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JNCOLN ROOM 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY 
 
 MEMORIAL 
 
 the Class of 1901 
 
 founded by 
 
 HARLAN HOYT HORNER 
 
 and 
 
 HENRIETTA CALHOUN HORNER 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
Dr. Samuel a. Mudd 
 
 As He Appeared when Working in the Carpenter's Shop in the 
 Prison at Fort Jefferson 
 
 FRONTISPIECE 
 
THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 Dr. Samuel A. Mudd 
 
 Containing his Letters from Fort Jefferson, 
 Dry Tortugas Island, where he was Im- 
 prisoned Four Years for Alleged Complicity 
 in the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln 
 
 with 
 
 Statements of Mrs. Samuel A. Mudd, 
 Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, and Edward 
 Spangler Regarding the Assassination 
 
 and 
 
 The Argument of General Ewing 
 
 on the Question of the Jurisdiction of the Military Commission, 
 
 and on the Law and Facts of the Case 
 
 also "Diary" of John Wilkes Booth 
 
 EDITED BY HIS DAUGHTER 
 
 NETTIE MUDD 
 
 WITH PREFACE BY 
 
 D. ELDRIDGE MONROE 
 
 OF THE BALTIMORE BAR 
 
 New York and Washington 
 
 THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 1906 
 
 Cmttmetttal ^Wk Cmttpaitg 
 
 MARIETTA, GEORGIA 
 1955 
 
Copyright, 1906, by 
 THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
773.7/. L3 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Preface, 1 1 
 
 Introduction, • • • • l 9 
 
 I. My Father's Birthplace and Childhood — 
 
 School-days, College and Home Life, 23 
 
 II. My Mother's Statement, 29 
 
 III. Continuation of my Mother's Statement; also 
 Sworn Statement of my Father, Dr. Sam- 
 uel A. Mudd, 40 
 
 IV. Argument of General Thomas Ewing to the 
 
 Jurisdiction of the Military Commission, . . 49 
 V. Argument of General Ewing on the Law and 
 
 the Evidence in the Case of Dr. Mudd, 60 
 
 VI. Prison Life at Fort Jefferson in 1865, as Told 
 
 by Dr. Mudd and Others, no 
 
 VII. Prison Life in 1865, Continued— Attempted 
 
 Escape, as Told by my Father, 123 
 
 VIII. Negro Troops at Fort Jefferson, Relieved in 
 
 Part by White Soldiery, 139 
 
 IX. Prison Life in 1866— New Year's Day at Fort 
 
 Jefferson, J 54 
 
 X. Prison Life in 1866, Continued — Description 
 
 of Fort Jefferson, 17 1 
 
 XI. Prison Life in 1866, Continued — General 
 Sheridan Intervenes for Better Treatment 
 
 of Prisoners, 190 
 
 XII. Prison Life in 1866, Continued — Plans for my 
 Father's Release by Habeas Corpus Pro- 
 ceedings, 212 
 
 
8 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 XIII. Prison Life in 1867 — Capture of John H. Sur- 
 
 ratt in Egypt, and his Arrival in Washing- 
 ton, 219 
 
 XIV. Prison Life in 1867, Continued — Booth's Diary 
 
 Would Have Tended to Establish my 
 Father's Innocence Had it Been Offered in 
 Evidence — "Somebody Had to Suffer,". . . . 237 
 XV. Prison Life in 1867, Continued — Ravages of 
 Yellow Fever — My Father Assumes Charge 
 
 of the Hospital at Fort Jefferson, 257 
 
 XVI. Prison Life in 1867, Continued — Garrison Re- 
 duced by Deaths from Fever — My Father 
 Free to Escape, but Chooses to Remain and 
 Give "All the Hope and Encouragement 
 Possible to the Death-stricken Victims" — Is 
 
 Finally Himself Stricken Down, 274 
 
 XVII. Prison Life in 1867, Continued — The Scourge 
 of Yellow Fever Being Ended, my Father is 
 
 Again Put in Chains, 296 
 
 XVIII. Prison Life in 1868— The Withholding of 
 
 Booth's Diary — Surratt's Release, 303 
 
 XIX. The Pardon — Home Coming — Spangler's 
 
 Statement — The Closing Scene, 318 
 
 NEW CHAPTERS 
 
 XX. Descendants of Dr. Samuel Alexander 
 Mudd — Prepared by Richard Dyer 
 Mudd, M. D., 1001 Hoyt St., Saginaw, 
 Michigan 327 
 
 XXL Letters Not in Original Edition — Dr. 
 
 Mudd's Pardon 341 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Facing 
 
 PAGB. 
 
 Dr. Samuel A. Mudd as he Appeared When 
 Working in the Carpenter's Shop in the Prison at 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Frontispiece 
 
 Abraham Lincoln, 24 
 
 Mrs. Samuel A. Mudd, 40 
 
 General Thomas Ewing, 60 
 
 Andrew Johnson, 154 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas Island, 171 
 
 John Wilkes Booth, 240 
 
 NEW ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Thomas B. Mudd, Stella K. Mudd, and Dr. 
 Richard D. Mudd examining the Booth 
 Sofa, 1953 327 
 
 Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Home Where Dr. Mudd 
 
 set Booth's Broken Leg 340 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The assassination of Abraham Lincoln startled and 
 shocked the civilized world as few events have done in 
 the whole course of human history. It occurred at a time 
 when, by reason of the termination of the Civil War with 
 the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, there was promise 
 and hope of a more kindly feeling between the people of 
 the two great sections of the country who, during a 
 period of four years, had been arrayed against each other 
 in deadly strife. The victors had granted magnanimous 
 terms to the vanquished. The conciliatory and generous 
 spirit shown by the Commanding General of the victo- 
 rious armies in the hour of his crowning success, and to 
 which he afterward gave expression in the famous de- 
 claration, "Let us have peace," awakened hopeful re- 
 sponse in the hearts of the conquered people. 
 
 It was at this point of time, when better and brighter 
 days seemed to be dawning for the whole country, that 
 the tragedy of Lincoln's death aroused throughout the 
 land, North and South, an excitement unparalleled in the 
 nation's history. The victim of the assassin had become 
 almost deified in the minds of the Northern people. The 
 people of the South had learned to respect and honor him 
 for his lofty virtues as a man, while conscientiously con- 
 demning the administrative policies for which he stood. 
 When the estimation in which he was held by the people 
 is considered, it is not a matter to cause surprise, al- 
 though to be deplored, that the news of the assassination 
 excited for the time a feeling of bitterness more intense 
 than had existed at any period during the bloody years of 
 the Civil War. This feeling, deplorable but not alto- 
 gether unnatural under the circumstances, was so ex- 
 treme that, at first, a large number of the Northern people 
 
12 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 were disposed to place the responsibility of Lincoln's 
 murder on the whole of the Southern people and to have 
 inflicted upon them all vindictive punishment. This 
 monstrous idea ultimately gave place to the one not less 
 vicious, yet perhaps less far-reaching, that victims, guilty 
 or innocent, must be sacrificed to avenge the crime of the 
 assassination of the President. To the honor of the vic- 
 torious Union army it should be stated that few of 
 the soldiery shared in this desire for indiscriminate 
 revenge. Among those high in authority in the adminis- 
 trative affairs of the nation, however, in a spirit dia- 
 metrically at variance with that spirit of magnanimity and 
 kindness that had uniformly characterized the course of 
 President Lincoln, the determination was deep seated 
 that victims must be offered up for sacrifice. 
 
 One of these victims was Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, whose 
 sufferings to satisfy the demands thus born of prejudice 
 and passion, are set forth in this volume, edited by his 
 daughter, then unborn. In this work she has not sought 
 to produce effect by ingenuity of argument, or to deduce 
 conclusions from premises admitted or assumed. She 
 has simply presented to the reader the facts as contained 
 in the argument of General Ewing, made in defense of her 
 father before the Military Commission before which he 
 was tried ; the statement of her mother ; the statement of 
 Spangler, one of the alleged "conspirators," who was 
 imprisoned in Fort Jefferson for nearly five years; and 
 the statement of Dr. Mudd, written while he was in 
 prison but which he was not allowed by the authorities 
 to give to the public, and which is now for the first time 
 published; together with the letters of her father, writ- 
 ten during the long period of his incarceration, and also 
 the letters of various other persons relating directly or 
 indirectly to the alleged "conspiracy." Upon these facts, 
 without comment, she rests the question of the guilt or 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 13 
 
 innocence of her father, and submits the matter to the 
 consideration of an impartial public. 
 
 The letters of Dr. Mudd, written not for general 
 perusal, but for the eyes alone of those very "near and 
 dear" to him, reveal the character of the man more accu- 
 rately perhaps than it could be revealed in any other 
 manner. That he suffered intensely is apparent; that 
 this suffering, which was caused chiefly by his anxiety 
 concerning the welfare of his wife and little children, 
 should have embittered him as the period of his imprison- 
 ment, which he regarded as absolutely unjust, was length- 
 ened out from year to year, is neither surprising nor cen- 
 surable. This bitterness appears only in his later letters. 
 He was a man of culture, of quiet tastes, unostentatious, 
 retiring. He preferred the peaceful surroundings of his 
 home, the association and love of the members of his 
 family, and the friendly intercourse of his neighbors, to 
 any participation in the stirring and momentous events 
 that were transpiring in his war-ridden country. 
 
 From such peaceful scenes and surroundings of his 
 home he was, on the 24th of April, 1865, rudely torn, a 
 prisoner charged with complicity in one of the most 
 wicked and monstrous crimes that ever cast a stain upon 
 the pages of the world's history. At first he seems to 
 have scarcely regarded his arrest seriously, but as a mis- 
 take, incidental to the disturbed condition of the time, 
 that would be speedily corrected. He believed that he 
 would soon be restored to his family, and was particu- 
 larly solicitous, not about his own fate, but that, during 
 his brief absence from home, the work on the farm 
 should be properly attended to. In the first letter he 
 wrote to his wife, after his arrest, dated from the Carroll 
 Prison, he does not speak of any personal discomfort or 
 apprehension, but advises her to "try and get some one 
 to plant our crop," "hire hands at the prices they de- 
 mand," "urge them on all you can and make them work," 
 
14 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 and expresses the hope that his absence may be of short 
 duration. This letter is clearly that of an innocent man, 
 conscious of his innocence, and believing in his early and 
 complete vindication. 
 
 His hopes, however, were not to be realized. "The 
 frenzy of madness that ruled the hour," referred to by 
 the eminent advocate for the defense, and himself a dis- 
 tinguished Union soldier, decreed otherwise. He was 
 declared guilty by the military tribunal, and was ulti- 
 mately sentenced to be confined for life in Fort Jeffer 
 son, on the Dry Tortugas Island, than which no more 
 desolate place of imprisonment could have been found 
 within the limits of the then United States, or where his 
 banishment from his family would have been more com- 
 plete. It seems clearly to have been the purpose of the 
 Federal authorities to place him beyond the reach of the 
 processes of the civil courts. 
 
 Now is shown forth the nobility of his character. He 
 bears his misfortunes, as is testified by the distinguished 
 attorney who defended him, with "Christian fortitude." 
 He is conscious of his innocence," knows his punishment 
 to be unjust, yet believes that justice will ultimately 
 triumph. Hope was still active and alluring. His 
 anxiety was something apparently apart from himself 
 and his personal interests and welfare, but existed solely 
 on account of his wife and children. In his letter, writ- 
 ten on shipboard when he was being carried to the place 
 where he was to endure the severest privations as a 
 prisoner, probably for life, he tells his wife "not to give 
 up hope — take care of the little ones." All through his 
 letters there breathes the spirit of true Christian heroism. 
 His faith in the goodness and wisdom of a Supreme 
 Power seems never to have been shaken. True, as time 
 passed on and the rigors of his imprisonment were in- 
 tensified rather than relaxed, and he realized more 
 acutely the hardships of his unjust punishment, he 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MTJDD 15 
 
 showed occasionally a tendency toward misanthropy. 
 He came to doubt both the gratitude and justice of man, 
 but never appears to have doubted the goodness of God. 
 
 In a letter written on Christmas Day, 1865, to his wife, 
 he says: "What have I done to bring so much trouble 
 upon myself and family? The answer from my inmost 
 heart — nothing. I am consoled to know that the greatest 
 saints were the most persecuted and the greatest suffer- 
 ers, although far be it from classing myself with those 
 chosen friends of God. * * * I have endeavored to 
 the best of my ability to lead as spotless and sinless a life 
 as in my power." Again, on January 1, 1866, he writes 
 to his wife: "I can stand anything but the thought of 
 your dependent position; the ills and privations conse- 
 quent pierce my heart as a dagger." 
 
 As time passed on and he was again and again disap- 
 pointed in his hopes of an early release, his desire to 
 again be with his family becomes more intense, until it 
 seems to dominate his every thought. In one of his 
 letters to his wife he says: "I have but one desire, 
 namely: to be with you, and to see our dear little chil- 
 dren properly trained and educated." One will there- 
 fore hesitate to blame him, when the harshness and in- 
 justice of his imprisonment are considered, for making 
 an effort to escape. This he did in the latter part of the 
 year 1865, although he had positively declared in the 
 earlier months of his incarceration, his purpose not to try 
 to escape, as any effort on his part to do so might seem 
 to indicate a consciousness of guilt. The effort, how- 
 ever, when made was abortive, and resulted in his being 
 subjected to greater hardship of treatment in his im- 
 prisonment than he had hitherto endured. He stated, 
 after his release from prison, that he had intended to 
 escape and reach some point where the writ of habeas 
 corpus was in force and available and then surrender 
 himself to the authorities, in order that the writ might 
 
16 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 be invoked in his behalf and the legality of his trial and 
 sentence by the military court tested. 
 
 After his unsuccessful effort to escape he seems to 
 have been subjected to cruelties almost beyond the power 
 of human endurance. Yet we find him, during the visi- 
 tation of the dreaded yellow fever to the island, ready 
 and willing to sacrifice his life for the relief of his perse- 
 cutors. Rarely has there been shown in the life of any 
 man greater heroism and self-abnegation than that 
 shown by Dr. Mudd in his course while the fever pre- 
 vailed among the soldiers who held him in captivity. To 
 minister to them as he did was an exhibition of mag- 
 nanimity and self-sacrifice worthy of the highest praise 
 that can be ascribed to human conduct. Yet he was to 
 show that he had reached a loftier plane of human ex- 
 cellence than that evidenced by his mere ministrations to 
 the stricken yellow fever sufferers. He had through 
 months of wearying, harassing imprisonment, longed to 
 get beyond his prison walls. The time came when 
 nearly every man of the garrison was helpless from 
 fever, when he could have left the island, with no man 
 to hinder him. Yet hear what he says : "By the hand of 
 Providence my fetters have been broken, yet I run not, 
 preferring to share the fate of those around me and to 
 lend what aid in my power to breaking down the burning 
 fever, overcoming the agonizing delirium, and giving all 
 the hope and encouragement possible to the death- 
 stricken victims of the pestilence." In this quotation 
 from a letter to his brother-in-law, dated October I, 1867, 
 and intended not for public perusal, Dr. Mudd's charac- 
 ter stands forth as a living exemplification of the loftiest 
 Christian charity. When we find that only a little time 
 had elapsed after he had written this letter, as he states 
 in a letter dated December 7, 1867, he was still in chains, 
 under rigorous guard and required to do menial labor, 
 can any one censure him for indulging in some harshness 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 17 
 
 of expression concerning those responsible for his mis- 
 fortunes ? 
 
 Nor can one deny to his wife the highest measure of 
 praise for her noble, womanly conduct during all the 
 trying ordeals through which she was required to pass. 
 Her trials will never be known save to herself and the 
 God in whom she unfalteringly trusted. We are given 
 some idea of the depth of her suffering, of the laceration 
 of her woman's heart, in her letter of January 28, 1866, 
 to President Johnson. In "Rachel mourning for her 
 children and would not be comforted," no lower note of 
 human anguish is sounded than that touched in the heart 
 of this wife and mother, as shown in this appeal for jus- 
 tice to her husband and the father of her little children. 
 Few can read this letter without emotion ; none can read 
 it without a measure of profound sympathy, and a yet 
 larger measure of admiration, for the faithful woman 
 who wrote it. 
 
 Through all the period of her husband's incarceration, 
 with resources exhausted in his defense, dependent for 
 the maintenance of herself and her children on the 
 product of a farm for the tilling of which it was almost 
 impossible to procure labor, with anxieties almost in- 
 numerable pressing upon her, she bravely struggled on, 
 persistently striving to secure her husband's release, and 
 writing cheering words to him, bidding him hope. To 
 women such as she, for their example alone, the world 
 owes a debt of gratitude not easily cancelled. 
 
 In conclusion — just forty-one years have elapsed since 
 the death of President Lincoln ; the sectional bitterness 
 engendered by the civil war has passed away ; we have 
 in truth a reunited country; North and South alike 
 honor the name of Lincoln. Has not the time arrived to 
 fully vindicate the name of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, who 
 was so cruelly and unjustly called upon to suffer — and 
 
18 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 to remove from that name even the faintest shadow of 
 doubt that may exist regarding his complicity in the 
 great crime committed in Ford's Theater/ in Washing- 
 ton, forty-one years ago ? 
 
 D. EivDridge; Monroe. 
 Baltimore;, April 14, 1906. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, 
 while attending a play in Ford's Theater in Washington, 
 on the evening of the fourteenth of April, 1865, was fa- 
 tally shot by John Wilkes Booth. In jumping from the 
 box in the theater, occupied by the President, and in 
 which the infamous act was committed, to the stage, 
 Booth fractured a bone in his leg. He nevertheless es- 
 caped through a rear entrance to the theater, and mount- 
 ing a horse, which he had provided should be kept in 
 readiness, escaped by way of the bridge across the East- 
 ern Branch of the Potomac River, into southern Mary- 
 land. With his features disguised, and in company with 
 David E. Herold, he reached the residence of Doctor 
 Samuel A. Mudd, in Charles County, thirty miles south 
 of Washington, about 4 o'clock on the morning after the 
 assassination. Dr. Mudd set the broken bone in Booth's 
 leg. As will appear by the following chapters neither Dr. 
 Mudd nor any member of his family knew of Booth's 
 identity. Both he and Herold gave assumed names. 
 They left about 2 o'clock of the same day, and ultimately 
 succeeded in crossing the Potomac into Virginia. They 
 were discovered in a barn on the farm of a man named 
 Garrett, near Port Royal, Virginia, on the morning of 
 Wednesday, April 26, 1865. United States officers and 
 soldiers surrounded the building. Herold surrendered. 
 Booth refused to surrender. The barn was then set on 
 fire. Booth approached the door of the barn, as the flames 
 surrounded him, and was shot and killed by Sergeant 
 Corbett. 
 
 In addition to David E. Herold, George A. Atzerodt, 
 Mrs. Mary E. Surratt, Lewis Payne, Samuel Arnold, 
 Michael O'Loughlin, Edward Spangler, and Dr. Samuel 
 
20 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 A. Mudd were subsequently arrested charged with com- 
 plicity in the crime of assassinating- the President, "and 
 the attempted assassination of the Honorable William H. 
 Seward, Secretary of State, and in an alleged conspiracy 
 to assassinate other officers of the Federal Government at 
 Washington." By an order issued by President Johnson, 
 dated May i, 1865, the Adjutant-General was "directed 
 to detail nine competent military officers to serve as a 
 Commission for the trial of the accused." It was strenu- 
 ously contended, by many of the most eminent lawyers of 
 the country, that the civil courts alone had jurisdiction to 
 try the accused, and that their trial by the Military Com- 
 mission was illegal. 
 
 The following officers were detailed on the Commis- 
 sion : Maj.-Gen. David Hunter, U. S. V.; Maj.-Gen. 
 Lew Wallace, U. S. V.; Brevet Maj.-Gen. August V. 
 Kautz, U. S. V.; Brig.-Gen. Alvin P. Howe, U. S. V. ; 
 Brig.-Gen. Robert S. Foster, U. S. V. ; Brevet Brig.-Gen. 
 James A. Ekin, U. S. V. ; Brig.-Gen. T. M. Harris, U. S. 
 V. ; Brevet Col. C. H. Tompkins, U. S. V. ; Lient.-Col. 
 David R. Clendenin, Eighth Illinois Cavalry. Brig.-Gen. 
 Joseph Holt was Judge-Advocate and Recorder of the 
 Commission, assisted by Judge- Advocates Burnett and 
 Bingham. The Commission held its sittings in a room in 
 the old Arsenal Building, in Washington. The Commis- 
 sion met May 9, 1865, but adjourned to the 10th, to en- 
 able the accused to employ counsel. 
 
