The Lost Photograph of John Wilkes Booth’s Autopsy
The Assassination and Autopsy
On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Twelve days later, Booth was shot and killed in a Virginia barn. His body was taken back to Washington and then aboard the USS Montauk for an autopsy.
Secretary of War Edwin Stanton ordered that a single photograph be taken of Booth’s corpse. Many experts agree that famed Civil War photographer Alexander Gardner and his assistant Timothy O’Sullivan took the picture on April 27, 1865.
The Missing Photograph
The single autopsy photo of Booth has not been seen since that day, and its whereabouts are unknown. Stanton’s motivation for suppressing the photograph was to prevent Booth from becoming a martyr or being lionized.
The Controversy
The absence of the image fueled conspiracy theories that Lincoln’s assassin was still alive. The New York Tribune reported on April 28 that a photograph of Booth’s body had been taken aboard the Montauk, sparking a public controversy.
The Wardell Account
A crucial account of what happened while Gardner and O’Sullivan were on the ship comes from James A. Wardell, a former government detective who had been assigned to accompany the two men. Wardell’s account, given in 1896, states that he was ordered to ensure that only one plate and one print were made, and that both were to be delivered to Colonel L.C. Baker of the Secret Service or Secretary of War Stanton.
Wardell said he doubted the historian would be able to track down the picture: “The War Department was very determined to make sure that Booth was not made a hero and some rebel would give a good price for one of those pictures of the plate.”
The Search Continues
Despite extensive searches, the photograph has never been found. However, historians and researchers continue to believe that it may still exist, possibly in the National Archives War Department records.
The Importance of the Photograph
The discovery of the Booth autopsy photograph would be of great historical significance. It would provide a unique visual record of the aftermath of one of the most infamous assassinations in American history. It could also shed light on the events surrounding Booth’s death and the efforts to suppress his image.
Conclusion
The lost photograph of John Wilkes Booth’s autopsy remains a tantalizing mystery. Its discovery would be a major contribution to our understanding of this pivotal event in American history.