear me, man? Shoot him, damn it!” Booth urged again.
    “I will not, sir. I will not shoot him.” Powell declared. As Powell responded, he filled his chest with air and stood up to his full six feet in height. Booth looked up at this Confederate soldier and was again impressed with the size and power of the man. He realized that he wasn’t going to sway him to act.
    “I’ll be damned. What a wasted opportunity,” Booth said back at them. “Nevertheless, that’ll be the last damned speech he’ll ever make,” he stated and strode away from the crowd. The two other men followed after him. The President continued to discuss his thoughts on policies for readmitting Southern states to the union and dropping the sheets of paper to the floor as he finished reading from them. The crowds remained below the window and gazed up at the President standing just 15 feet above them.
     
    Booth arrived at his barbers on E street and walked in the door.
    “Welcome, Mr. Booth. The usual?” The barber asked as he took the actor’s jacket and hung it on a hook. Then he unfolded a white sheet and draped it around his neck to