 The trial began on the latter date, and ended on the 
 30th day of June, 1865, when the Commission announced 
 its decision. Mrs. Mary E. Surratt, David E. Herold, 
 George A. Atzerodt, and Lewis Payne were declared to be 
 guilty, and sentenced to be executed July 7, 1865, between 
 the hours of 10 o'clock a. m. and 2 o'clock p. m. Dr. 
 Samuel A. Mudd, Samuel Arnold, and Michael O'Lough- 
 lin were declared to be guilty, and were sentenced to be 
 confined for life, at hard labor, in the penitentiary at Al- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 21 
 
 bany, New York. Edward Spangler was declared to be 
 guilty, in a lesser degree, and sentenced to be confined in 
 the penitentiary at Albany, at hard labor, for a term of six 
 years. The penitentiary sentences were subsequently 
 modified, by changing the place of imprisonment from 
 Albany to Fort Jefferson, on the Dry Tortugas Island, 
 Florida. President Johnson approved the findings of the 
 Commission on the 5th day of July, 1865. 
 
 On the 7th day of July, 1865, Mrs - Surratt, Herold, 
 Atzerodt and Payne were executed by hanging. Strenu- 
 ous efforts were made to save the life of Mrs. Surratt, 
 but without avail. A writ of habeas corpus was issued in 
 her behalf, by Judge Wylie of the Supreme Bench of the 
 District of Columbia, on the application of her legal ad- 
 visers, returnable at ten o'clock on the morning set for 
 her execution. The military authorities, however, re- 
 fused to surrender her. The story of the imprisonment of 
 Dr. Mudd, and incidentally that of Arnold, Spangler, and 
 O'Loughlin, is told in the following chapters. Much in- 
 formation in relation to the incidents connected with, and 
 growing out of, the assassination of President Lincoln, 
 and not heretofore published, is also given. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 MY FATHER'S BIRTHPLACE AND CHILDHOOD SCHOOL- 
 DAYS, COLLEGE AND HOME LIFE 
 
 Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd, known in his- 
 tory as one of the "Lincoln conspirators/' was 
 born on a large plantation in Charles County, 
 Maryland, nearly equidistant five miles be- 
 tween the villages of Waldorf and Bryantown, 
 fifteen miles from the county seat, La Plata, 
 and twenty-five miles from Washington. His 
 father, Henry Low Mudd, was a wealthy 
 planter and slave owner. His estate, for more 
 than a mile, extended along the "Old Mill 
 Swamp," gradually rising on the east side of a 
 stream known as the Sakiah. The surface of 
 the land increased in elevation from the 
 "Swamp" until, with a steep upward sweep, it 
 ascends to a high hill, sloping toward the north 
 and south, the summit crowned with locusts 
 and wide-spreading oaks; from these it de- 
 rived the name it bears, "Oak Hill." 
 
 On the top of the hill was built the old home- 
 stead. In architecture it was not different 
 from other houses in the vicinity. Wide, old- 
 fashioned halls and spacious rooms, substan- 
 tially furnished, formed a comfortable abode 
 and place of entertainment for the family and 
 
24 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 visiting guests. At the north wing of the 
 house was the schoolroom, where many les- 
 sons were learned, perhaps many childish tears 
 were shed, and many airy castles were built 
 never to be realized. Above this was the home 
 chapel. Bed chambers occupied the remainder 
 of the second floor. 
 
 Viewed from the nearest point in the valley, 
 it presented in appearance a large structure 
 without any architecturally definite shape. 
 Outside it looked well enough. It seemed to 
 the eye roomy and hospitable. A large lawn, 
 sloping to the public road, was dotted with 
 shrubbery, which contrasted prettily with the 
 white background formed by the painted 
 weatherboarding of the house. 
 
 Here on December 20, 1833, was born Dr. 
 Samuel A. Mudd, who in after years was des- 
 tined to involuntarily play so conspicuous a 
 part in one of the most important events in the 
 nation's history. Amid these rural scenes he 
 passed his infancy and childhood. Even from 
 his earliest years, he was always thoughtful of 
 others, always distinguished for his gentleness 
 and kindness. When attending the public 
 school, which he began to do when a little boy 
 of seven -years of age, such was his uniform 
 courtesy and consideration for others that the 
 companions of his early childhood remained 
 his friends for life. 
 
 After a year or two in the public school, his 
 father secured a governess for the instruction 
 of his children, and he then continued his 
 
Abraham Lincoln 
 
 FACING P«.GE 24 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 25 
 
 studies at home with his sisters. Here under 
 the tuition of Miss Peterson, the governess, he 
 made rapid progress in his studies. At the age 
 of about fourteen years he entered St. John's 
 College, in Frederick City, Maryland, where 
 he spent two years. He then entered George- 
 town College, in the District of Columbia, 
 where he completed his collegiate course. He 
 was particularly interested in the study of lan- 
 guages and became proficient in Greek, Latin, 
 and French ; and was also a musician of recog- 
 nized ability, performing with skill on the vio- 
 lin, piano, flute and other instruments. After 
 leaving Georgetown College he studied medi- 
 cine and surgery in the University of Mary- 
 land, Baltimore, where he graduated in March, 
 1856. During his last year at the University 
 he practiced in the hospital attached to that 
 institution, and in recognition of his services 
 received from the faculty a complimentary cer- 
 tificate of merit at the time he received his 
 diploma. 
 
 Again, his college life ended, we find him in 
 his old home, amid the friends and scenes of 
 his childhood. Here on his father's estate may 
 have been seen more than a hundred slaves, 
 who made the evenings merry with song, and 
 with banjo and violin accompaniment. Scat- 
 tered over various sections of the farm may 
 also have been seen the "quarters" of these 
 humble colored folk, who were always treated 
 with the kindest consideration by their mas- 
 ter and mistress, and who would say of these 
 
26 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 white friends, after they had passed from 
 earth, "God bless my old Marse and Miss; I 
 hope dey is in heaven." Here my father began 
 his public life as a practicing physician; 
 always keeping his old friends by his loyalty 
 and uprightness, and continuously adding to 
 the list some new ones. It is not too much to 
 say, nor should it be charged to filial partiality, 
 that to know him was in truth to love him. 
 He was the friend of the needy, the consoler 
 and comforter of those in distress and trouble. 
 He never paused to consider whether those 
 needing his ministrations could or could not 
 remunerate him. He gave freely of his best 
 to all alike. 
 
 About eighteen months after he established 
 himself in practice he married Miss Sarah 
 Frances Dyer, whom he always in after years, 
 as will appear by his letters, addressed as 
 "Frank," his schoolmate and childhood's love, 
 having been engaged to her four years. At 
 the time they became engaged she had just 
 graduated from the Visitation Convent, Fred- 
 erick City, Maryland. Cardinal Bodeni, the 
 lirst delegate sent to the church by the Pope of 
 Rome, conferred on her the graduating honors. 
 It may be of some interest to the young people 
 of this day to learn how so important a matter 
 as the matrimonial engagement was arranged 
 at that time. There is perhaps little variation 
 between the method of engagement at that 
 time and that of the present. My mother, after 
 my earnest solicitation to learn more of this 
 
THE IilFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 27 
 
 important event, at last consented to say, 
 "There was nothing romantic in our little love 
 affair. I was only seventeen and, Sam eighteen 
 years of age, so it was impossible to think of 
 getting married just then. When Sam asked 
 me, 'Frank, are you going to marry me?' I 
 answered, 'Yes, when you have graduated in 
 medicine, established a practice for yourself, 
 and I have had my fun out, then I'll marry you. 
 You need not get jealous; I vow I will never 
 marry any one else.' " This seems to have 
 settled matters, and on the 26th of November, 
 1857, they were married in her home, which 
 was only a few miles distant from where my 
 father then lived. During the two years fol- 
 lowing they resided at the home where they 
 were married, with her elder brother, Mr. Jere 
 Dyer, who was a bachelor, and whose name 
 appears frequently in the succeeding chapters. 
 After this they moved into their own home, 
 which my mother still occupies. From this to 
 the time of the Civil War life moved on 
 smoothly, she being busy with her household 
 duties and the care of her little ones, and he 
 being fully occupied in attending to his prac- 
 tice and to the farm. 
 
 While Maryland never seceded from the 
 Union, the war brought much distress and sor- 
 row to many homes and hearts within her bor- 
 ders. Her people, especially in the southern 
 part of the State, where the number of slaves 
 was large, were subjected to many of the in- 
 conveniences and hardships suffered by the 
 
28 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 people in the States of the Confederacy. The 
 negroes, very soon after the war commenced, 
 became imbued with the idea of freedom, and 
 as this idea gained stronger hold in their minds 
 their efficiency as servants diminished. When 
 President Lincoln issued the Emancipation 
 Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring the 
 freedom of the slaves in the States that had 
 seceded, the moral effect on the negroes in 
 Maryland was such that they were of little 
 value to their owners. Their demoralization 
 as laborers was almost complete. Subse- 
 quently, when slavery was abolished in the 
 State by constitutional provision, they almost 
 uniformly refused to work for their former 
 owners, even for highly remunerative wages. 
 Of course, in my father's home, there were ex- 
 perienced these conditions. He had to pay 
 twice the value of their services to the emanci- 
 pated colored people in order to make even a 
 partial crop, or to retain them as servants 
 about his dwelling. 
 
 This was the state of affairs on my father's 
 farm at the time Booth fired the fatal shot, in 
 Ford's Theater, by which the life of the Presi- 
 dent was destroyed. The fact that these con- 
 ditions did exist made it much harder for my 
 father to bear his imprisonment. He was de- 
 voted to his family. He knew that my mother 
 would find it to be almost impossible to obtain 
 labor to cultivate the farm. He was at all 
 times, during his long imprisonment, bur- 
 dened, indeed almost tortured, by the fear that 
 she and the children might come to want. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 MY MOTHER'S STATEMENT 
 
 The following very full statement was writ- 
 ten by my mother: 
 
 The first time I ever saw John Wilkes Booth was in 
 November, 1864. My husband went to Bryantown 
 Church, and was introduced to Booth by John 
 Thompson, an old friend from Baltimore, who asked 
 my husband if he knew of any one who had a good 
 riding-horse for sale; to which he replied, "My next 
 neighbor has one." After this they made arrange- 
 ments for Booth to come up to our home that evening 
 to see about buying this horse. There was company 
 in the house and supper was just over, when my hus- 
 band came in and asked me to prepare for a stranger. 
 My husband came in with the stranger and made the 
 necessary introductions. The conversation was on 
 general topics. Nothing relative to the Administra- 
 tion or the war was spoken of by any one present. 
 After supper, Booth joined the visitors and remained 
 in general conversation until bedtime, which was 
 about 9.30 o'clock. I did not see Booth again until at 
 the breakfast table the next morning. 
 
 After breakfast the horses were ordered, Booth 
 tied his at the gate, and my husband threw the bridle 
 rein of his horse over his arm and walked along with 
 Booth across the field to Squire George Gardiner's. 
 Booth soon returned, came in and got his overcoat 
 which he had thrown over the back of a chair in the 
 parlor, said good-by, and rode away. The horse he 
 purchased was sent to him at Bryantown that even- 
 
30 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 ing. After he had gone I went to the parlor to put 
 things in order. Lying on the floor by the chair that 
 had held his overcoat was a letter, not enclosed in an 
 envelope, that had fallen from his pocket. I picked it 
 up and almost involuntarily glanced at the headlines. 
 These lines convinced me that some poor man's home 
 had been wrecked by the handsome face and wily ways 
 of Booth. The letter was from New York ; but I did 
 not look at the name of the writer, and I do not know 
 to this day who she was. I laid it on the table, hoping 
 to be able to find some means of returning it to him. 
 As he never returned, I subsequently threw it in the 
 fire. 
 
 About 4 a. m. on the 15th of April, 1865, I heard a 
 rap on the door, and as my husband was not feeling 
 well he asked me if I would not go and see who it was. 
 I replied, "I would rather you would go and see for 
 yourself." He arose and went to the door in his night 
 clothes. I heard some one talking in the hall, and 
 footsteps as they passed into the parlor. My husband 
 returned and told me there was a man out there with 
 his leg broken. He asked me to tear some strips for 
 bandages. I did so. Afterward I heard my husband 
 and a third man assisting the injured man up-stairs. 
 The Doctor returned, and went to bed himself. At 6 
 o'clock I arose, called the servants to get breakfast, 
 and at 7 waked my husband. He sent a servant to 
 tell the man who called himself "Tyson" (and who 
 afterward proved to be Herold) to come to breakfast. 
 I then prepared breakfast for the sick man, put it on 
 a tray, and sent it to his room by a servant; told her 
 to place it on the table by his bed and come down. 
 Tyson and my husband then came to the table, and 
 while at breakfast Tyson asked the Doctor if he knew 
 many persons in the lower part of the county near the 
 river. To which he replied in the negative. Tyson 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SA1MUEL A. MUDD 31 
 
 spoke of a good many families that he knew. The 
 Doctor knew some of the parties spoken of, others he 
 did not know. This led me to ask Tyson, "Are you a 
 resident of the county?" He replied, "No, ma'am, but 
 I have been frolicking around for five or six months." 
 He looked so boyish that I remarked, "All play and 
 no work makes Jack a bad boy. Your father ought 
 to make you go to work." He answered me, "My 
 father is dead, and I am ahead of the old lady." 
 
 At this time he seemed not to have a care in the 
 world. Turning to my husband he asked the distance 
 to the river. The Doctor replied, "About eighteen or 
 twenty miles." Tyson then remarked, "We are on 
 our way to the river; which is the nearest road we 
 could take?" There was a road leading across the 
 Sakiah which my husband usually took in attending 
 to his practice, and as it was the shortest way, told him 
 of it. Afterward I saw the Doctor standing in the 
 back yard pointing across the swamp. Tyson then 
 came into the house and went up-stairs, I presume to 
 sleep. I heard no more from either of the strangers 
 till dinner. When the doctor returned to dinner 
 Tyson came down, and I sent the servant up to the 
 sick man's room with his dinner. The servant re- 
 turned and brought down the dinner and breakfast 
 dishes, and I found he had not eaten anything during 
 the day. 
 
 At dinner Tyson asked the Doctor if he thought he 
 could procure a carriage in the neighborhood to carry 
 his friend away. My husband replied, "I am going 
 to Bryantown to get the mail and see some sick, and if 
 you will ride along with me to the village, perhaps you 
 can get a carriage there." As they were leaving the 
 house I asked my husband if I could go up and see the 
 sick man. "Yes, certainly you can," he replied. As 
 he had taken nothing to eat during the day, I took up 
 
32 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MIDD 
 
 to his room some cake, a couple of oranges, and some 
 wine on a tray. I placed the tray on the table by the 
 bed, asked him how he was feeling and if I could do 
 anything for him. His reply was, "My back hurts me 
 dreadfully. I must have hurt it when the horse fell 
 and broke my leg." I asked him if he would take the 
 cake and wine; he refused. He then wished to know if 
 the Doctor had any brandy. I told him no, but that 
 he had some good whiskey, and offered to get him 
 some, but he declined. I remarked, "I guess you 
 think I have very little hospitality ; you have been sick 
 all day and I have not been up to see you ;" and again 
 asked if I could do anything for him, to which he did 
 not reply — his face being all the time turned to the 
 wall. I then left the room. 
 
 I went down to the kitchen, where the servants were 
 preparing for the "Easter Sunday dinner." After a 
 short while Tyson rapped from the outside on the 
 kitchen window. I went to the front door, opened it, 
 and asked if he succeeded in procuring a carriage. 
 He replied, "No, ma'am; we stopped over at the 
 Doctor's father's and asked for his carriage, but to- 
 morrow being Easter Sunday, his family had to go to 
 church, and he could not spare it. I then rode 
 some distance down the road with the Doctor, and 
 then concluded to return and try the horses." 
 
 He went up-stairs. I heard them moving around 
 the room and in a short time they came down, the 
 man calling himself Tyler (who afterward proved to 
 be Booth) hobbling on a stick which our old gardener, 
 Mr. John Best, an Englishman, had sent up to him at 
 the request of Tyson. When they came down I was 
 standing in the hall at the foot of the stairs. Tyler 
 wore heavy whiskers; these proved to be false, and 
 became partially detached as he came down the stairs. 
 So much of his face as could be seen presented a 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 33 
 
 picture of agony. I told Tyson if he must go to do 
 so, but to please leave his friend here, we would take 
 care of him, although the discovery of the false 
 whiskers aroused my suspicions. Tyson's reply was, 
 "If he suffers much we won't go far. I will take him 
 to my lady-love's, not far from here." They passed 
 out of the door. Tyson helped Tyler to get on his 
 horse, then mounted his own horse and they rode 
 away. I did not see either of them after this. 
 
 About an hour afterward my husband returned and 
 told me of the assassination of the President, and that 
 there were soldiers in Bryantown looking for the 
 assassin. A short while after this he remarked, 
 "Frank, those men were suspicious characters. I will 
 go to Bryantown and tell the officers." I agreed with 
 him as to the suspicious character of the men, and told 
 him about the false whiskers, but begged him not to 
 go — I was afraid to remain in the house without him ; 
 and as the next day was Sunday, asked him to send 
 word to the soldiers from church, which he did, Dr. 
 George D. Mudd, of Bryantown, being the messenger. 
 He heard no further from them, and on Monday went 
 to see his sick patients. Tuesday he did the same 
 thing, going out in the morning and returning about 
 twelve o'clock. In the afternoon Dr. George Mudd 
 came to the house with some soldiers and asked a 
 description of the two men. 
 
 My husband, in my presence, gave them all the in- 
 formation he could. They then left and returned on 
 Friday, when there was another conversation in the 
 hall. My husband told them there was a boot, which 
 he had cut from the man's leg, found in the room 
 after he left, and went up-stairs to get it. The ser- 
 vant while cleaning the room had thrown it under the 
 bed. My husband did not find the boot, and I sent 
 3 
 
34 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Martha, the housegirl, to get it for him. He brought 
 down the boot, and gave it to the officer in command, 
 who took it and examined it. On the inside was 
 
 written, "J. Wilkes ." One of them said, "A 
 
 part of the name has been effaced" ; so I asked if I 
 could see it. The officer held it in his hand while I 
 looked at it. Then I remarked, "No, that is only a 
 dash, there was no other name there.' , When they 
 left they required my husband to go with them to 
 Bryantown. I do not know what happened at 
 Bryantown, but that night my husband came home, 
 and was requested to return the next morning, which 
 he did. Again he returned in the evening. The next 
 day, being Sunday, he went to church. On Monday 
 an officer with three soldiers came to our house. 
 They had two colored men from the farm of the 
 Doctor's father, who were riding two horses also 
 taken from his father's place. 
 
 Then they called for two hired hands on our farm, 
 made them get horses from the stable ; one of them 
 saddled the Doctor's horse, and then they all left for 
 Washington. When the officer saw how grieved I 
 was (I am sorry I do not know his name, for he 
 showed some heart and feeling), he returned to the 
 house and said to me, "Do not grieve and fret that 
 way, I'll see that your husband soon returns to you" ; 
 but it was four long years before he saw his home. 
 About a week after his departure from home I re- 
 ceived the following brief note from him : 
 
 "Carroll Prison, April 29, 1865, 
 "My clearest Frank: 
 
 "I am very well. Hope you and the children are 
 enjoying a like blessing. Try and get some one to 
 plant our crop. It is very uncertain what time I shall 
 be released from here. Hire hands at the prices they 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 35 
 
 demand. Urge them on all you can and make them 
 work. 
 
 "I am truly in hopes my stay here will be short, 
 when I can return again to your fond embrace and 
 our little children." 
 
 A few days later a company of soldiers were 
 stationed on our farm. They burned the fences, de- 
 stroyed the wheat and tobacco crops; pulled the 
 boards off the corn-house, so that the corn fell out on 
 the ground, and all the corn that the horses could not 
 eat was trampled under their hoofs in such a way as 
 to render it unfit for use. The meat-house was 
 broken open and the meat taken out. All that they 
 could not eat was left scattered on the hillside where 
 they had pitched their camps. A day or so after 
 their arrival my husband's sister came over to see me. 
 She wanted some garden seeds, and asked me to go 
 down with her to the old gardener, Mr. John Best, to 
 get them for her. When we went out no soldiers were 
 in sight. We carried a basket, and the old man tied 
 up some seeds in packages, put them in the basket, 
 and then asked us to go to see his garden. A few 
 moments after we entered the garden we were sur- 
 rounded by soldiers. One officer came over and de- 
 manded to know what we had in the basket. The 
 little packages of seeds were unwrapped, the contents 
 examined. With a crest-fallen look he remarked, "I 
 thought you were carrying food to Booth." 
 
 A couple of days after this a negro regiment from 
 Popes Creek came up the Sakiah Swamp in search of 
 Booth. When they were opposite the house they 
 turned and entered the valley leading up the hill at 
 the back of the house. They passed around the house, 
 which was guarded by two young men, left by 
 William P. Wood, keeper of the old Capitol Prison in 
 
36 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Washington. These young men were instructed to 
 shoot any one who dared to enter the yard. The 
 negro regiment did not stop to search the house or its 
 surroundings. Mr. Wood and two other detectives 
 had their headquarters in the house, and went out 
 during the day in search of Booth, returning at night. 
 One night Mr. Wood did not return, and the officers 
 in command of the troops on the farm placed a guard 
 around the house and forbade any one leaving or 
 entering the house. I was alone with four little chil- 
 dren and a colored woman. 
 
 Some of the soldiers came around the house and 
 began talking impudently to the colored woman. I 
 called her in, locked the door, and drew down the 
 curtains, not knowing whether I would be dead or 
 alive the next morning. I lighted the lamp in the 
 dining-room, put the children to bed, and with the 
 colored woman sat there till two o'clock in the morn- 
 ing. At this time I heard a rap at the door, and a 
 familiar voice call me. It was a cousin of mine, 
 Sylvester Mudd, who had risked his life by coming 
 within the lines, knowing I was alone. I could not 
 have been more glad to see an angel from heaven 
 than I was to see him. The next day the information 
 came that Booth and Herold had been captured. The 
 bugle was sounded, the roll called, and the soldiers 
 left on their march to Washington. 
 
 For a little while there was a lull in the storm. My 
 husband, previous to his trial, was placed in the old 
 Carroll Prison in Washington with the others, none 
 of whom he had ever seen before except Herold; and 
 the only time he had ever seen him was when he came 
 to our house with Booth on the morning after the as- 
 sassination of the President. 
 
 I engaged General Ewing to defend my husband. 
 He was not only a lawyer of ability, but had distin- 
 
THE LIFF OF \m. HAMVKTi A. MUDD 37 
 
 guished himself for bravery in the Union army dur- 
 ing the war. In this case he proved himself not only 
 a lawyer of merit, but a true friend during my hus- 
 band's trial and imprisonment. Whenever he saw the 
 least shadow of hope, he would write me nice friendly 
 and cheering letters, which I sometimes think must 
 have kept me from despair. 
 
 During the trial, which commenced on May io, 
 1865, the Doctor's friends and myself were shocked 
 and surprised at the base and false testimony permit- 
 ted to be given against him. Daniel Thomas, one of 
 the leading witnesses for the prosecution, was an out- 
 cast from his home. His brother swore he would not 
 believe him on his oath. Years afterward he was 
 arrested and convicted on the charge of the commis- 
 sion of pension frauds, and died in the penitentiary. 
 His reason for giving the false evidence was to secure 
 a part of the large reward offered by the Government 
 for the capture and conviction of Booth and those 
 thought to be his accomplices. Norton, Evans, a 
 number of the negroes, and several others, also swore 
 notoriously false. 
 
 With all this false testimony his life was spared, but 
 he was sentenced to a life imprisonment on a lonely, 
 dreary island in mid-ocean. Several times during the 
 trial I had occasion to go to Washington. On more 
 than one of these occasions, while I was at General 
 Ewing's office, I met Mrs. Browning, wife of Secre- 
 tary of Interior Browning, a member of President 
 Johnson's Cabinet. One day she told me that her 
 husband and herself took breakfast at a restaurant in 
 Washington, where General Lew Wallace, a member 
 of the Military Commission that condemned my hus- 
 band, also breakfasted. In the course of the conversa- 
 tion she had with General Wallace at the breakfast 
 table he remarked, "If Booth had not broken his leg, 
 
38 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 we would never have heard the name of Dr. Mudd." 
 Mrs. Browning- said to him, "Why don't you then send 
 Dr. Mudd home to his wife and children?" General 
 Wallace then replied, "The deed is done; somebody 
 must suffer for it, and he may as well suffer as any- 
 body else." In order to be perfectly fair, my daughter 
 wrote to Mrs. Wallace as to the correctness of this 
 statement, and received the following note in reply : 
 
 "Crawfordsville, Inch, September 18, 1905. 
 "Dear Miss Mudd : 
 
 "Mrs. Wallace says she has no remembrance of 
 hearing- General Wallace say anything about Dr. 
 Mudd that was like the sentence you quote. 
 "Truly yours, 
 
 "H. Wallace, 
 "Secretary/' 
 
 A few days after my return from Washington, after 
 the date of this conversation with Mrs. Browning, I 
 saw an ambulance drive up to the house. Lieutenant 
 Baker and Daniel Thomas got out of it and came in. 
 Lieutenant Baker said, "Mrs. Mudd, we came to take 
 you to Washington. I presume you know Daniel 
 Thomas." I replied in the presence of both, "Knowing 
 Mr. Thomas as I do, and not knowing you, I must look 
 upon you as a gentleman ; and if I must go to Wash- 
 ington, it will be under your protection and not that 
 of Daniel Thomas." I then told Lieutenant Baker 
 that my brother, Jere Dyer, would visit my home, 
 from Baltimore, that evening, and that I would go to 
 Washington the next day with my brother if that 
 would be satisfactory. He replied, "I will trust you." 
 They then left. 
 
 That evening my brother came, and the next day° 
 we took the stage for Washington, there being no 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 39 
 
 railroad in this portion of the State at that time. 
 When the stage arrived at Capitol Hill, Washington, 
 I heard the clanking of swords, and an officer came up 
 to the stage and asked if Mrs. Mudd was there. My 
 brother answered, "Yes." The officer then called a 
 carriage, and my brother and myself were driven to 
 General Baker's office. In a few moments after our 
 arrival there, the General, who was a brother of the 
 lieutenant who came with Thomas to my home, 
 entered the room and spoke to both of us, then left, I 
 presume to consult with some one else. When he 
 returned he told me to go to a hotel and send the hotel 
 bill to him. I asked him if I could not go to the home 
 of my cousin, Mr. Alexander Clark. To which he 
 replied, "Yes, but return here to-morrow morning at 
 ten o'clock." 
 
 The next morning, at the hour mentioned, I went to 
 General Baker's office, and was not kept waiting many 
 minutes before he came in. I told him if there was 
 any information I could give him, please to let me get 
 through as soon as possible, as I had left four little 
 children at home, and no responsible person to take 
 care of them. Without asking me a question he re- 
 marked, "Mrs. Mudd, stay over till two o'clock, and 
 if I do not send for you, you can go home." No 
 messenger came, and my brother hired a carriage and 
 brought me home. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 CONTINUATION OF MY MOTHER'S STATEMENT; ALSO 
 SWORN STATEMENT OF MY FATHER, DR. SAMUEL A. 
 MUDD 
 
 I only saw my husband once after he was taken 
 from home, and that was after his trial. I went to 
 Washington, procured a pass from the War Depart- 
 ment, and went to the old Arsenal. This was the day 
 before the hanging of Mrs. Surratt, Herold, Atzerodt, 
 and Payne. The workmen were then building, in the 
 yard below, the scaffold on which they were to be 
 hung. General Dana sent a messenger up to the 
 second floor with me, and in a few moments my hus- 
 band was brought from a eel). He was in his shirt 
 sleeves and wore a pair of carpet slippers without 
 socks. He said one of the guards told him who was to 
 be hung, and what his sentence was. There were 
 several guards in the room where we were. I noticed 
 that his ankle was sore, and I asked if it was caused 
 by the chains he had to wear. He paused a few 
 moments, then answered, hesitatingly, as though 
 afraid to say otherwise, in presence of the guards, 
 "No." As I was leaving the Arsenal I met a poor 
 girl who was weeping bitterly, and was told it was 
 Anna Surratt, who had returned from the White 
 House, where she went to plead for the life of her 
 mother, but had been refused admittance to the Presi- 
 dent. 
 
 I came home, and only a few days later read in the 
 papers that Spangler, Arnold, O'Laughlin and my 
 husband were on their way to the Dry Tortugas. Two 
 days after this I received a letter from the Doctor, 
 
Mrs. Samuel A. Mudd 
 
 FACING PAGE 40 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MXJDD 41 
 
 which was written on board the ship and mailed at 
 Charleston, where a short stop was made. In this let- 
 ter he asked me not to give up hope; to take care of 
 the little ones and at some future day he would be at 
 home with us. This seemed to give me courage, and 
 I began to work with renewed efforts to try to secure 
 his release. 
 
 About the 2d of August I went to Washington to 
 see Secretary of War Stanton, and asked him if I 
 could not send my husband money and clothes to make 
 him comfortable. He gazed at me in silence for a 
 few moments, then said, "As long as Dr. Mudd is in 
 prison the Government will furnish him with what it 
 thinks necessary for him to have, and he can have no 
 communication whatsoever with the outside world." 
 I turned my back and walked out, not even saying 
 good morning. In a short while I received the fol- 
 lowing letter from Secretary Stanton, written by E. 
 D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant-General: 
 
 "War Department, 
 "Adjutant-General's Office, 
 "Washington, Sept. 30, 1865. 
 "Mrs. Dr. Mudd, 
 
 "Bryantown, Charles County, Md. 
 
 "Madam: Your application of the 2d of August 
 to know if you would be allowed to communicate with 
 your husband, Dr. Mudd, and if so by what means, 
 and whether you are at liberty to send to him clothing 
 and articles of comfort and money, from home, has 
 been considered by the Secretary of War. 
 
 "Dr. Mudd will be permitted to receive communica- 
 tions from you, if enclosed, unsealed, to the Adjutant- 
 General of the Army at Washington. The Govern- 
 ment provides suitable clothing and all necessary sub- 
 
42 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 sistence in such cases, and neither clothing nor money 
 will be allowed to be furnished him. 
 
 "I am, Madam, very respectfully 
 
 "Your obedient servant, 
 
 "E. D. Townsend, 
 "Assistant Adjutant General." 
 
 The following is a sworn statement written by my 
 husband while he was a prisoner in Fort Jefferson, and 
 which he was not permitted by the authorities to have 
 published. He sent it to me in a letter about the 1st of 
 October, 1865. This statement was made to correct 
 erroneous statements, which had appeared in the pub- 
 lic press, allegedly quoting my husband. 
 
 August 28, 1865. 
 
 1st. That I confessed to having known Booth while 
 in my house; was afraid to give information of the 
 fact, fearing to endanger my life, or made use of any 
 language in that connection — I positively and em- 
 phatically declare to be notoriously talse. 
 
 2d. That I was satisfied and willingly acquiesced in 
 the wisdom and decision of the Military Commission 
 who tried me, is again notoriously erroneous and false. 
 On the contrary I charged it (the Commission) with 
 irregularity, injustice, usurpation, and illegality. I 
 confess to being animated at the time but have no 
 recollection of having apologized. 
 
 3d. I did confess to a casual or accidental meeting 
 with Booth in front of one of the hotels on Pennsyl- 
 vania avenue, Washington, D. C, on the 23d of De- 
 cember, 1864, and not on the 15th of January, 1865, 
 as testified to by Weichman. Booth, on that occasion, 
 desired me to give him an introduction to Surratt, 
 from whom he said he wished to obtain a knowledge 
 of the country around Washington, in order to be able 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 43 
 
 to select a good locality for a country residence. He 
 had the number, street, and name of John Surratt, 
 written on a card, saying, to comply with his request 
 would not detain me over five minutes. (At the time 
 I was not aware that Surratt was a resident of Wash- 
 ington.) I declined at first, stating I was with a rela- 
 tive and friend from the country and was expecting 
 some friends over from Baltimore, who intended go- 
 ing down with me to spend Christmas, and was by 
 appointment expected to be at the Pennsylvania 
 House by a certain hour — eight o'clock. We started 
 down one street, and then up another, and had not 
 gone far before we met Surratt and Weichman. 
 
 Introductions took place, and we turned back in the 
 direction of the hotel. Arriving there, Booth insisted 
 on our going to his room and taking something to 
 drink with him, which I declined for reasons above 
 mentioned; but finding that Weichman and Surratt 
 were disposed to accept — I yielded, remarking, I could 
 not remain many minutes. After arriving in the room, 
 I took the first opportunity presented to apologize to 
 Surratt for having introduced to him Booth — a man I 
 knew so little concerning. This conversation took 
 place in the passage in front of the room and was not 
 over three minutes in duration. Whilst Surratt and 
 myself were in the hall, Booth and Weichman were 
 sitting on the sofa in a corner of the room looking 
 over some Congressional documents. Surratt and 
 myself returned and resumed our former seats (after 
 taking drinks ordered), around a center table, which 
 stood midway the room and distant seven or eight 
 feet from Booth and Weichman. Booth remarked 
 that he had been down in the country a few days be- 
 fore, and said he had not yet recovered from the fa- 
 tigue. Afterward he said he had been down in Charles 
 County, and had made me an offer for the purchase 
 
44 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 of my land, which I confirmed by an affirmative an- 
 swer ; and he further remarked that on his way up he 
 lost his way and rode several miles off the track. 
 When he said this he left his seat and came over and 
 took a seat immediately by Surratt; taking from his 
 pocket an old letter, he began to draw lines, in order 
 to ascertain from Surratt the location and description 
 of the roads. I was a mere looker on. The conversa- 
 tion that took place could be distinctly heard to any 
 part of the room by any one paying attention. There 
 was nothing secret to my knowledge that took place, 
 with the exception of the conversation of Surratt and 
 myself, which I have before mentioned. I had no 
 secret conversation with Booth, nor with Booth and 
 Surratt together, as testified to by Weichman. I never 
 volunteered any statement of Booth having made me 
 an offer for the purchase of my land, but made an 
 affirmative response only to what Booth said in that 
 connection. 
 
 Booth's visit in November, 1864, to Charles County 
 was for the purpose, as expressed by himself, to pur- 
 chase land and horses ; he was inquisitive concerning 
 the political sentiments of the people, inquiring about 
 the contraband trade that existed between the North 
 and South, and wished to be informed about the roads 
 bordering on the Potomac, which I declined doing. 
 He spoke of his being an actor and having two other 
 brothers, who also were actors. He spoke of Junius 
 Brutus as being a good Republican. He said they 
 were largely engaged in the oil business, and gave me 
 a lengthy description of the theory of oil and the 
 process of boring, etc. He said he had a younger 
 brother in California. These and many minor mat- 
 ters spoken of caused me to suspect him to be a Gov- 
 ernment detective and to advise Surratt regarding 
 him. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 45 
 
 We were together in Booth's room about fifteen 
 minutes, after which, at my invitation, they walked up 
 to the Pennsylvania House, where the conversation 
 that ensued between Weichman and myself as testified 
 to by him is in the main correct — only that he, of the 
 two, appeared the better Southern man, and under- 
 took to give me facts from his office to substantiate his 
 statements and opinions. This was but a short time 
 after the defeat of Hood in Tennessee. The papers 
 stated that over nine thousand prisoners had been 
 taken, and that the whole of Hood's army was de- 
 moralized and falling back, and there was every pros- 
 pect of his whole army being either captured or de- 
 stroyed. To this Weichman replied that only four 
 thousand prisoners had been ordered to be provided 
 for by the Commissary-General,, and that he was far 
 from believing the defeat of Hood so disastrous. I 
 spoke with sincerity, and said it was a blow from 
 which the South never would be able to recover; and 
 that the whole South then laid at the mercy of Sher- 
 man. Weichman seemed, whilst on the stand, to be 
 disposed to give what he believed a truthful statement. 
 I am in hopes the above will refresh his memory, and 
 he will do me the justice, though late, to correct his 
 erroneous testimony. 
 
 To recapitulate — I made use of no such statement 
 as reported by the "Washington Correspondent of the 
 Nczv York Times," only in the sense and meaning as 
 testified to by Dr. George D. Mudd, and as either mis- 
 understood or. misrepresented by Colonel Wells and 
 others before the Commission. 
 
 I never saw Mrs. Surratt in my life to my knowl- 
 edge previous to the assassination, and then only 
 through her veil. I never saw Arnold, O'Loughlin, 
 Atzerodt, Payne alias Powel, or Spangler — or ever 
 heard their names mentioned previous to the assassina- 
 
46 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 tion of the President. I never saw or heard of Booth 
 after the 23d of December, 1864, until after the assas- 
 sination, and then he was in disguise. I did not know 
 Booth whilst in my house, nor did I know Herold ; 
 neither of whom made himself known to me. And I 
 further declare they did not make known to me their 
 true destination before I left the house. They in- 
 quired the way to many places and desired particularly 
 to go to the Rev. Mr. Wilmer's. 
 
 I gave a full description of the two parties (whom 
 I represented as suspicious) to Lieutenant Lovett and 
 three other officers, on the Tuesday after the assassina- 
 tion. I gave a description of one horse — the other I 
 never took any notice of, and do not know to this day 
 the color or appearance. Neither Booth's nor Herold's 
 name was mentioned in connection with the assassina- 
 tion, nor was there any name mentioned on the Tues- 
 day after the assassination, nor was there any name 
 mentioned in connection with the assassination, nor 
 was there any photograph exhibited of any one impli- 
 cated in the infamous deed. I was merely called upon 
 to give a description of the men and horses and the 
 places they inquired. The evidence of the four detec- 
 tives — Lovett, Gavacan, Lloyd, and Williams — con- 
 flict (unintentionally) vitally on this point; they evi- 
 dently prove and disprove the fact as they have done 
 in every instance affecting my interest, or upon points 
 in which my welfare was at issue. Some swore that 
 the photograph of Booth was exhibited on Tuesday, 
 which was false. I do not advert to the false testi- 
 mony; it is evident to the reader, and bears the im- 
 press of foul play and persecution somewhere — it may 
 be owing to the thirst after the enormous reward of- 
 fered by the Government, or a false idea for notoriety. 
 Evans and Norton evidently swore falsely and per- 
 jured themselves. Daniel I. Thomas was bought by 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 47 
 
 the detectives — likewise the negroes who swore against 
 me. The court certainly must have seen that a great 
 deal of the testimony was false and incompetent — 
 upon this I charge them with injustice, etc. 
 
 Reverend Evans and Norton — I never saw nor 
 heard their names in my life. I never knew, nor have 
 I any knowledge whatsoever, of John Surratt ever 
 visiting Richmond. I had not seen him previous to the 
 23d of December, 1864, for more than nine months. 
 He was no visitor to my house. 
 
 The detectives, Lovett, Gavacan, Lloyd, and Wil- 
 liams, having failed to search my house or to make any 
 inquiries whether the parties left anything behind on 
 the Tuesday after the assassination, I myself did not 
 think — consequently did not remind them. A day or 
 two after their leaving, the boot that was cut from the 
 injured man's leg by myself, was brought to our at- 
 tention, and I resolved on sending it to the military 
 authorities, but it escaped my memory and I was not 
 reminded of its presence until the Friday after the as- 
 sassination, when Lieutenant Lovett and the above 
 parties, with a squad of cavalry, came again and asked 
 for the razor the party shaved with. I was then re- 
 minded immediately of the boot and, without hesita- 
 tion, I told them of it and the circumstances. I had 
 never examined the inside of boot leg, consequently 
 knew nothing about a name which was there contained. 
 As soon as I handed the boot to Lieutenant Lovett, 
 they examined and discovered the name "J. Wilkes" ; 
 they then handed me his photograph, and asked 
 whether it bore any resemblance to the party, to which 
 I said I would not be able to recognize that as the man 
 (injured), but remarked that there was a resemblance 
 about the eyes and hair. Herold's likeness was also 
 handed me, and I could not see any resemblance, but 
 I had described the horse upon which he rode, which, 
 
48 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 one of the detectives said, answered exactly to the one 
 taken from one of the stables in Washington. 
 
 From the above facts and circumstances I was en- 
 abled to form a judgment, which I expressed without 
 hesitation, and I said that I was convinced that the 
 injured man was Booth, the same man who visited my 
 house in November, 1864, and purchased a horse from 
 my neighbor, George Gardiner. I said this because I 
 thought my judgment in the matter was necessary to 
 secure pursuit promptly of the assassins 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 ARGUMENT OF GENERAL THOMAS EWING TO THE JUR- 
 ISDICTION, BEFORE THE MILITARY COMMISSION, 
 WHICH TRIED DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD ON THE CHARGE 
 OF CONSPIRACY TO ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT AND 
 OTHER CHIEF OFFICERS OF THE NATION. 
 
 May it please the Court: The first great question 
 that meets us at the threshold is — Do you, gentlemen, 
 constitute a court, and have you jurisdiction, as a 
 court, of the persons accused, and the crimes with 
 which they are charged? If you have such jurisdic- 
 tion, it must have been conferred by the Constitution, 
 or some law consistent with it, and carrying out its 
 provisions. 
 
 i. The 5th article of the Constitution declares: 
 "That the judicial power of the United States shall be 
 vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior 
 courts as Congress may from time to time ordain and 
 establish" ; and that "the judges of both Supreme and 
 inferior courts shall hold their offices during good be- 
 havior." 
 
 Under this provision of the Constitution, none but 
 courts ordained or established by Congress can exer- 
 cise judicial power, and those courts must be com- 
 posed of judges who hold their offices during good be- 
 havior. They must be independent judges, free from 
 the influence of Executive power. Congress has not 
 "ordained and established" you a court, or authorized 
 you to call these parties before you and sit upon their 
 trial, and you are not "judges" who hold your offices 
 during good behavior. You are, therefore, no court 
 4 
 
50 THi: LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 under the Constitution, and have no jurisdiction in 
 these cases, unless you obtain it from some other 
 source, which overrules this constitutional provision. 
 
 The President cannot confer judicial power upon 
 you, for he has it not. The executive, not the judicial, 
 power of the United States is vested in him. His man- 
 date, no matter to what man or body of men addressed, 
 to try, and, if convicted, to sentence to death a citizen, 
 not of the naval or military forces of the United States, 
 carries with it no authority which could be pleaded in 
 justification of the sentence. It were no better than the 
 simple mandate to take A, B, C, D, E, F, and G H, 
 and put them to death. 
 
 2. The President, under the 5th amendment to the 
 Constitution, may constitute courts pursuant to the 
 Articles of War, but he cannot give them jurisdiction 
 over citizens. This article provides that "no person 
 shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise in- 
 famous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment 
 of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or 
 naval forces, or in the militia when in actual service in 
 time of war or public danger. 
 
 The presentment or indictment of a grand jury is a 
 thing unknown to and inconsistent with your commis- 
 sion. You have nothing of the kind. Neither you nor 
 the law officers who control your proceedings seem to 
 have thought of any such thing. These defendants 
 did not and do not belong to the "land or naval forces" 
 of the United States — nor were they "militia, in time 
 of war or public danger, in actual service." The Con- 
 stitution, therefore, in the article above cited, expressly 
 says: You shall not hold them to answer to any of 
 the capital and infamous crimes with which they are 
 charged. 
 
 Is not a single, direct, constitutional prohibition, for- 
 bidding you to take jurisdiction in these cases, suffi- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 51 
 
 cient ? If it be not, read the provision of the 3d section 
 of the 3d article. It is as follows : "The trial of all 
 crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by 
 jury." 
 
 But lest this should not be enough, in their anxious 
 care to provide against the abuses from which England 
 had recently escaped and which were still fresh in the 
 memories of men, — as the Star Chamber, the High 
 Commission Courts, and their attendant enormities, — 
 the framers of the Constitution further provided, in 
 the 6th amendment, that, "In all criminal prosecutions 
 the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public 
 trial by an impartial jury of the State and district 
 wherein the crime shall have been committed." 
 
 Now whence, and what, is the authority which over- 
 rules these distinct constitutional prohibitions, and em- 
 powers you to hold these citizens to answer, despite the 
 mandates of the Constitution forbidding you? 
 
 Congress has not attempted to grant to you the 
 power; Congress could not grant it. A law to that 
 effect, against the constitutional prohibition, would be 
 merely void. Congress has authorized the suspension 
 of the writ of habeas corpus, as the Constitution per- 
 mits (Art. I, Sec. 99) ; but the Constitution does not 
 thereby permit the military to try, nor has Congress 
 attempted to deliver over to the military, for trial, 
 judgment and execution, American citizens, not in the 
 land or naval forces, or in the militia in actual service, 
 when accused of crime. Congress and the President, 
 the lawmaking power, were incompetent to do this, 
 and have not attempted it. Whence, then, comes the 
 dispensation with the constitutional prohibition? 
 Where and whence is the affirmative grant of jurisdic- 
 tion under which you propose to try, and, if convicted, 
 pass sentence upon, these men, citizens of the United 
 States — not soldiers, not militiamen, but citizens, en- 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF III >NO» 
 
52 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 gaged in the ordinal y avocations of life? I am not per- 
 mitted to know. Congress has not in any form at- 
 tempted to violate or impair the Constitution. They 
 have suspended the writ of habeas corpus; this goes to 
 imprisonment — not trial, conviction, or punishment. 
 This is the extreme limit to which the lawmaking 
 power is permitted to go, and it is only in cases of 
 strong necessity that this is permitted. Congress has 
 repealed so much of the I02d section of the Act of 
 September 24, 1789, as required that in all capital cases 
 twelve petit jurors should be summoned from the 
 county in which the offense was committed (Par. 221, 
 Sec. 102, repealed July 16, 1862, page 1164, Sec. 22), 
 but has preserved all other legal provisions made 
 in aid of the Constitution to protect citizens 
 from the oppression of the unregulated and unre- 
 strained Executive power. The accused shall be 
 tried upon an indictment or presentment of a grand 
 jury. If two or more crimes of a like nature be 
 charged, they must be set forth in separate counts. 
 (Act of February 26, 1853, Sec. 117.) You may not 
 compel an accused to answer to a loose story or accusa- 
 tion of several crimes in one count. If the crime 
 charged be treason, which this paper approaches more 
 nearly than anything else, the accused shall have a 
 copy of the indictment, and a list of the jury, and of 
 all the witnesses to be produced on the trial for prov- 
 ing the said indictment (mentioning the names and 
 places of abode of such witnesses and jurors), deliv- 
 ered unto him at least three entire days before he shall 
 be tried for the same; and in other capital offenses 
 shall have such copy of indictment and list of the jury 
 two entire days at least before the trial. (Act of April 
 30, 1790, Sec. 24, p. 221.) 
 
 Against this array of constitutional and legal pro- 
 hibition and regulation, I know of nothing that can be 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 53 
 
 adduced, except, perhaps, an Executive order author- 
 izing, by direct mandate or by implication, the thing 
 to be done which the Constitution forbids you to do. 
 If you be proceeding in obedience to such Executive 
 mandate, and if that give jurisdiction, still you pro- 
 ceed in a form and manner which the Constitution and 
 law expressly forbid. If my clients be charged with 
 treason or murder (and I conjecture they are charged 
 with murder at least), they must be proved to have 
 been present, aiding in, or actually committing the 
 overt act, or the alleged murder. For either of these 
 the punishment or conviction is death. The Judge- 
 Advocate has been unable, in the cases of Arnold and 
 Mudd, to present any evidence remotely approaching 
 that prescribed by the Constitution and the laws as 
 the condition of conviction; and yet I am led to infer 
 that he will claim a conviction of one or both of them 
 on the proof presented. What is the profession, on this 
 and on the other side of the Atlantic, to think of such 
 administration of criminal jurisprudence? — for this, 
 the first of our State trials, will be read with avidity 
 everywhere. I ask the officers of the Government to 
 think of this carefully nozu, lest two or three years 
 hence they may not like to hear it named. 
 
 But we may mistake the whole case as it presents 
 itself to the mind of the Judge-Advocate. We are 
 here as counsel for the accused, but are not allowed to 
 know explicitly with what crime, defined by law, any 
 one of them is charged, or what we are here to defend. 
 No crime known to the law is legally charged in the 
 paper which is here substituted for an indictment. In 
 this paper three distinct crimes are strongly hinted at 
 in a single charge, to each of which different rules of 
 law and evidence are applicable and different penalties 
 are attached ; and I had wished to know, so that I 
 might shape the defense of my clients accordingly, for 
 
54 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 which alleged or intimated crime any one, or each or 
 all of them, are to be tried. This information has been 
 denied us. The Judge-Advocate puts these parties on 
 trial, and refuses (in the most courteous terms) 
 to advise their counsel on what law or authority he 
 rests his claim to jurisdiction; of what crime he in- 
 tends to convict each or any of the defendants; in 
 what law the crimes are defined and their punishments 
 prescribed; or on what proof, out of the wild jumble 
 of testimony, he intends to rest his claim to convic- 
 tions. 
 
 But it has been said, and will perhaps be said again, 
 in support of this jurisdiction, that the necessities of 
 war justify it — and silent leges inter arma. So said 
 the Roman orator when Rome had become a military 
 despotism, and ceased forever to have liberty, and 
 when she retained law only as the gift or by the per- 
 mission of the ruling despot. "The law is silent amid 
 arms." Yes, it is so in a conquered country, when the 
 victorious general chooses to put the law to silence; 
 for he is an autocrat, and may, if he choose, be a des- 
 pot. But how extravagant is the pretense that a bold, 
 and spirited, and patriotic people, because they rise in 
 their majesty and send forth conquering armies to 
 rescue the Republic, thereby forfeit all constitutional 
 and legal protection of life, liberty, and property! 
 
 Cases have often arisen, in which robber bands, 
 whose vocation is piracy on the high seas, or promiscu- 
 ous robbery and murder on land — hastes humani gen- 
 eris — may be lawfully put to the sword without quar- 
 ter, in battle, or hung on the yard-arm, or otherwise 
 put to death, when captured, according to the necessi- 
 ties of the case, without trial or other conviction, ex- 
 cept the knowledge of the commanding general that 
 they were taken flagrante hello, and that they are 
 pirates or land robbers. A military court may be 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 55 
 
 called, but it is advisory merely; the general acts, con- 
 demns, and executes. But the Constitution of the 
 United States has nothing- to do with this. It does not 
 protect pirates or marauders, who are enemies of the 
 human race; or spies, or even enemies taken in battle. 
 It protects, not belligerent enemies, but only citizens 
 and those persons not citizens who in civil life seek and 
 claim its protection, or aliens who are engaged in its 
 military or other service. The power of the command- 
 ing general over these classes is restrained only by the 
 usages of war among civilized nations. But these de- 
 fendants are not charged as spies or pirates, or armed 
 and organized marauders, or enemies captured in war, 
 or persons in the land or naval service of the United 
 States. They belong to none of these classes, over 
 whom military discretion or martial law extends, un- 
 less they extend over and embrace all the people of 
 the United States. 
 
 But if the jurisdiction in this case exists, whether by 
 law or by the power of arms, I regret that a military 
 commission should be charged with the trial of these 
 causes. The crimes are, as far as hinted at and writ- 
 ten about in the charge and specifications, all cogniza- 
 ble in our civil courts. Those courts are open, unob- 
 structed, without a single impediment to the full and 
 perfect administration of justice — ready and prompt, 
 as they always are, to perform the high duties which 
 the well-known principles of law under the Consti- 
 tution devolve on them. What good reason can be 
 given in a case like this, to a people jealous of their 
 rights, for a resort here and now to military trials and 
 military executions? We are at the advent of a new, 
 and I trust a successful, Administration. A taint such 
 as this — namely, the needless violation of the constitu- 
 tional rights of the citizen — ought not to be permitted 
 to attach to and infect it. The jurisdiction of this 
 
56 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Commission has to be sought dehors the Constitution, 
 and against its express prohibition. It is, therefore, 
 at least of doubtful validity. If that jurisdiction does 
 not exist; if the doubt be resolved against it by our 
 judicial tribunals when the law shall again speak, the 
 form of trial by this unauthorized Commission cannot 
 be pleaded in justification of the seizure of property or 
 the arrest of person, much less the infliction of the 
 death penalty. In that event, however fully the recorded 
 evidence may sustain your findings, however moderate 
 may seem your sentences, however favorable to the 
 accused your rulings on the evidence, your sentence 
 will be held in law no better than the rulings of Judge 
 Lynch's courts in the administration of lynch law. 
 When the party now in power falls, — as in the vicissi- 
 tudes of this it must one day fall, and all the sooner 
 for a reckless use of its present power, — so it will be 
 viewed by that party which succeeds it. This is to be 
 expected, and, indeed, hoped; but if, unfortunately, 
 this proceeding be then accepted and recorded as a 
 precedent, we may have fastened on us a military 
 despotism. If we concede that the exercise of juris- 
 diction claimed is now necessary, and for the best pos- 
 sible object, before we consent that it stand as a prece- 
 dent in our jurisprudence, we should recall to mind the 
 statesmanlike and almost prophetic remarks of Julius 
 Caesar, in the Roman Senate, on the trial of Lentulus 
 and his accomplices in Catiline's conspiracy: "Abuses 
 often grow from precedents good in principle; but 
 when the power falls into the hands of men less en- 
 lightened or less honest, a just and reasonable prece- 
 dent receives an application contrary to justice and 
 reason." It is to be remembered that criminal trials 
 involving capital punishment were not then within the 
 competency of the Roman Senate; and neither the 
 Consul nor the Senate, nor both of them, had the right 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 57 
 
 to condemn a Roman citizen without the concurrence 
 of the people. 
 
 If you believe you possess the power of life and 
 death over the citizens of the United States in States 
 where the regular tribunals can be safely appealed to, 
 still, for the sake of our common country and its cher- 
 ished institutions, do not press that power too far. 
 Our judicial tribunals, at some future day, I have no 
 doubt, will be again in the full exercise of their consti- 
 tutional powers, and may think, as a large proportion 
 of the legal profession now think, that your jurisdic- 
 tion in these cases is an unwarranted assumption; 
 and they may treat the judgment which you pronounce 
 and the sentence you cause to be executed as your own 
 unauthorized acts. 
 
 This assumption of jurisdiction, or this use of a 
 legitimate jurisdiction, not created by law and not 
 known to law or to legal men, has not for its sanction 
 even the plea of necessity. It may be convenient. Con- 
 viction may be easier and more certain in this military 
 commission than in our constitutional courts. 
 
 Inexperienced as most of you are in judicial investi- 
 gations, you can admit evidence which the courts 
 would reject, and reject what they would admit, and 
 you may convict and sentence on evidence which those 
 courts would hold to be wholly insufficient. Means, 
 too, may be resorted to by detectives, acting under 
 promise or hope of reward, and operating on the fears 
 or the cupidity of witnesses, to obtain and introduce 
 evidence which cannot be detected and exposed in this 
 military trial, but could be readily in the free, but 
 guarded, course of investigation before our regular 
 judicial tribunals. The Judge-Advocate, with whom 
 chiefly rests the fate of these citizens, is learned in the 
 law, but from his position he cannot be an impartial 
 judge, unless he be more than man. He is the prose- 
 
58 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 cutor in the most extended sense of the word. As in 
 duty bound, before this Court was called, he received 
 the reports of detectives, pre-examined the witnesses, 
 prepared and officially signed the charges, and as prin- 
 cipal counsel for the Government, controlled on the 
 trial the presentation, admission, and rejection of evi- 
 dence. In our courts of law, a lawyer who has heard 
 his client's story, if transferred from the bar to the 
 bench, may not sit in the trial of the cause, lest the 
 ermine be sullied through the partiality of counsel. 
 There is no mere theoretical objection — for the union 
 of prosecutor and judge works practical injustice to 
 the accused. The Judge-Advocate controls the admis- 
 sion and rejection of evidence — knows what will aid 
 and what will injure the case of the prosecution, and 
 inclines favorably to the one and unfavorably to the 
 other. The defense is met with a bias of feeling and 
 opinion on the part of the judge who controls the pro- 
 ceedings of the court, and on whom, in great measure, 
 the fate of the accused depends, which morals and law 
 alike reject. Let it not be supposed I censure or reflect 
 on any one, for I do not. The wrong suffered by the 
 parties accused has its root in the vice of this system 
 of trial, which I have endeavored to expose. 
 
 Because our Chief, so venerated and beloved (and 
 no one venerated and loved him more than I), has 
 fallen by the hand of a ruthless assassin, it ought not 
 to follow that the Constitution and law should be vio- 
 lated in punishing men suspected of having compassed 
 his death, or that men not legally found guilty should 
 be sacrificed in vengeance as victims generally because 
 of the crime. There may be a lurking feeling among 
 men which tends to this harshness of retribution, re- 
 gardless of the innocence of those on whom vengeance 
 may fall. Tending to this feeling, exciting or minis- 
 tering to it, was the two days' testimony which, with- 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 59 
 
 out other apparent point or purpose, detailed the 
 horrors of the Libby Prison; and the evidence 
 that, in 1861, one of my clients took part in 
 the rebellion; and the further testimony (which 
 we showed was utterly fabulous) that another of 
 my clients, in 1863 or 1864, entertained rebel 
 officers or soldiers and corresponded with rebels 
 in Richmond. As if to say: "What matters it 
 how we try, or whether we legally try at all, pro- 
 vided we convict and execute men who have been asso- 
 ciated with, or in sympathy with, monsters such as 
 those?" Homer makes Achilles immolate, at the 
 funeral pyre of Patroclus, twelve Trojan captives, sim- 
 ply because they were Trojans, and because Patroclus 
 had fallen by a Trojan hand. If that principle of judi- 
 cial action be adopted here, it were surely not too much 
 to sacrifice to the manes of one so beloved and hon- 
 ored as our late Chief Magistrate a little lot of rebel 
 sympathizers, because, like the assassin, some of them, 
 at some time, participated in the rebellion, or gave aid 
 and comfort to rebels. If this course of reasoning do 
 not develop the object of that strange testimony, I 
 know not how to read it. Indeed, a position taken by 
 the learned Assistant Judge-Advocate, in discussing 
 my objection to the part of that evidence which re- 
 lates to my clients, goes to this — and even beyond it — 
 namely, that participation in the rebellion was partici- 
 pation in the assassination, and that the rebellion itself 
 formed part o^ the conspiracy for which these men are 
 on trial here. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 ARGUMENT OF GENERAL EWING ON THE LAW AND THE 
 EVIDENCE IN THE CASE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 May it please the Court: If it be determined to take 
 jurisdiction here it then becomes a question vitally im- 
 portant to some of these parties — a question of life and 
 death — whether you will punish only offenses created 
 and declared by law, or whether you will make and 
 declare the past acts of the accused to be crimes, which 
 acts the law never heretofore declared criminal; at- 
 tach to them the penalty of death, or such penalty as 
 may seem meet to you ; adapt the evidence to the crime 
 and the crime to the evidence, and thus convict arid 
 punish. This, I greatly fear, may be the purpose, es- 
 pecially since the Judge-Advocate said, in reply to my 
 inquiries, that he would expect to convict "under the 
 common law of war." This is a term unknown to our 
 language — a quiddity — wholly undefined and incapa- 
 ble of definition. It is, in short, just what the Judge- 
 Advocate chooses to make of it. It may create a ficti- 
 tious crime, and attach to it arbitrary and extreme pun- 
 ishment, and who shall gainsay it ? The laws of war — 
 namely, our Articles of War — and the habitual prac- 
 tice and mode of proceeding under them, are familiar 
 to us all ; but I know nothing, and never heard or read 
 of a common law of war, as a code or system under 
 which military courts or commissions in this country 
 can take and exercise jurisdiction not given them by 
 express legal enactment or constitutional grant. But 
 I still hope the law is to govern, and if it does, I feel 
 that my clients are still safe. 
 
 I will now proceed to show you, that on the part of 
 
Geiveral Thomas Ewjng 
 
 FACING PAGE 60 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 61 
 
 one of my clients — Dr. Mudd — no crime known to the 
 law, and for which it is pretended to prosecute, can 
 possibly have been committed. Though not distinctly 
 informed as to the offense for which the Judge-Advo- 
 cate claims conviction, I am safe in saying, that the 
 testimony does not point to treason, and if he is being 
 tried for treason, the proceedings for that crime are 
 widely departed from. The prosecution appears to 
 have been instituted and conducted under the procla- 
 mation of the Secretary of War, of April 20, 1865. 
 This makes it a crime, punishable with death, to har- 
 bor or screen Booth, Atzerodt, or Herold, or to aid or 
 to assist them to escape. It makes it a crime to do a 
 particular act, and punishes that crime with death. I 
 suppose we must take this proclamation as law. Per- 
 haps it is part of what the Judge-Advocate means 
 when he speaks of the "common law of war." If this 
 be so, my clients are still safe, if we be allowed to con- 
 strue it as laws are construed by courts of justice. 
 But I will show, first, that Dr. Mudd is not, and can- 
 not possibly be, guilty of any offense known to the law. 
 1. Not of treason. — The overt act attempted to be 
 alleged is the murder of the President. The proof is 
 conclusive, that at the time the tragedy was enacted 
 Dr. Mudd was at his residence in the country, thirty 
 miles from the place of the crime. Those who com- 
 mitted it are shown to have acted for themselves, not 
 as the instruments of Dr. Mudd. He, therefore, can- 
 not be charged, according to law and upon the evi- 
 dence, with the commission of this overt act. There 
 are not two witnesses to prove that he did commit it, 
 but abundant evidence to show negatively that he did 
 not. 
 
 Chief Justice Marshall, in delivering an opinion of 
 the Court in Burr's case, says : "Those only who per- 
 form a part, and who are leagued in the conspiracy, 
 
62 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 are declared to be traitors. To complete the definition 
 both circumstances must concur. They must "perform 
 a part" which will furnish the overt act, and they must 
 be leagued with the conspiracy." (4 Cr., 474.) 
 
 Now, as to Dr. Mudd, there is no particle of evi- 
 dence tending to show that he was ever leagued with 
 traitors in their treason ; that he had ever, by himself, 
 or by adhering to, and in connection with others, levied 
 war against the United States. It is contended that 
 he joined in compassing the death of the President 
 ("the King's death"). Foster, p. 149, speaking of the 
 treason of compassing the king's death, says : "From 
 what has been said it followeth, that in every indict- 
 ment for this species of treason, and indeed for levying 
 war and adhering to the king's enemies, an overt act 
 must be alleged and proved." 
 
 The only overt act laid in these charges against 
 Mudd is the act of assassination, at which it is claimed 
 he was constructively present and participating. His 
 presence, and participation, or procurement, must be 
 proved by two witnesses, if the charge be treason ; and 
 such presence, participation, or procurement, be the 
 overt act. 
 
 Chief Justice Marshall, in Burr's case (Dall., 500), 
 says : "Collateral points, say the books, may be 
 proved according to the course of the common law; 
 but is this a collateral point? Is the fact, without 
 which the accused does not participate in the guilt of 
 the assemblage, if they were guilty (or in any way in 
 the guilty act of others), a collateral point? This can- 
 not be. The presence of the party, when presence is 
 necessary, being part of the overt act, must be posi- 
 tively proved by two witnesses. No presumptive evi- 
 dence, no facts from which presence may be conjec- 
 tured or inferred, will satisfy the Constitution and the 
 law. If procurement take the place of presence, and 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 63 
 
 become part of the overt act, then no presumptive evi- 
 dence, no facts from which the procurement may be 
 conjectured or inferred, can satisfy the Constitution 
 and the law. The mind is not to be led to the conclu- 
 sion that the individual was present by a train of con- 
 jectures or inferences, or of reasoning. The fact itself 
 must be proved by two ivitnesscs, and must have been 
 committed within the district." 
 
 2. Not of murder. — For the law is clear, that, in 
 cases of treason, presence at the commission of the 
 overt act is governed by the same principle as construc- 
 tive presence in ordinary felonies, and has no other 
 latitude, greater or less, except that in proof of treason 
 two witnesses are necessary to the overt act, and one 
 only in murder and other felonies. "A person is not 
 constructively present at an overt act of treason, un- 
 less he be aiding and abetting at the fact, or ready to 
 do so, if necessary." (4 Cr., 492.) Persons not suf- 
 ficiently near to give assistance are not principals. And 
 although an act be committed in pursuance of a pre- 
 vious concerted plan, those who are not present, or so 
 near as to be able to afford aid and assistance, at the 
 time when the offense is committed, are not principals, 
 but accessories before the fact. (Wharton, Am. Crim. 
 Law, 112 to 127.) 
 
 It is, therefore, perfectly clear, upon the law as en- 
 acted by the Legislature and expounded by jurists, 
 that Dr. Mudd is not guilty of participating in the 
 murder of the President; that he was not actually or 
 constructively present when the horrid deed was done, 
 either as a traitor, chargeable with it as an overt act, 
 or a conspirator, connected as a principal felon there- 
 with. 
 
 3. The only other crimes defined by law for the al- 
 leged commission, of which the Judge- Advocate may, 
 by possibility, claim the conviction of the accused, are : 
 
64 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 ist. The crime of treasonable conspiracy, which is de- 
 fined by the law of 21st July, 1861, and made punish- 
 able by fine not exceeding $6,000, and imprisonment 
 not exceeding six years. 2nd. The crime of being an 
 accessory before, or after, the fact to the crimes of 
 murder, and of assault with intent to kill. That the 
 accused is not guilty of either of these crimes, will be 
 clearly shown in the discussion of the evidence which 
 follows. 
 
 4. Admitting the Secretary's proclamation to the 
 law, it, of course, either supersedes or defines the un- 
 known something or nothing which the Judge-Advo- 
 cate calls "the common law of war." If so, it is a defi- 
 nite, existing thing, and I can defend my clients 
 against it ; and it is easy to show that Dr. Mudd is not 
 guilty of violating that proclamation. He did not, 
 after the date of the proclamation, see either of the 
 parties named therein — dress the wound of Booth, or 
 point out the way to Herold — and the proclamation 
 relates to future acts, not to past. 
 
 5. But of the common lazv of war, as distinct from 
 the usages of military courts, in carrying out and exe- 
 cuting the Articles of War, I know nothing, and, on 
 examining the books, I find nothing. All that is writ- 
 ten down in books of law or authority I am, or ought 
 to be, prepared to meet; but it were idle and vain to 
 search for and combat a mere phantom of the imagina- 
 tion, without form and void. 
 
 I now pass to the consideration of the evidence, 
 which I think will fully satisfy the Court that Dr. 
 Mudd is not guilty of treasonable conspiracy, or of be- 
 ing an accomplice, before or after the fact in the felo- 
 nies committed. 
 
 The accused has been a practicing physician, resid- 
 ing five miles north of Bryantown, in Charles County, 
 Maryland, on a farm of about five hundred acres, 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 65 
 
 given him by his father. His house is between twenty- 
 seven and thirty miles from Washington, and four or 
 five miles east of the road from Washington to Bryan- 
 town. It is shown by Dr. George Mudd, John L. Tur- 
 ner, John Waters, Joseph Waters, Thomas Davis, 
 John McPherson, Lewellyn Gardiner, and other gen- 
 tlemen of unimpeached and unquestionable loyalty, 
 who are in full sympathy with the Government, that 
 he is a man of most exemplary character — peaceable, 
 kind, upright, and obedient to the laws. His family 
 being slaveholders, he did not like the anti-slavery 
 measures of the Government, but was always respectful 
 and temperate in discussing them, freely took the oath 
 of allegiance prescribed for voters (Dr. George 
 Mudd), supported a Union candidate against Harris, 
 the secession candidate, for Congress (T. L. Gardi- 
 ner), and for more than a year past regarded the re- 
 bellion a failure. (Dr. George Mudd.) He was never 
 known or reported to have done an act or said a word 
 in aid of the rebellion, or in countenance or support of 
 the enemies of the Government. 
 
 An effort was made, over all objections and in viola- 
 tion, I respectfully submit, of the plainest rules of evi- 
 dence, to blacken his character as a citizen, by showing 
 that he was wont, after the war broke out, to threaten 
 his slaves to send them to Richmond "to build batter- 
 ies." But it will be seen hereafter, that all that part of 
 the testimony of the same witnesses, which related to 
 the presence of Surratt and of rebel officers at the 
 house of the accused, was utterly false. And Dyer, in 
 presence of whom Eglen says the threat was made to 
 him, swears he was not in the country then, and no 
 such threat was ever made in his presence. The other 
 colored servants of the accused, Charles and Julia 
 Bloyce, and Betty and Frank Washington, say they 
 5 
 
66 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 never heard of such threats having been made; and J. 
 T. Mucld and Dr. George Mudd, and his colored ser- 
 vants, Charles and Julia Bloyce, and Betty and Frank 
 Washington, describe him as being remarkably easy, 
 unexacting, and kind to all about him — slaves and 
 freemen. 
 
 From this brief reference to the evidence of the char- 
 acter of the accused, I pass to a consideration of the 
 testimony adduced to prove his connection with the 
 conspiracy. 
 
 And, first, as to his acquaintance with Booth. J. C. 
 Thompson says, that early in November last Booth 
 went to the house of witness's father-in-law, Dr. Wil- 
 liam Queen, four or five miles south of Bryantown, 
 and eight or ten from Dr. Mudd's, and presented a 
 letter of introduction from a Mr. Martin, of Montreal, 
 who said he wanted to see the country. It does not 
 appear who Martin was. Booth said his business was 
 to invest in land and to buy horses. He went with Dr. 
 Queen's family to a church next day, in the neighbor- 
 hood of Bryantown, and was there casually introduced, 
 before service, by Thompson, to the accused. After 
 service Booth returned to Queen's house, and stayed 
 until next morning, when he left. While at Queen's 
 he made inquiries of Thompson as to horses for sale, 
 the price of lands, their qualities, the roads to Wash- 
 ington, and to the landings on the Potomac; and 
 Thompson told him that the father of Dr. Samuel 
 Mudd was a large landholder, and might sell part of 
 his land. On Monday morning, after leaving Dr. 
 Queen's, Booth came by the house of the accused, who 
 went with him to the house of George Gardiner, to 
 look at some horses for sale. The accused lives about 
 one quarter of a mile from Gardiner's (Mary Mudd, 
 Thomas L. Gardiner), and on the most direct road to 
 that place from Dr. Queen's, through Bryantown. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 67 
 
 (Mary Mudd, Hardy.) There Booth bought the one- 
 eyed saddle-horse which he kept here, and which Payne 
 rode after the attempted assassination of Mr. Seward. 
 Mudd manifested no interest in the purchase, but after 
 it was made Booth directed the horse to be sent to 
 Montgomery's Hotel, in Bryantown, and Booth and 
 the accused rode off together in the direction of the 
 house of the accused, which was also the direction of 
 Bryantown. Witness took the horse to Bryantown 
 next morning, and delivered him in person to Booth 
 there. Witness says the horse was bought on Mon- 
 day, but he thinks the latter part of November ; though 
 he says he is " one of the worst hands in the world to 
 keep dates." 
 
 Thompson further says, that after Booth's first in- 
 troduction and visit to Dr. Queen's, " he came there 
 again, and stayed all night, and left very early next 
 morning. I think it was about the middle of Decem- 
 ber following his first visit there." 
 
 There is nothing whatever to show that Mudd saw 
 Booth on this second visit, or at any other time, in the 
 country, prior to the assassination ; but a great deal of 
 evidence that he never was at Mudd's house, or in his 
 immediate neighborhood, prior to the assassination, 
 except once, and on his first visit. I will refer to the 
 several items of testimony on this point. 
 
 ist. Thomas L,. Gardiner says he was back and forth 
 at Mudd's house, sometimes every day, and always two 
 or three times a week, and never heard of Booth being 
 there, or in the neighborhood, after the purchase of 
 the horse and before the assassination. 
 
 2d. Mary Mudd says she saw Booth one Sunday in 
 November at church, in Dr. Queen's pew, and with 
 his family, and that she heard of his being at the house 
 of her brother, the accused, on that visit, but did not 
 hear that he stayed all night; and that on the 
 
68 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 same visit he bought the horse of Gardiner. She lives 
 at her father's, on the farm adjoining that of accused, 
 and was at his house two or three times a week, and 
 saw him nearly every day on his visits to his mother, 
 who was an invalid, and whose attending physician he 
 was ; and never saw or heard of Booth, except on that 
 one occasion, before the assassination. 
 
 3d. Fanny Mudd, sister of the accused, living with 
 her father, testifies to the same effect. 
 
 4th. Charles Bloyce was at the house of the accused 
 Saturday and Sunday of each week of last year until 
 Christmas Eve (except six weeks in April and May), 
 and never saw or heard of Booth's being there. 
 
 5th. Betty Washington (colored) lived there from 
 Monday after Christmas until now, and never saw or 
 heard of Booth there before the assassination. 
 
 6th. Thomas Davis lived there from 9th January 
 last. Same as above. Nor is there any evidence what- 
 ever of Booth's having stayed all night with the ac- 
 cused on the visit when the horse was bought of Gar- 
 diner, or at any other time, except that of Colonel 
 Wells, who says that, after Mudd's arrest, "he said, in 
 answer to another question, that he met Booth some 
 time in November. I think he said he was introduced 
 by Mr. Thompson, a son-in-law of Dr. Queen, to 
 Booth. I think he said the introduction took place at 
 the chapel or church on Sunday morning; that, after 
 the introduction had passed between them, Thompson 
 said, Booth wants to buy farming lands ; and they had 
 some little conversation on the subject of lands; and 
 then Booth asked the question, whether there were 
 any desirable horses that could be bought in that neigh- 
 borhood cheaply; that he mentioned the name of a 
 neighbor of his who had some horses that were good 
 travelers ; and that he remained zvith him that flight, 
 I think, and next morning purchased one of those 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 69 
 
 horses." Now, it will be recollected that Thompson 
 says Booth stayed at Dr. Queen's on that visit Satur- 
 day night and Sunday night, and Thomas L. Gardiner 
 says the horse was bought Monday morning. So that, 
 if Colonel Wells is correct in recollecting what Mudd 
 said, then Thompson must be wrong. It is more prob- 
 able that Thompson is right, as to Booth's having 
 spent Sunday night at Queen's. Thompson's testi- 
 mony is strengthened, too, by that of Mary Mudd, 
 Fanny Mudd, and Charles Bloyce, who would in all 
 probability, have heard the fact of Booth spending 
 Sunday night at the house of the accused, had he done 
 so ; but they did not hear it.* 
 
 It is here to be observed, that though the accused 
 was not permitted to show, by Booth's declarations 
 here, that he was contemplating and negotiating pur- 
 chases of land in Charles County, yet evidence was ad- 
 mitted as to his declarations made there to that effect. 
 Dr. Bowman, of Bryantown, says that Booth nego- 
 tiated with him, on one of these visits, for the purchase 
 of his farm, and also talked of buying horses. And a 
 few days after witness had negotiated with Booth for 
 the sale of his farm, he met Dr. Mudd, and spoke of 
 the negotiation with Booth, and Mudd said, "Why, 
 that fellow promised to buy my land." It is also shown 
 by Dr. Blandford, Dr. Bowman, M. P. Gardiner, and 
 Dyer, that Mudd for a year past wanted to sell his 
 land, and quit farming. 
 
 This, then, is all that is shown of any meeting be- 
 tween Mudd and Booth in that country before the as- 
 sassination — a casual introduction at church on Sun- 
 day in November — Booth going next morning to 
 Mudd's, talking of buying his farm, and riding with 
 him a quarter of a mile to a neighbor's to buy a horse, 
 
 *As shown by the statement of my mother, Booth did stay one 
 night at my father's home in November, 1864. — Ed. 
 
70 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 and their going off together toward Mudd's and Bry- 
 antown, where the horse was delivered to Booth next 
 morning. 
 
 We will now turn to consider the evidence as to the 
 accused's acquaintance with John H. Surratt. If he 
 knew Surratt at all, the fact is not shown by, nor in- 
 ferable from, the evidence. Miss Surratt was edu- 
 cated at Bryantown, before the war, and her family 
 lived at Surrattsville, and kept the hotel there (which 
 is on the road from Dr. Mudd's house to Washing- 
 ton) until they removed, in October last, to a house 
 on H street, in this city, where they have since resided. 
 (Miss Surratt, Holahan, Weichmann.) Dr. Mudd 
 probably had met Surratt at the hotel at Surrattsville, 
 or, before the war, at Bryantown, while his sister was 
 at school ; but it is not shown by credible testimony 
 that he knew him at all. Let us examine the evidence 
 on this point. 
 
 ist. Mary Sims, formerly Dr. Mudd's slave, says 
 that a man whom Dr. and Mrs. Mudd called Surratt 
 was at Mudd's house from almost every Saturday 
 night until Monday night through the latter part of 
 the zvinter, and through the spring and summer of last 
 year until apples and peaches were ripe, when she saw 
 him no more; and that on the last of November she 
 left Dr. Mudd's house. That he never slept in the 
 house, but took dinner there six or seven times. That 
 Andrew Givynn, Bennett Gzvynn, Captain Perry, 
 Lieutenant Perry and Captain White, of Tennessee, 
 slept with Surratt in the pines near the spring, on bed- 
 clothes furnished from Dr. Mudd's house, and that 
 they were supplied by witness and by Dr. Mudd with 
 victuals from the house. That William Mudd, a 
 neighbor, and Rachel Spencer, and Albin Brooke, 
 members of Mudd's household, used to see Surratt 
 there then. She says that the lieutenants and officers 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 71 
 
 had epaulettes on their shoulders, gray breeches with 
 yellow stripes, coat of same color and trimming. 
 Their horses were kept in Dr. Mudd's stable by Milo 
 Sims. 
 
 2d. Milo Sims, brother of Mary, fourteen years old, 
 formerly slave of Dr. Mudd, left there Friday before 
 last Christmas. Saw tzvo or three men there last sum- 
 mer, who slept at the spring near Dr. Mudd's house. 
 Bedding taken from the house; meals carried by 
 Mary Sims, generally, though they sometimes ate in 
 the house, and they all slept at the spring, except one 
 called John Surratt, who slept once in the house. 
 Don't say how long they stayed. It was in "planting 
 tobacco time." He attended their horses in Dr. 
 Mudd's stable. 
 
 3d. Rachel Spencer, slave of Dr. Mudd and cook at 
 his house, left him early in January, 1865; saw five 
 or six men around Dr. Mudd's house last summer; 
 slept in the pines near the house, and were furnished 
 with meals from it. Were dressed in black and blue. 
 Were there only a week, and never saw them there 
 before or since. She heard no names of the men ex- 
 cept Andrezv Gwynn and Watt Bozvie. That Albin 
 Brooke lived at Dr. Mudd's then, and was with these 
 men occasionally. 
 
 4th. Elzee Eglen, formerly Dr. Mudd's slave, left 
 him 20th August, 1863; saw a party sleeping in the 
 pines, by the spring, near the house, summer before 
 last. Knew Andrezv Gwynn, and he was one of them; 
 did not recollect any other names. Mary Sims car- 
 ried them meals, and Milo Sims attended the horses in 
 Dr. Mudd's stable. Some wore gray clothes with 
 brass buttons, but without other marks — some black 
 clothes. Did not say how many there were, nor how 
 long they stayed. 
 
 5th. Melvina Washington, formerly Dr. Mudd's 
 
72 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 slave, left him October, 1863, saw party sleeping in 
 the pines near the house summer before last; victuals 
 furnished from the house. Party stayed there about 
 a week, and then left. Some were dressed in gray, 
 and some in short jackets with little peaks behind, with 
 black buttons. She saw them seven or eight times 
 during one week, and then they all left, and she never 
 saw any of them at any other time except during that 
 week. That Andrew Gwynn 3 s name was the only one 
 she heard ; that Mary Sims used to tell her, when the 
 men were there, the names of others, but she had for- 
 gotten them. 
 
 That these five witnesses all refer to the same party 
 of men and the same year is certain, from the fact 
 that Elzee Eglen says that Mary Sims carried the 
 party he describes as being there in the summer of 
 1863 their victuals, and that Milo Sims kept their 
 horses in the stable, and Melvina Washington says 
 Mary Sims used to tell her the names of the party 
 which she described as being there in 1863 ; and also 
 from the fact that all of them, except Milo Sims, 
 named Andrew Gwynn as being one of the party. I 
 will not waste the time of the Court in pointing out to 
 it in detail the discrepancies in their evidence apparent 
 from the foregoing synopsis of their testimony; and 
 therefore, only calling its attention to the fact that all 
 of these witnesses were living with Dr. Mudd during 
 and after the year 1861 (Dyer), down to the several 
 dates given above, when they respectively left, I will 
 proceed to show from the evidence zvhat and when 
 the occurrences really were about which they have 
 testified. 
 
 1st. Ben Gwynn (named by Mary Sims as one of 
 the party) says : 
 
 "Q. Will you state whether during last summer, in 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 73 
 
 company with Captain White, from Tennessee, Cap- 
 tain Perry, Lieutenant Perry, Andrew Gywnn, and 
 George Gwynn, or either of them, you were about Dr. 
 Samuel A. Mudd's house for several days ? — A. I was 
 not. I do not know any of the parties named, and I 
 never heard of them, except Andrew Gwynn and 
 George Gwynn. 
 
 "Q. Were you with your brothers, Andrew Gwynn 
 and George Gwynn, about Dr. Mudd's house last 
 year? — A. No, sir; I have not been in Dr. Mudd's 
 house since about the first of November, 1861. I have 
 not been on his place, or nearer his place than church, 
 since about the 6th of November, 1861. 
 
 "Q. Where did you and the party who were with 
 you near Dr. Mudd's sleep ? — A. We slept in the pines 
 near the spring. 
 
 "Q. How long were you there? — A. Four or five 
 days. I left my neighborhood, and went down there 
 and stayed around in the neighborhood — part of the 
 time at his place, and part of the time elsewhere. He 
 fed us there — gave us something to eat, and had some 
 bed-clothing brought out of the house. That was all." 
 
 He further said, that the party was composed of his 
 brother, Andrew Gwynn, and Jere Dyer, who, on the 
 breaking out of the war, were, like all the people of 
 that section, panic-stricken, and apprehending arrest; 
 that he came up to Washington on the 10th of Novem- 
 ber, gave himself up, and found there were no charges 
 against him, took the oath, and went back home. That 
 John H. Surratt, when this party were there, was at 
 college, and witness never saw him in Charles County 
 then or since. That his brother, Andrew Gwynn, went 
 South in the fall of 1861, and was never, to his knowl- 
 edge, back in that county but once since, and that was 
 last winter some time. He corrected his statement as 
 
74 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 to when the party was there, and fixed it in August, 
 1861. 
 
 2d. Jere Dyer, brother-in-law of the accused, testi- 
 fies to the same as Ben. Gwynn. Says he and the two 
 Gwynns were members of companies organized by 
 authority of Governor Hicks for home protection in 
 i860; were present on parade in Washington at the in- 
 auguration of a statue, on the 226. of February, i860. 
 When the war broke out the companies were disbanded, 
 many of the members going South, and many of those 
 who remained in Charles County scattering about 
 from rumors of arrests; that there was a general 
 panic in the county then, and almost everybody was 
 leaving home and "dodging about" ; that while he 
 and the two Gwynns slept in the pines these three or 
 four days, Mary Sims carried them victuals from the 
 house, and Milo Sims attended to the horses in 
 Mudd's stables; that they were dressed in citizens' 
 clothing; that Andrew Gwynn went South in the fall 
 of 1 86 1 ; witness never heard of his being back since; 
 that Surratt was not there then, nor, so far as he 
 knows, since. 
 
 3d. William Mudd, a near neighbor of the accused, 
 named by Mary Sims as having seen the party she 
 described, says he saw Benjamin Gwynn there in 1861, 
 but saw none of the others, then or since. 
 
 4th. Albin Brooke, referred to by Mary Sims and 
 Rachel Spencer as having seen the party they describe 
 (and by Mary Sims as having seen Surratt especially), 
 says he knows Surratt, having met him in another 
 county once, and knew Benjamin Gwynn and Andrew 
 Gwynn, but that he never saw Surratt with any of the 
 men named by Mary Sims at Dr. Mudd's, nor heard 
 of his having ever been there ; never heard of Andrew 
 Gwynn being back from Virginia since 1861. That 
 he lived at Dr. Mudd's from the 1st of January to be- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 75 
 
 tween the ist and 15th of September of last year, and 
 was at the stable morning, noon, and night, each day, 
 and was about the spring daily ; while there never saw 
 any strangers' horses in the stable, nor any signs 
 about the spring of persons sleeping there; but that, 
 while living near Dr. Mudd's, in the summer of 1861, 
 he knew of Ben, and Andrew Gvvynn and Dyer sleep- 
 ing in the pines there. 
 
 5th. Mrs. Mary Jane Sims boarded, or was a guest, 
 at Dr. Mudd's all last year, except through March; 
 knew Andrew, Ben, and George Gwynn, and John H. 
 Surratt. Never saw or heard of any of them there, 
 nor of any of them sleeping in the pines. 
 
 6th. Frank Washington (colored) lived at Dr. 
 Mudd's all last year; knew Andrew Gwynn by sight; 
 never saw or heard of him or Surratt (of whom a 
 photograph was shown him), or of any of the men 
 named by Mary Sims, being there, or of any men being 
 there in uniform; at the stable three times daily, and 
 often at the spring, and saw no strange horses in the 
 stable ; saw no signs of men sleeping about the spring. 
 
 7th. Baptist Washington, carpenter, at work there 
 putting up kitchen, etc., from February till Christmas 
 last year, except the month of August ; same as above, 
 except as to knowledge of Andrew Gwynn. (Photo- 
 graph of Surratt shown him.) 
 
 8th. Charles Bloyce (colored), at Dr. Mudd's 
 through every Saturday and Sunday all last year, ex- 
 cept from 10th April to 20th May, same as Frank 
 Washington, except as to knowing Andrew Gwynn. 
 
 9th. Julia Ann Bloyce (colored cook), there from 
 early in July to 23d December, 1864; same, substan- 
 tially, as Frank Washington; knew Ben and Andrew 
 Gwynn. (Photograph of Surratt shown witness.) 
 
 10th. Emily Mudd and Fannie Mudd live on ad- 
 joining farm to* Dr. Mudd, and his father's; at his 
 
76 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 house almost daily for years ; knew of the party in the 
 pines in 1861, composed of Dyer and the two Gwynns; 
 knew Andrew Gwynn well; never heard of his being 
 back from Virginia since 1861, nor of Surratt ever 
 being at Dr. Mudd's, nor of any of the others named 
 by Mary Sims, except the Gwynns, in 1861. 
 
 11th. Henry L,. Mudd, Jr., brother of the accused, 
 living at his father's ; same as above as to Surratt. 
 
 None of the five witnesses, whose testimony has 
 been shown false in all essential parts by the evidence 
 of the twelve witnesses for defense, referred to above, 
 said that Surratt was one of the party sleeping in the 
 pines, except Mary and Milo Sims. These two wit- 
 nesses are shown to have established reputations as 
 liars, by the evidence of Charles Bloyce, Julia Ann 
 Bloyce, and Frank, Baptist, and Betty Washington. 
 So all that testimony for the prosecution, of the "in- 
 telligent contrabands," who darkened the counsels of 
 the Court in this case, is cleared away. The only 
 part of it at all admissible under the rules of evidence, 
 or entitled to the consideration of the Court, was that 
 showing Surratt was intimate with Mudd, and often 
 at his house last year and year before ; and that, like 
 nearly all the rest of their testimony, has been con- 
 clusively shown to be false. 
 
 Another witness, who testifies to implicate Mudd as 
 an associate of Surratt, is William A. Evans, who said 
 he saw Mudd some time last winter enter a house on H 
 street, just as Judson Jarboe, of Prince George's 
 County, was going out of it; and that Jarboe was 
 then shaking hands with a young lady, whom witness 
 took to be a daughter of Mrs. Surratt, from her strik- 
 ing likeness to her mother, he having known or seen 
 all the family ; and that he stopped a policeman on the 
 street, and asked whose house it was, and he said, 
 "Mrs. Surratt's"; and that he drove up to the pave- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 77 
 
 ment, and asked also a lady who lived near by, and she 
 said the same. He said this house was between 
 Eighth and Ninth, or Ninth and Tenth — he was not 
 perfectly certain as to the streets, but was certain it 
 was between the Patent Office and the President's. 
 Through an hour's cross-examination, he fought by 
 equivocation, or pleading defect of memory, against 
 fixing any circumstance by which I could learn directly 
 or indirectly the day or the month when it occurred, 
 and, finally, he could only say it was "some time last 
 winter." Although his attention had been so strongly 
 attracted to the house, he first said it was on one side 
 of the street and then on the other ; and could not tell 
 whether it had any porch or any portico, nor describe 
 its color, nor whether it had a yard in front, nor 
 whether it was near the center of the square, nor 
 describe a single house on either side of the same 
 square. He said he knew Dr. Samuel Mudd, having 
 met him first at Bryantown Church, in December, 
 1850. 
 
 Every material thing he did say, which was sus- 
 ceptible of being shown false, has been so shown. 
 
 1st. Mrs. Surratt's house is not between the Patent 
 Office and the President's, but next the corner of 
 Sixth. (Weichmann, Holahan, Miss Surratt.) 
 
 2d. Miss Surratt, an only daughter, says she never 
 saw or heard of Samuel Mudd being at her mother's 
 house, nor heard his name mentioned in the family, 
 and never met Judson Jarboe there or elsewhere before 
 the assassination. 
 
 3d. Miss Fitzpatrick, who boarded at Mrs. Surratt's 
 from the 6th of October last to the assassination, and 
 Holahan, who was there from the first week of Febru- 
 ary last, never saw either Mudd cr Jarboe there, or 
 heard of either being there, or the name of either 
 mentioned in the family. 
 
78 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 4th. Weichmann, who boarded there through last 
 winter, never heard of Mudd being at the house. 
 
 5th. Judson Jarboe says he never was at Mrs. Sur- 
 ratt's house, or met Dr. Mudd or Miss Surratt in 
 Washington before the assassination. 
 
 6th. Mary Mudd says Samuel Mudd was at Fred- 
 erick College, at Fredericktown, Maryland, in Decem- 
 ber, 1850, and was not at home during the collegiate 
 year, beginning in September of that year ; and Rev. 
 Dr. Stonestreet, who was president of that college 
 until December of that year, testifies the accused was 
 then entered as a student there, and could not by the 
 rules of the college have gone home. 
 
 This witness, Evans, boasted often to the Court 
 that he was a minister of the Gospel, and reluctantly 
 admitted on cross-examination that he was also one 
 of the secret police. In his reckless zeal as a detective, 
 he forgot the ninth commandment, and bore false wit- 
 ness against his neighbor. It is to be hoped his testi- 
 mony that he is a minister of the Gospel is as false as 
 his material evidence. I feel bound in candor to admit, 
 however, that his conduct on the stand gave an air of 
 plausibility to one of his material statements — that for 
 a month past he has "been on the verge of insanity." 
 
 I have now presented and considered all the testi- 
 mony going to show that Mudd ever met Surratt at 
 all, and all that he ever met Booth before the assas- 
 sination and after the first visit Booth made to Charles 
 County — except the testimony of Weichmann, which 
 I will now consider. 
 
 That witness says that about the middle of January 
 last he and Surratt were walking down Seventh street 
 one night, and passed Booth and Mudd walking up the 
 street, and just after they had passed, Mudd called, 
 "Surratt, Surratt." Surratt turned and recognized 
 Mudd as an old acquaintance, and introduced Mudd 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 79 
 
 to witness, and then Mudcl introduced Booth to wit- 
 ness and Surratt. That soon after the introduction 
 Booth invited them all to his room at the National Ho- 
 tel, where wine and cigars were ordered. That Dr. 
 Mudd, after the wine and cigars came, called Booth 
 into the passage, and they stayed there five to eight 
 minutes, and then both came and called Surratt out, 
 and all three stayed there about as long as Mudd 
 and Surratt had stayed, both interviews together 
 making about ten to twenty minutes. On returning 
 to the room, Dr. Mudd seated himself by witness, and 
 apologized for their private conversation, saying, "that 
 Booth and he had some private business — that Booth 
 wished to purchase his farm." And that, subse- 
 quently, Booth also apologized to him, giving the same 
 reason for the private conversation. Booth at one 
 time took the back of an envelope, and made marks on 
 it with a pencil. "I should not consider it writing, but 
 more in the direction of roads or lines." The three 
 were at that time seated round a center-table in the 
 middle of the room. "The room was very large — 
 half the size of this court-room." He was standing 
 when this was done within eight feet of them, and 
 Booth was talking in a low tone, and Surratt and 
 Mudd looking on the paper, but witness heard no word 
 of the conversation. About twenty minutes after the 
 second return from the passage, and after a good deal 
 of general conversation, they all walked round to the 
 Pennsylvania House, where the accused sat with wit- 
 ness on a lounge, and talked about the war, "expressed 
 the opinion that the war would soon be over, and 
 talked like a Union man." Soon after getting there, 
 Booth bid the accused good night, and after Booth left, 
 witness and Surratt followed, at about half-past ten 
 o'clock. 
 
 It will be observed that the only men spoken of by 
 
80 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 this witness as having seen the accused on this occa- 
 sion are Booth who is dead, and Surratt, who is a 
 fugitive from the country. So there is no one who can 
 be called to confirm or confute his statements, as to 
 the facts of these men being together, or as to the 
 character of the interview. But there was one fact 
 about which he said he could not be mistaken, and by 
 means of which his evidence against Mudd is utterly 
 overthrown. That is, he alleges the meeting was about 
 the middle of January, and fixes the time with cer- 
 tainty by three distinct circumstances : 
 
 ist. He made a visit to Baltimore about the middle 
 of January, and near the date of this meeting. 
 
 2d. He had, before the meeting, got a letter, which 
 he received on the 16th of January. 
 
 3d. It was after the Congressional holidays, and 
 Congress had resumed its session. He recollects this 
 fact of itself, and is confirmed in his recollection by the 
 fact that Booth's room was one a member of Congress 
 had occupied before the holidays, and which was given 
 Booth, as he learned, until the member, who had been 
 delayed beyond the time of the reassembling of Con- 
 gress, should return. Booth told him this. 
 
 In refutation of this evidence, we have proved, be- 
 yond all controversy, that Dr. Mudd was not in Wash- 
 ington from the 23d of December to the 23d of March. 
 
 On the 23d of December he came to Washington 
 with J. T. Mudd, who says they left their horses at 
 the Navy Yard, and went into the city at dark, on the 
 street cars, and registered at the Pennsylvania House. 
 They then went out and got supper at a restaurant, 
 and then went to the Metropolitan Hotel and stayed 
 there together a quarter of an hour, and then to the 
 National, where witness met a friend, and became 
 separated in the crowd from accused. Witness strolled 
 out and went back to the Pennsylvania House, to 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 81 
 
 which accused returned in a few minutes after he got 
 there. He saw and heard no one with the accused, 
 though there might have been persons with him in the 
 front part of the room (which was separated from 
 where witness sat by open folding doors) without wit- 
 ness seeing them. Witness and accused then went to 
 bed; were together all next day; were about the 
 market together, and at the store making purchases; 
 were not at the National Hotel, and left the city about 
 one o'clock in the afternoon of the 24th, and returned 
 home together. Witness never saw Booth, except on 
 his visit to Bryantown in November. We have shown 
 by the evidence of Lucas, Montgomery, Julia Bloyce, 
 and Jerry Mudd that accused came here on that visit 
 on a sufficient and legitimate business errand — to pur- 
 chase a cooking-stove and other articles, which he 
 bought here then. 
 
 On the 23d of March, Lewellyn Gardiner said ac- 
 cused again came to Washington with him to attend a 
 sale of condemned horses, but that the sale did not 
 occur at that time. They got to Washington at 4 or 
 5 p. m., left their horses at Martin's, beyond the Navy 
 Yard, and went about looking at some wagons for 
 sale, and went then to the Island to the house of Henry 
 Clark, where they took tea. They spent the evening 
 at Dr. Allen's playing whist, slept together that night 
 at Clark's, and after breakfast next morning went 
 through the Capitol looking at the paintings in the 
 Rotunda, and returned to Martin's at dinner, and after 
 dinner left and returned home. Accused was not 
 separated from or out of sight of witness five minutes 
 during the whole visit, and did not go to any of the 
 hotels or to the post-office, or see or inquire for Booth. 
 Dr. Allen, Clark, Martin, Thomas Davis, Mary Mudd, 
 6 
 
82 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Henry Mucld, and Betty Washington confirm witness 
 as to the objects or incidents of the visit. 
 
 _ On the nth of April, three days before the assas- 
 sination, while Booth, as appears by the hotel register, 
 was at the National in this city, accused came to Gies- 
 boro to attend the sale of Government horses, which 
 he and Lewellyn Gardiner had come on the 23d 
 of March to attend. Though in sight of Washington, 
 he did not come into the city, but took dinner at Mar- 
 tin's, and after dinner left and returned home. On 
 this visit he stayed all night at Blandford's, twelve 
 miles from the city, coming up, but not returning. 
 (Lewellyn Gardiner, Henry L. Mudd, Dr. Blandford, 
 Martin, Davis, Betty Washington, Mary Mudd.) 
 
 On the 26th of January he went with his wife to the 
 house of his neighbor, George H. Gardiner, to a party, 
 and stayed till daylight. (Betty Washington, Thomas 
 Davis, Mary Mudd.) Except for one night on the 
 occasion of each of those four visits — two to Wash- 
 ington, one to Giesboro, and one to Gardiner's — ac- 
 cused was not absent from home a night from 23d 
 December until his arrest. (Betty Washington, 
 Thomas Davis, Henry L. Mudd, Mary Mudd, Frank 
 Washington.) 
 
 After the evidence for the defense above referred to 
 had been introduced, refuting and completely over- 
 whelming Weichmann's testimony and all inferences 
 as to Dr. Mudd's complicity with Booth which might 
 be drawn from it, a new accuser was introduced 
 against him on the same point in the person of Marcus 
 P. Norton, who said that at half-past 10 o'clock, on 
 the morning of the 3d of March, as he was preparing 
 his papers to go to the Supreme Court to argue a 
 motion in a patent case there pending (which motion 
 the record of the Court shows he did argue on that 
 day), a stranger abruptly entered his room and as 
 
THE LIFE OF Bit. SAMUEL A. MUDD 83 
 
 abruptly retired, saying' he was looking for Mr. 
 Booth's room ; and though witness never saw Dr. 
 Mudd before or since, until the day of his testifying, 
 he says that stranger is the prisoner at the bar. He 
 could not tell any article of the stranger's clothing 
 except a black hat. Wm. A. Evans, a part of whose 
 evidence we have hereinbefore considered, comes to 
 the support of Norton, by saying that early on the 
 morning of either the ist, or 2d, or 3d of March (wit- 
 ness is certain it was one of those three days) Dr. 
 Mudd passed witness on the road from Bryantown to 
 Washington, a few miles from the city, driving a two- 
 horse rockaway, and there was a man in with him, but 
 whether a black or a white man witness could not 
 recollect. Fortunately for the accused, the ist day of 
 March was Ash Wednesday — the first day of Lent, — a 
 religious holiday of note and observance in the com- 
 munity of Catholics among whom he lived. Fortu- 
 nately for him, too, his sister Mary was taken ill on 
 that day, and required his medical attendance (at her 
 father's house, on the farm adjoining his own, thirty 
 miles from Washington) each day from the 2d to the 
 7th of March, inclusive. By the aid of these two cir- 
 cumstances we have been able to show by Thomas 
 Davis that accused was at work at home on the 28th of 
 February (the day before Ash Wednesday) ; by Dr. 
 Blandford, Frank Washington, and Betty Washington, 
 that he was there at work at home on the ist of 
 March; by Mary, Fanny, Emily and Henry L. Mudd, 
 Betty and Frank Washington, and Thomas Davis, 
 that he was there on the 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th of March, 
 at various hours of each day. At or within two hours 
 of the time when Norton says he saw the accused enter 
 the room at the National (10.30 a. m., 3d of March), 
 Mary, Emily, Fanny, and Henry L. Mudd, Frank and 
 Betty Washington, Thomas and John Davis, all testify 
 
84 THE LIFE OF PR, SAMUEL A. MTJDD 
 
 most emphatically to having seen him at his house, on 
 his farm, or at his father's house adjacent to his 
 own — six hours' ride from Washington ! We have 
 shown, too, by Mary Mudd, that the accused has 
 always worn a lead-colored hat whenever she has seen 
 him this year, and that she has seen him almost daily; 
 and by Henry Mudd, Dr. Blandford, and Mary Mudd 
 that neither lie nor his father owns a rockaway. Now, 
 Norton either saw the accused enter his room on the 
 morning of the 3d of March or not at all, for his evi- 
 dence, clinched as to the date by the record of the 
 Supreme Court, excludes the supposition that he could 
 have been mistaken as to the day. Nor can these 
 eight witnesses for the defense be mistaken as to the 
 day, for the incidents by which they recollect Mucld's 
 presence at home fix the time in their memories ex- 
 actly. With all this evidence before the Court, it can- 
 not hesitate to hold the alibi established beyond all 
 cavil. 
 
 The only other item of evidence as to anything done 
 or said by Dr. Mudd, or by anybody, before the assas- 
 sination, tending in the least to show him implicated 
 in the conspiracy, is the evidence of Daniel I. Thomas, 
 who says that several weeks before the assassination 
 he met Mudd at the house of his neighbor, Downing, 
 and there, in the course of conversation, Mudd said 
 (laughingly) that "Lincoln and his whole Cabinet, 
 and every Union man in the State of Maryland, would 
 be killed within six weeks." Witness said he wrote to 
 Colonel John C. Holland, provost marshal of that dis- 
 trict, at Ellicott's Mills, before the assassination, ad- 
 vising him of Mudd's statement. But Colonel Hol- 
 land says he got a letter from witness about that time, 
 and there was not a word of the statement in it, nor 
 a reference to the accused, nor to any statement by 
 anybody about killing anybody. Thomas says he told 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL, A. MUDD 85 
 
 his brother, Dr. Thomas, of the declaration before the 
 President was killed, but his brother says emphatically 
 he did not tell him until after Mudd's arrest — the boot 
 found at Mudd's house having been named in the same 
 conversation. Thomas says he told Mr. Downing 
 about it before the assassination, but Downing says 
 emphatically he did not tell him a word about it at 
 any time. Downing also says that he himself was 
 present every moment of the time Mudd and Thomas 
 were together at his house, and heard every word said 
 by either of them, and Mudd did not make that state- 
 ment, nor refer to the President, or the Cabinet, or the 
 Union men of Maryland, at all, nor say a word about 
 anybody being killed. He says, however, Mudd, when 
 Thomas was bragging and lying about being a provost 
 marshal, did tell him "he was a jack" — which insult 
 was doubtless an incentive to the invention of the 
 calumny. But it was not the only incentive. Thomas 
 knew that if that lie could be palmed off on the Judge- 
 Advocate and the Court for truth, it might lead to 
 Mudd's arrest and conviction as one of the con- 
 spirators. He had, on Tuesday, before Mudd's arrest, 
 and before his lie was coined and circulated, been post- 
 ing hand-bills, containing the order of the War De- 
 partment offering liberal rewards for any information 
 leading to the arrest of Booth's accomplices, and he 
 then, doubtless, conceived the idea of at once getting 
 reward in money from the Government for his infor- 
 mation, and revenge on Mudd for his insult in Down- 
 ing's house. That he gave that evidence corruptly is 
 shown by Wm. Watson, John R. Richardson, and 
 Benjamin Naylor, who say that Thomas, after testify- 
 ing against Mudd, went to see them, and said, that "if 
 Dr. Mudd ivas convicted upon his testimony, he zvould 
 then have given conclusive evidence that he gave the 
 information that led to the detection of the conspira- 
 
86 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 tor!" "He then asked Mr. Benjamin J. Naylor if he 
 did not mention to him and Gibbons, before the killing 
 of the President, the language that Dr. Mudd had 
 used. Mr. Naylor said that he had never done it, be- 
 fore or after!" "He said his portion of the reward 
 ought to be $10,000 — and asked me (Watson) if I 
 would not, as the best loyal man in Prince George's 
 County, give him a certificate of how much he ought 
 to be entitled to" The testimony of Richards, and 
 of EH J. Watson, coupled with Thomas's testimony 
 in denial of these statements, fill the record of infamy 
 of this false witness. 
 
 To accumulate evidence that Thomas's statement is 
 utterly unreliable, the defense brought over twenty of 
 his neighbors, who testified that he could not be be- 
 lieved on oath — among whom were Naylor, Robey, 
 Richards, Orme, Joseph Waters, John Waters, J. F. 
 Watson, Eli Watson, Smith, Baden, Dickens, Haw- 
 kins, Monroe, and others, of undisputed loyalty, nearly 
 all of whom had known him from boyhood. His 
 brother, Dr. Thomas, testifies that he is at times de- 
 ranged ; and Dr. Geo. Mudd says he is mentally and 
 morally insane. And, although Thomas's evidence 
 was the most important in the case against Dr. Mudd, 
 the Judge-Advocate has not seriously attempted to 
 sustain him — has not tried to show that he ever told 
 or hinted at this story to anybody before the assas- 
 sination — and has not asked one of the scores of wit- 
 nesses for the prosecution in attendance from 
 Thomas's neighborhood a question as to his reputation 
 for veracity — except Wm. Watson, who said it was 
 decidedly bad. A feeble attempt was made to sustain 
 him by endeavoring to show that he was a zealous sup- 
 porter of the Administration, and that, therefore, the 
 general voice of his community was against him. But 
 we showed he was a rebel at the beginning of the war, 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MTJDD 87 
 
 and an opponent of the Administration at the last 
 election — and then the Judge-Advocate dropped him. 
 
 This is all the evidence of every act or word done 
 or said by anybody, prior to the assassination, tending 
 in the remotest degree to connect Mudd with the con- 
 spiracy. It consists, in large part, of the testimony of 
 the five negroes, as to the Confederate officers fre- 
 quenting Mudd's house last year and the year before — 
 two of them, Milo and Mary Sims, as to Surratt's 
 visiting his house last year — of Evans as to Mudd's 
 going to Surratt's house last winter — of Evans and 
 Norton as to Mudd being here on the 3d of March — of 
 Weichmann as to the interview between Mudd, Booth, 
 and Surratt, about the middle of January — and of 
 Thomas as to Mudd's prediction of the assassination 
 in March. I venture to say that rarely in the annals 
 of criminal trials has the life of an accused been as- 
 sailed by such an array of false testimony as is ex- 
 hibited in the evidence of these nine witnesses — and 
 rarely has it been the good fortune of an innocent man, 
 arraigned and on trial for his life, to so confute and 
 overwhelm his accusers. I feel it would be a waste of 
 time and an imputation on the intelligence of the Court 
 to delay it with fuller discussion of the evidence of 
 these witnesses — and feel sure it will cast their testi- 
 mony from its deliberations, or recollect it only to re- 
 flect how foully and mistakenly the accused has been 
 assailed. 
 
 Having now discussed all the evidence adduced that 
 calls for discussion, or may by possibility be relied on 
 as showing Mudd's acquaintance with Booth, or con- 
 nection with the conspiracy, and having, I think, 
 shown that there is no reliable evidence that he ever 
 met Booth before the assassination but once on Sun- 
 day, and once the day following, in November last, I 
 will proceed to a consideration of the testimony relied 
 
88 THE LIEE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 on to show that he knowingly aided the escape of the 
 assassin. 
 
 ist. Why did Booth go to Dr. Mudd's and stop 
 there from daybreak till near sundown on his flight? 
 I answer, because he had a broken leg and needed a 
 physician to set it. And as to the length of the stay, 
 the wonder is he was able to ride off* on horse-back 
 with his broken and swollen limb at all — not that he 
 took ten hours' rest. The Court will observe, from 
 the map in evidence, that Booth, taking Surrattsville 
 in his route to Pope's Creek, opposite Matthias Point, 
 where he crossed the Potomac (Captain Doherty), 
 traveled at least eight or ten miles out of his way to 
 go, after leaving Surrattsville, by Dr. Mudd's. (See 
 Dyer's testimony.) Would he have gone that far out 
 of his route to the Potomac crossing if he had not 
 broken his leg ? Or was it part of his plan to break it ? 
 Obviously, he could not in advance have planned to 
 escape by crossing the Patuxent, nor to evade his pur- 
 suers by lying concealed in Charles County, within six 
 hours' ride of Washington. He must, as a sane man, 
 have contemplated and planned escape across the 
 Potomac into Virginia, and thence South or abroad; 
 and it could never have been part either of the plan of 
 abduction, or of that of assassination, to go the cir- 
 cuitous route to a crossing of the Potomac by Bryan- 
 town or Dr. Mudd's. So that the fact of Booth going 
 to the house of the accused, and stopping to get his leg 
 set and to rest, does not necessarily lead to any con- 
 clusion unfavorable to the accused. 
 
 Booth got there, with Herold, about daybreak. 
 (Frank Washington.) He usually wore a mustache 
 (see photograph), but he then wore heavy whiskers, 
 and had his face muffled in a shawl, so as to disguise 
 him. The disguise was kept up all day. (Colonel 
 Wells.) He was taken to a lounge in the hall, and 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 89 
 
 then to a front room up-stairs, where the broken bone 
 was set, where a fee of $25 was paid for the service, 
 and where, it is probable, he slept most of the day. 
 They represented that the leg had been broken by a 
 fall of the horse; that they had come from Bryantown, 
 and were going to Parson Wilmer's. After breakfast 
 accused went to his field to work. Herold, whom 
 Mudd had never met (Colonel Wells), came down to 
 breakfast and dinner with the family, and after dinner 
 he and Mudd went off together to the house of Mudd's 
 father, to get a family carriage to take the wounded 
 man to the house of Parson Wilmer, five miles off, at 
 Piney Chapel. (Lovett, Wells.) Now, can any man 
 suppose for a moment that Mudd, at this time, had the 
 slightest suspicion or intimation of the awful tragedy 
 of the night before? Could he, knowing or suspecting 
 the crime or the criminal, have thus recklessly given 
 himself up to arrest and trial, by publicly aiding the 
 escape of the assassin ? Could he have been ready to 
 expose his old father to suspicion by thus borrowing 
 his carriage, which would have been noticed by every 
 man, woman, and child on the road, to carry off the 
 assassin? Impossible! I need nothing more of the 
 Court than its consideration of this fact, to clear the 
 accused of all suspicion of having, up to that time, 
 known or suspected that a crime had been committed 
 by the crippled stranger, whom he was openly and 
 kindly seeking to aid. 
 
 But the carriage could not be got, and Mudd and 
 Herold rode off toward Bryantown to get one there. 
 Colonel Wells thinks the accused told him that Her- 
 old turned back when getting one and a half miles 
 from the elder Mudd's house, saying he could take his 
 friend off on horseback. Betty Briscoe and Eleanor 
 Bloyce, however, say they saw a man riding toward 
 
90 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL. A. MUDD 
 
 Bryantown with the accused, who turned back at the 
 bridge at the edge of the town. 
 
 Mudd made some purchases of calico and other 
 articles, and heard of the assassination. (Bean.) It 
 was not generally known then among the citizens who 
 was the assassin. (Bean, Roby, Trotter, B. W. 
 Gardiner, M. L. McPherson, John McPherson.) In 
 fact, it was not generally known with certainty at the 
 theater, or in Washington, Friday night, whether 
 Booth was the murderer. (Gobright.) In Bryan- 
 town it was commonly understood that Boyle, a noted 
 desperado of that region, who assassinated Captain 
 Watkins last fall, was one of the assassins. (M. L. 
 McPherson, Bean, Trotter, Roby.) It was not known 
 that the murderer had been tracked into that neighbor- 
 hood. (Bean, Dr. George Mudd.) Lieutenant Dana 
 told Dr. George Mudd, Saturday afternoon, that Boyle 
 assassinated Mr. Seward and Booth the President, but 
 that he thought Booth had not then got out of Wash- 
 ington. Even next day (Sunday) it was reported 
 there that it was Edwin Booth who killed the Presi- 
 dent. 
 
 The accused left Bryantown about four o'clock to 
 return home. Betty Briscoe says the same man who 
 had turned back at the bridge stopped in the edge of a 
 branch, which the road crosses a couple of hundred 
 yards from the bridge, until Mudd returned from 
 town, and then they rode off together across the 
 branch, "up the road." But Boos says he saw Mudd 
 a couple of hundred yards beyond that crossing leis- 
 urely going through the farm Booz lives on, by a near- 
 cut which he usually traveled, alone; and that he 
 would himself have probably noticed the man at the 
 crossing ; which was in full view of where he was, had 
 he been waiting there; and would have certainly 
 noticed him had he been with Mudd traveling the main 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 91 
 
 road, when Miuld turned into the cut-off through the 
 farm — but he saw no one but the accused. Susan 
 Stezvart also saw Mudd in the by-road returning home 
 alone, and did not see any man going the main road, 
 which was in full view. I call the attention of the 
 Court to the plat by which the branch and these roads 
 are shown, and to the fact that there is no road turning 
 off from the main road between Booz's place and 
 Bryantown, except the side road by Booz's house. If 
 further refutation of the testimony of Betty Briscoe on 
 this point be required, it is found in the evidence of 
 Primus Johnson, who saw Herold pass the elder 
 Mudd's in the main road, going toward the house of 
 the accused, and some time after that himself caught 
 a horse in the pasture, and rode toward Bryantown, 
 and met and passed Dr. Mudd coming leisurely from 
 Bryantown, clone, at Booz's farm; and that from the 
 time he saw Herold until he met and passed Mudd 
 was full an hour and a half. And in the evidence of 
 John Acton, who was on the roadside, three miles 
 from Bryantown when Herold passed, at between 
 three and four o'clock, and who remained there an 
 hour, and Dr. Mudd did not go by in that time. 
 Acton also says that between the time Herold and 
 Mudd went toward Bryantown and the time Herold 
 returned alone was but three-quarters of an hour. 
 From the fact that Herold could not have ridden to 
 the bridge and back in that time (six miles), it seems 
 highly probable that he did not go to the bridge, but 
 turned back about where Colonel Wells thinks Mudd 
 said he did. But however that may be is not impor- 
 tant, as it is certain from the evidence of these four 
 witnesses that Herold did not wait at the branch for 
 Mudd's return from Bryantown. 
 
 As Mudd rode home, he turned out of his way to 
 see his neighbor, Hardy (who lives half-way between 
 
92 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 the house of the accused and Bryantown), about some 
 rail-timber he had engaged there. The house is not in 
 view of the road, a clump of pine intervening. He 
 told Hardy and Farrell of the news. Hardy says : 
 
 "He said to me that there was terrible news now, 
 that the President and Mr. Seward and his son had 
 been assassinated the evening before. Something was 
 said in that connection about Boyle (the man who is 
 said to have killed Captain Watkins) assassinating 
 Mr. Seward. I remember that Booth's name was 
 mentioned in the same connection, and I asked him if 
 Booth was the man who had been down there. His 
 reply was that he did not know whether it was that 
 man or one of his brothers ; he understood that he had 
 some brothers. That ended the conversation, except 
 that he said it was one of the most terrible calamities 
 that could have befallen the country at this time. 
 
 "Q. Did you say that it was understood or said that 
 Booth was the assassin of the President? — A. There 
 was some such remark made, but I do not exactly 
 remember the remark." 
 
 They both say he seemed heartily sorry for the 
 calamity, and that he said he had just come from 
 Bryantown, and heard the news there. Hardy says 
 he stayed there only about ten minutes, and left just 
 about sundown. Farrell corroborates Hardy as to the 
 conversation, except that he reports nothing as to 
 Boyle's name being mentioned; but he says the con- 
 versation was going on when he joined Hardy and 
 Mudd. He says the house is less than a quarter of a 
 mile off the road, and that accused stayed there about 
 fifteen minutes. 
 
 Now, I ask the Court, what is there up to this point 
 to indicate that Mudd knew or had any suspicion that 
 the broken-legged man was implicated in the crime? 
 If there is anything in proof showing that fact, I fail 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 93 
 
 to find it. True, he had met Booth twice in Novem- 
 ber — five months before. Had seen him that dark, 
 cloudy morning, at day-break, faint with fatigue and 
 suffering, muffled in his shawl and disguised in a heavy 
 beard; had ministered to him in the dim light of a 
 candle, w T hose rays struggled with the dull beams of 
 the opening day; had seen him, perhaps, sleeping in 
 the darkened chamber, his mustache then shaved off, 
 his beard still on, his effort at concealment still main- 
 tained. (Wells.) And here let me remind the 
 Court, that there is nothing in the evidence showing 
 that Booth spoke a zvord — but where either of the men 
 are referred to as saying anything, "the smaller man" 
 was the spokesman. Let it be remembered too that 
 Booth was an actor, accustomed by years of profes- 
 sional practice to disguise his person, his features, and 
 his tones — so that if Mudd had been an intimate asso- 
 ciate, instead of a mere casual acquaintance, it would 
 have been easy for Booth to maintain a disguise even 
 when subjected to close scrutiny under circumstances 
 favorable to recognition. If the Court will also con- 
 sider with what delicacy a physician and a gentleman 
 would naturally refrain from an obtrusive scrutiny of 
 a patient coming to his house under the circumstances, 
 they will appreciate how easy it was for Booth to avoid 
 recognition, and how probable that Mudd had no sus- 
 picion who his patient was. Had he recognized Booth 
 before he went to Bryantown, and heard there that 
 name connected with the "terrible calamity," would he 
 have jogged quietly home, stopping to chat with Booz, 
 to look after his rail-timber, to talk of the names of 
 the assassins with his neighbors? Unless the Court 
 start out with the hypothesis of guilt, and substitutes 
 unsupported suspicion for proof, — which I respect 
 them too highly to fear for a moment they will do, — 
 
94 THE LIFE OP 1)11. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 they cannot charge him with a recognition of Booth 
 before lie returned home from Bryantown. 
 
 Hardy says it was about sundown when Mudd left; 
 Farrell says about five o'clock. He had two miles to 
 ride home. It must have been sundown when he got 
 home, and the men had just gone. Betty Washington 
 says that three or four minutes after Herold (the last 
 of the two) disappeared toward the swamp, Mudd 
 came through the hall to the kitchen, and was then first 
 seen by her after his return from Bryantown. The 
 other servants had not come from the field when the 
 men started — and we are therefore left to that one 
 witness to show that the statement of Simon Gavacan, 
 one of the detectives, who says "he thinks" Mudd 
 said he went with them part of the way, is incorrect. 
 It is inconsistent, too, with Mudd's statement to Colo- 
 nel Wells on the subject, which is as follows: "The 
 Doctor said that as he came back to the house he saw 
 the person that he afterward supposed to be Herold, 
 passing to the left of the house, and toward the barn 
 or the stable; that he did not see the other person at 
 all after he left him at the house, which was about one 
 o'clock, I think." This statement, and that of Betty 
 Washington, last above quoted, coincide with and 
 strengthen each other. 
 
 It is true Dr. Mudd did say to all who asked him that 
 he had shown Herold the way to Parson Wilmer's by 
 the short route, but this was in the morning, soon after 
 the parties reached the house, and before the idea of 
 the carriage appears to have been suggested. This is 
 shown by the statement of Colonel Wells, who says 
 that the accused, in the same conversation in which he 
 said that Booth and Herold had just gone from the 
 lwuse as he came up, told him that, "Herold, the 
 younger of them, asked him the direct route to Piney 
 Chapel, Dr. Wilmer's, saying that he was acquainted 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 95 
 
 with Dr. Wilnier." He described the main traveled 
 road, which leads to the right of his house, and was 
 then asked if there was not a shorter or nearer road. 
 He said, "Yes, there is a road across the swamp that 
 is about a mile nearer, I think" ; he said it was five 
 miles from his house to Piney Chapel by the direct 
 road and four miles by the marsh, and undertook to 
 give him (as he said) a description by which they 
 could go by the nearer route. He said that the direc- 
 tions were these — they were to pass down by his barn, 
 inclining to the left, and then pass straight forward in 
 a new direction across the marsh, and that on passing 
 across the marsh they would come to a hill ; keeping- 
 over the hill, they would come in sight of the roof of 
 a barn, and letting down one or two fences they would 
 reach the direct road. 
 
 The accused meant, of course, that this inquiry and 
 explanation occurred before his return to the house 
 from Bryantown — and so Colonel Wells understood 
 him, for he so in effect says. The statement of the 
 accused to Dr. Geo. Mudd, the next day after Booth 
 left, is to the same effect. He said, "That these 
 parties stated that they came from Bryantown, and 
 were inquiring the way to the Rev. Dr. Wilmer's" — ■ 
 thus putting their inquiry for the route to Parson Wil- 
 mer's in direct connection with their early explanation 
 as to whence they came. 
 
 I have no doubt that Gavacan, the detective, recol- 
 lects an inference which he, and perhaps also his asso- 
 ciate detective, Williams, drew from Dr. Mudd saying 
 that he had shown Herold the route to Parson Wil- 
 mer's, that he showed it as Booth and Herold were 
 leaving. But the inferences of detectives, under the 
 strong stimulus of prospective rewards, are inferences 
 generally of guilt ; and that these gentlemen were not 
 free from the weaknesses of their profession, and that 
 
96 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 they grossly misrepresented Dr. Mudd in other im- 
 portant statements, will presently be shown to the sat- 
 isfaction of the Court. 
 
 Now, if Mudd did not know, when he talked with 
 Hardy about the assassination, and spoke of Booth in 
 connection with it, that the assassin was at his 
 house, — as I think the evidence shows he did not, — 
 then when did he first suspect it? Colonel Wells says 
 his inference was, from something the accused said, 
 that he suspected the crippled man to be Booth before 
 he left the premises. The evidence not only shows 
 that when Mudd returned Booth had gone out of 
 sight, but it also shows what fact it was that, added to 
 the undue excitement of the strangers, and to the fact 
 that the crippled man shaved off his mustache, thor- 
 oughly aroused his suspicion. It was the fact that his 
 wife said to him, after they left, that as the crippled 
 man came down to go his false whiskers became 
 detached from his face. (Lieut. Lovett.) When she 
 told him this, and what he said or proposed to do, zvas 
 not shown by the prosecution, and, by the rules of evi- 
 dence, could, not be by the defense. But that was a 
 fact which could not probably have been communicated 
 to Mudd by his wife until Booth had gone. 
 
 In the evidence adduced as to Mudd's subsequent 
 conduct and statements, I need only call the attention 
 of the Court to two points, for in it there is nothing 
 else against him. 
 
 ist. He did not tell on Tuesday that the boot was 
 there, far down in the leg of which was found by the 
 officers "J. Wilkes," written in pale ink. I answer, 
 the boot was not found by his wife until several days 
 after the assassin left, and was then found in sweeping 
 under the bed. (Hardy.) We have every reason to 
 suppose it was not found until after Tuesday, for the 
 accused, on Friday, before a question was asked or a 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 97 
 
 word communicated to him, told of the boot himself, 
 and had it produced, and said, in presence of his wife, 
 it was found by her after the officers were there before. 
 (Hardy.) 
 
 2d. Of the three detectives who went to the house 
 of accused, Tuesday, Williams says : Accused denied 
 throughout that two men had been there; yet he says 
 on cross-examination, that accused, in the same con- 
 versation, pointed out the route the men had taken 
 toward Wilmer's. Gavacan said he at first denied two 
 men had passed there, and then admitted it. Lloyd 
 says he denied it from beginning to end, on Tuesday. 
 But Lieutenant Lovett, who went with and in com- 
 mand of these detectives, speaking of this interview on 
 Tuesday, says: "We first asked whether there had 
 been any strangers at his house and he said there 
 were." The three detectives are manifestly mistaken; 
 either from infirmity of memory, or from some less 
 pardonable cause, they have failed to recollect and 
 truthfully render what Dr. Mudd did say on that sub- 
 ject. 
 
 The commentators upon the law of evidence give a 
 caution which it may be well for the Court to observe. 
 They admonish us how easy it is for a corrupt witness 
 to falsify a conversation of a person accused, and as 
 the accused cannot be heard, how difficult, if not im- 
 possible, contradiction is. How easy for an honest 
 witness to misunderstand, or in repeating what was 
 said to substitute his own language or inference for 
 the language which was really used, and thus change 
 its whole meaning and import. In no case can the 
 caution be more pertinent than in this. The very 
 frenzy of madness ruled the hour. Reason was swal- 
 lowed up in patriotic passion, and a feverish and in- 
 tense excitement prevailed most unfavorable to a calm, 
 7 
 
98 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 correct hearing and faithful repetition of what was 
 said, especially by the suspected. Again, and again, 
 and again the accused was catechised by detectives, 
 each of whom was vieing with the other as to which 
 should make the most important discoveries, and each 
 making the examination with a preconceived opinion of 
 guilt, and with an eager desire, if not determination, 
 to find in what might be said the proofs of guilt. 
 Again, the witnesses against the accused have testified 
 under the strong stimulus of promised reward for 
 information leading to arrests and followed by convic- 
 tions. (See order of Secretary of War.) At any 
 time and in any community an advertisement of re- 
 wards to informers would be likely to be responded 
 to — at a time, and on an occasion like this, it would be 
 a miracle if it failed of effect. In view of these con- 
 siderations, the Court cannot be too vigilant in its 
 scrutiny of the evidence of these detectives, or too cir- 
 cumspect in determining the influence to be given to it. 
 No more effective refutation of this statement, that 
 Mudd denied on Tuesday that two strangers had been 
 at his house, can be given, than to ask how came Lieu- 
 tenant Lovett and the detectives at Dr. Mudd's? 
 They did not scent out the track for themselves. 
 They were at Bryantown on Saturday and were at 
 fault, and had they been let alone would probably have 
 remained at fault, and not have gone to Dr. Mudd's. 
 By whom and when was the information given which 
 brought them there? The next morning after the 
 startling news of the assassination reached him, the 
 accused went to Dr. George Mudd, a man of spotless 
 integrity and veracity, and of loyalty unswerving 
 through all the perilous and distressing scenes of the 
 border war, and fully informed him of all that had 
 occurred — the arrival of the two strangers, the time 
 and circumstances under which they came, what he 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 99 
 
 had done for them, the suspicions he entertained, when 
 they departed, and what route they had taken; and 
 requested him, on his behalf and in his name, to com- 
 municate this information to the military authorities 
 on his return that day to Bryantown. Dr. George 
 Mudd did make the communication as requested, on 
 Monday morning, to Lieutenant Dana, and further 
 informed him of Dr. Samuel Mudd's desire to be sent 
 for for any further information which it might be in 
 his power to give. In consequence of this, and of this 
 alone, Lieutenant Lovett and the detectives did, on 
 Tuesday, go to the house of the accused, accompanied 
 by Dr. George Mudd, who prefaced his introduction 
 by informing the accused that, in accordance with his 
 request, he had brought Lieutenant Lovett and the 
 detectives to confer with him in reference to the 
 strangers who had been at his house Saturday. Of 
 these facts there is no doubt or dispute. They stand 
 too prominently upon the record to be ignored or 
 evaded. But for this information the detectives 
 would not have been at the house of the accused at all. 
 They came at his request, and when they came it is 
 absurd and idle to say that he denied, almost in the 
 presence of Dr. George Mudd, who had been his 
 messenger, and was then in the house, that the two 
 strangers had been there. On the contrary, the evi- 
 dence shows he imparted all he knew, and pointed out 
 the route which the strangers took when they left — but 
 which Lieutenant Lovett and the detectives did not at 
 once pursue, because they chose to consider his state- 
 ment uncandid, and intended to put them upon a false 
 scent. Indeed, so accurate was the description given 
 by the accused to Lieutenant Lovett, Tuesday, of the 
 persons who had been at his house, that the Lieutenant 
 says he was satisfied, from Mudd's description, they 
 were Booth and Herold. 
 
100 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 It was in great part by reason of Dr. Mudd's having 
 delayed from Saturday night until Sunday noon to 
 send to the authorities at Bryantown information as to 
 the suspected persons who had been at his house, that 
 he was arrested and charged as a conspirator; and 
 yet I assert this record shows he moved more promptly 
 in communicating his information than they did in 
 acting on it. His message was communicated to Lieu- 
 tenant Dana Monday morning. Tuesday, Lieutenant 
 Lovett and the detectives came, and that officer got 
 such information from Dr. Mudd as convinced him the 
 suspected persons were Booth and Herold, and yet it 
 was not until Colonel Wells came, on Saturday, that 
 an energetic effort was made to find the route of the 
 assassin. On that day Dr. Mudd himself went with 
 that officer, and followed the tracks on the route indi- 
 cated beyond the marsh into a piece of ploughed 
 ground, where the tracks were lost. But Colonel 
 Wells had got the general direction, and it was in con- 
 sequence of the information sent by the accused to the 
 authorities the day after Booth left his house that he 
 was tracked to the Potomac. 
 
 But the evidence does not show that Dr. Mudd 
 delayed at all in communicating his information, for it 
 does not show when his wife told him of the false 
 whiskers of the crippled man. But, admit she told 
 him on Saturday evening, as soon as the men left. It 
 was four miles to Bryantown, and his wife may have 
 feared to be left alone that night. Boyle, who haunted 
 that neighborhood, was understood by Dr. Mudd to 
 have been one of the assassins (Hardy), and may not 
 his or his wife's fears of the vengeance of that des- 
 perado have prevented him communicating his sus- 
 picions direct and in person to the officer at Bryan- 
 town? He told Dr. George Mudd next day, when 
 asking him to go to the authorities with the informa- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 101 
 
 tion, to caution them not to let it be publicly known 
 that he had volunteered the statement, lest he might be 
 assassinated in revenge for having done it. 
 
 Having thus presented and discussed somewhat in 
 detail the testimony in this case, I now ask the indul- 
 gence of the Court while I briefly review some of its 
 leading features. 
 
 Booth and Mudd met first in November last at 
 church, near Bryantown, casually, and but for a few 
 minutes. Their conversation was in presence of many 
 others, including men of unquestioned loyalty. Next 
 morning, Booth left Dr. Queen's, rode by Mudd's, 
 talked of buying his farm, got him to show him over 
 to Gardiner's, a quarter of a mile off, where he bought 
 a horse, Mudd manifesting no interest in the purchase. 
 They rode away together toward Mudd's house, and 
 toward Bryantown, where Gardiner found Booth next 
 morning at the village hotel. Booth was again at Dr. 
 Queen's in the middle of December. But the evidence 
 shows that he did not go into Mudd's neighborhood, 
 or seek or see him. So far as we dare speak from the 
 evidence — and we should dare speak from nothing 
 else — that is all the intercourse between Mudd and 
 Booth in that neighborhood before the assassination. 
 
 What was there in that to attract attention or excite 
 remark toward Mudd more than to Dr. Queen or Mr. 
 Gardiner, or any other gentleman in Charles County, 
 to whom Booth had been introduced, and with whom 
 he had conversed. All that is shown to have passed 
 between them was perfectly natural and harmless, and 
 nothing is to be presumed which was not shown. 
 True, they might have -talked of and plotted assassina- 
 tion ; but did they ? Is there, in the intercourse which 
 had thus far occurred, any incident from which such 
 a deduction could be drawn, or which would justify a 
 suspicion that any such thing was thought of or hinted 
 
102 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 at? Nor did they ever meet again anywhere before 
 the assassination, unless the testimony of Weichmann 
 is to be accepted as true, which, upon this point, at least 
 is quite unworthy of credence. He swears to having 
 met Dr. Mudd and Booth in the City of Washington, 
 about the middle of January — certainly after the holi- 
 days. But it is in proof by many witnesses, who 
 cannot be mistaken, have not been impeached, and who 
 unquestionably stated the truth, that Dr. Mudd was 
 from home but one night from the 23d of December 
 to the 23d of March, and that night at a party in his 
 own neighborhood. If this be so, and there is no 
 reason to doubt it, then Weichmann's statement cannot 
 be true. The mildest thing that can be said of him, 
 as of Norton, is, that he was mistaken in the man. 
 That which was attempted to be shown by this contra- 
 dicted witness (Weichmann) was, that Dr. Mudd and 
 Booth, who were almost strangers to each other, met 
 Surratt, to whom Booth was unknown, at the National 
 Hotel, and within half an hour after the meeting 
 plotted the assassination of the President, his Cabinet, 
 the Vice-President, and General Grant — all this in 
 Washington, and in the presence of a man whom one 
 of the supposed conspirators knew to be an employee 
 of the War Department, and had reason to believe was 
 a Government detective! It is monstrous to believe 
 any such thing occurred. It outrages all that we have 
 learned of the philosophy of human nature, all that we 
 know of the motives and principles of human actions. 
 And yet, if Mudd was not then and there inducted into 
 the plot, he never was. He never saw Booth again 
 until after the assassination, and never saw any of the 
 other conspirators at all. Twice, then, and twice 
 only — unless the Court shall accept the testimony of 
 Weichmann against the clear proofs of an alibi, and 
 then only three times — he and Booth had met. None 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 103 
 
 of these meeting's occurred later than the 15th of 
 January. They are shown to have been accidental 
 and brief. The parties had but little conversation, 
 and portions of that little have been repeated to the 
 Court. So far as it has been disclosed, it was as inno- 
 cent as the prattle of children, and not a word was 
 breathed that can be tortured into criminality — not a 
 word or an act that betokens malign purposes. 
 Against how many scores of loyal persons, even in 
 this community, may stronger evidence be adduced 
 than against Mudd, if the mere fact of meeting and 
 conversing with Booth is to be accepted as evidence of 
 guilt? Booth was a guest at the National Hotel — in- 
 telligent, agreeable, of attractive manner, with no 
 known blemish on his character as a man or a citizen. 
 He had the entree of the drawing-rooms, and mingled 
 freely with the throngs that assembled there. His 
 society, so far from being shunned, was courted; and 
 the fairest ladies of the land, the daughters of distin- 
 guished statesmen and patriots, deemed it no dispar- 
 agement to them to accept his escort and attentions. 
 It is not extravagant to say, that hundreds of true, 
 Union-loving, loyal people in this and other cities, were 
 on terms of cordial and intimate association with him. 
 And why should they not have been? He was under 
 no suspicion. They did not shun him. Why should 
 Mudd ? And why shall what was innocent in them be 
 held proof of guilt in him? Let it be remembered in 
 this connection, that Dr. Mudd's house was searched 
 and his papers seized ; that Surratt's house was seized 
 and searched; that all the effects of Booth, Atzerodt, 
 Arnold, Herold, Spangier, and Mrs. Surratt, that 
 could be found, were seized and examined; and that 
 among them all not a letter, a note, a memorandum, 
 not the scrape of a pen by any person or in any form, 
 has been found implicating Dr. Mudd. Let it further 
 
104 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 be remembered, that all these persons have been sub- 
 jected to repeated examinations, under appalling cir- 
 cumstances, by various officials of the Government, 
 eager to catch the faintest intimation of Mudd's com- 
 plicity, and that not one of them has mentioned or 
 hinted at his name. Let it also be remembered, that 
 anonymous letters have been picked up in railroad- 
 cars, found in pigeon-holes at hotels, rescued from the 
 waves, and that the continent has been traversed and 
 the ocean vexed in search of proofs of the conspiracy, 
 its instigators, leaders, and abettors, and that in all 
 this written and oral testimony there is not a word 
 making the remotest allusion to Dr. Mudd. The 
 probabilities are as a thousand to one that he never 
 knew, or heard, or imagined, of a purpose, much less 
 plotted in a conspiracy, either to capture or to assassi- 
 nate the President. There is not only a failure to 
 show his connection affirmatively, but, if the rules of 
 law be reversed, and guilt presumed until innocence be 
 shown, then, I say, he has carried his proofs in nega- 
 tion of complicity to a point as near demonstration as 
 it is possible for circumstantial evidence to reach. I 
 once more concede that (if the Court accept Weich- 
 mann's statement) it is possible he may have talked 
 treason and plotted assassination with Booth and Sur- 
 ratt, but it is indefinitely removed from the probable; 
 and neither liberty nor life is to be forfeited upon 
 either probabilities or possibilities. I cannot bring 
 myself to fear that this Commission will sanction 
 what, in my judgment, would be so shocking and in- 
 defensible a conclusion. 
 
 If he and Booth had, at the alleged meeting in 
 January, confederated for the perpetration of one of 
 the most stupendous and startling crimes in the annals 
 of human depravity, who can doubt that frequent 
 meetings and consultations would thereafter have 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 105 
 
 occurred, and that they would have increased in fre- 
 quency as the time for the consummation of the atro- 
 cious plot approached ? Yet, though within six hours' 
 ride of each other, they had no meetings, no consulta- 
 tions, no intercourse, no communication, no concert, 
 but were in total ignorance of each other's movements 
 and purposes. Mudd was here the 23d of March, but 
 he was not here for the purpose of seeing Booth, nor 
 did he see him. He made no inquiry for him; did 
 not call at his hotel; saw none of his associates; did 
 not speak of him; did not, so far as appears, even 
 think of him. On the nth of April, only three days 
 before the -frightful tragedy was enacted, Mudd was at 
 Giesboro, in sight of Washington. Booth was then at 
 the National Hotel; and if Mudd was leagued with 
 him, that was the time of all others, from the concep- 
 tion to the consummation of the deed, when he would 
 have seen and conferred with him. If Mudd was a 
 conspirator, he knew of Booth's presence here then; 
 yet he did not come to the city — did not inquire for 
 Booth, see him, hold communication with him, learn 
 whether he was in Washington or Boston, Nassau or 
 London. Three days only before the frightful 
 tragedy — three days before the world was astonished 
 by its enactment! Imagine, if you can — if he was a 
 conspirator — what a tumult of thought and emotion 
 must have agitated him then — what doubts and mis- 
 givings — What faltering and rallying of resolution — 
 what invocations to "stop up the access and passage 
 to remorse" — and then ask your own hearts and judg- 
 ments if it is natural, or possible, that, at such a 
 moment and under such circumstances, he could 
 quietly have transacted the business that brought him 
 to Giesboro, then turn his back upon Washington, 
 indifferent to the failure or success of the events with 
 which his own life, the happiness of his family, and 
 
106 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 all that was dear to him on earth, were bound up? If 
 a conspirator, he knew what had been, and what was to 
 be, done. He knew that the hour for the bloody busi- 
 ness was at hand, and that everything depended upon 
 the secrecy and success of its execution. Yet he was 
 indifferent. He sought no interview with his sup- 
 posed confederates — gave them no counsel or assist- 
 ance — took no precautions for security — gave no signs 
 of agitation or concern — but, in sight of the place and 
 the agents selected for the enactment of the horrible 
 deeds, turned his back upon them all, with an indif- 
 ference that bordered upon idiocy, quietly trafficked 'xt 
 Giesboro, and returned to the seclusion of his family 
 and farm. You know, gentlemen, that this is impos- 
 sible. You know that it could not have happened 
 without outraging every law of human nature and 
 human action. You know that at such an hour his 
 soul would have been shaken with the maddest storm 
 and tempest of passion, and that no mere business 
 affair on earth could have seduced his thought for a 
 moment from the savage slaughter he had in hand. It 
 would have engrossed all his thoughts, and shaped all 
 his actions. No one can, in the strong light of the 
 evidence, believe he was a conspirator. 
 
 I then confidently conclude that Dr. Mudd cannot 
 be convicted as a principal in the felony. He did not 
 participate in its commission, and was more than thirty 
 miles distant from the scene when it was committed. 
 He cannot be convicted as an accessory before the fact, 
 for the evidence fails to show that he had any knowl- 
 edge or suspicion of an intention to commit it. If, 
 then, he is to be held responsible at all, it is an acces- 
 sory after the fact. Does the evidence implicate him 
 in that character? What is an accessory after the 
 fact? 
 
 An accessory after the fact is when a person, 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 107 
 
 knowing a felony to have been committed, receives, 
 relieves, comforts, or assists him whom he knows to be 
 the felon. He must know that the felon is guilty to 
 make him an accessory, (i Chit. Crim. Law, 264.) 
 
 Any assistance given to him to hinder his being 
 apprehended, tried, or punished, is sufficient to convict 
 the offender — as lending him a horse to escape his 
 pursuers ; but the assistance or support must be given 
 in order to favor an illegal escape. ( 1 Chit. Crim. 
 Law, 265.) If a man receives, harbors, or otherwise 
 assists to elude justice, one whom he knows to be 
 guilty of felony, he becomes thereby an accessory after 
 the fact in the felony. (1 Bishop's Crim. Law, 487.) 
 Obviously, a man to be an accessory after the fact must 
 be azvare of the guilt of his principal; and, therefore, 
 one cannot become an accessory by helping to escape 
 a prisoner convicted of felony, unless he has notice of 
 the conviction, or at least of the felony committed. 
 (1 Bishop's Crim. Law, 488.) The charge against an 
 accessory consists of two parts — first, of the felonious 
 situation of the principal ; and, secondly, of the guilty 
 knowledge and conduct of the accessory. It will thus 
 be seen that knowledge of the crime committed, and of 
 the guilt of the principal who is aided, and aid and 
 assistance after acquiring that knowledge, are all 
 necessary to charge one as accessory after the fact. 
 
 Now, let us apply the facts to the law, and see 
 whether Dr. Mudd falls within the rule. On the 
 morning after the assassination, about daybreak, Booth 
 arrived at his house. He did not find the Doctor on 
 watch for him, as a guilty accomplice, expecting his 
 arrival, would have been, but he and all his household 
 were in profound sleep. Booth came with a broken 
 leg, and his companion, Herold, reported that it had 
 happened by the fall of his horse, and that they had 
 come from Bryantown, and were going to Parson 
 
108 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Wilmer's. The Doctor rose from his bed, assisted 
 Booth into the house, laid him upon a sofa, took him 
 up stairs to a bed, set the fractured bone, sent him a 
 razor to shave himself, permitted him to remain there 
 to sleep and rest, and had a pair of rude crutches im- 
 provised for his use. For all this he received the 
 ordinary compensation for services rendered to 
 strangers. He then went to his field to work. After 
 dinner, while the day was still dark, and Booth still 
 resting disguised in his chamber, Mudd left the house 
 with Herold. Even though he had known of the 
 assassination, and that his patient was the assassin, 
 none of these acts of assistance would have made him 
 an accessory after the fact. "If a person supply a 
 felon with food, or other necessaries for his sustenance, 
 or professionally attend him sick or zvounded, though 
 he knozu him to be a felon, these acts ivill not be suffi- 
 cient to make a party an accessory after the fact." 
 (Wharton's American Criminal Law, p. 73.) But he 
 did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that his 
 patient was a fugitive murderer. The most zealous 
 advocate would not venture to assert that the evidence 
 warrants such conclusion; much less will it be 
 assumed by one acting under the solemn responsibili- 
 ties of judge. Down, then, to the time Mudd left 
 home with Herold, after dinner, the evidence affords 
 no pretext for asserting he was an accessory after the 
 fact. 
 
 But if he was not then an accessory, he never was. 
 It is shown . that Herold turned back on the way to 
 Bryantown, and when Mudd returned he and Booth 
 had gone. And the evidence does not show that he 
 suspected them of having been guilty of any wrong, 
 until his wife told him, after they had gone, that the 
 whiskers of the crippled man fell off* as he came down 
 stairs to go. True, Booth was guilty, and Mudd had 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 109 
 
 shown his companion the route to Winner's; which 
 was the only thing clone by Mudd, from first to last, 
 that could have implicated him, even had he from the 
 first knoivn the crime and the criminal. But when he 
 did that, he did not know either ; for he did not know 
 the crime until he went to Bryantown, nor have even 
 the least suspicion of the criminal, until after Booth 
 had gone. I have read you the law — the scienter must 
 be shown. Things not appearing and not existing 
 stand before the law in the same category; and the 
 guilty knowledge not appearing in evidence, in the eye 
 of the law it does not exist. In this case it is not only 
 not shown, but is negatived by the evidence. The con- 
 clusion most unfavorable to Mudd which the evidence 
 can possibly justify is, that, having had his suspicions 
 thoroughly aroused Saturday night, he delayed until 
 Sunday noon to communicate them to the authorities. 
 "If A knows B hath committed a felony, but doth not 
 discover it, this doth not make A an accessory after 
 the fact." (ist Hale's Pleas of the Crown, 618.) 
 "Merely suffering a felon to escape will not charge the 
 party so doing — such amounting to a mere omission/' 
 (Whar. Am. Crim. Law, 73.) 
 
 Can, then, Dr. Mudd be convicted as a conspirator, 
 or an accessory before or after the fact, in the assassi- 
 nation? If this tribunal is to be governed in its find- 
 ings by the just and time-honored rules of law, he 
 cannot ; if by some edict higher than constitutions and 
 laws, I know not what to anticipate or how to defend 
 him. With confidence in the integrity of purpose of 
 the Court and its legal advisers, I now leave the case 
 to them. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 PRISON UFK AT FORT JEFFERSON IN 1865, AS TOLD BY 
 DR. MUDD AND OTHERS. 
 
 A few days after my father left Washington 
 for the Dry Tortugas, my mother received this 
 letter from Sister Mary Rose, a former teacher, 
 and a cousin, and a sister of Dr. George D. 
 Mudd: 
 
 From our Monastery of Frederick, 
 
 July 19, 1865. 
 My own dearest Frank : 
 
 I need not, my very dear child, assure you how 
 bitterly and sincerely I have grieved with you and for 
 you in these past days of our affliction and anguish. 
 
 And how ardently too I have sought God for grace 
 and strength to sustain and support you and our loved 
 ones while the storm passed by. You know me too 
 well, darling, to doubt of my tender sympathy for you 
 even in smaller trials, and if I have been silent for a 
 while may not my very silence have told you that I 
 have been too sad, too sick at heart, even to write ? 
 
 Our poor dear Sam ! What a siege of suffering he 
 has gone through and for an act of charity. How 
 wonderful and hidden are the ways of God! And it 
 is not for us to question these mysterious ways of His 
 providence. It is our part only to join our hands in 
 humble submission, deeming ourselves happy even to 
 be thought worthy to suffer for His Holy Name's 
 Sake. 
 
 Yes, believe me, my heart has been with you and 
 the rest of our dear afflicted friends, and although the 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 111 
 
 cross for me has been very, very heavy, gladly, had it 
 been possible, would I have borne a greater portion to 
 have relieved you and others. But 1 trust now the 
 end is near, and that our dear one will soon again 
 rejoin his own happy family, which I am sure will then 
 be even happier than ever. 
 
 I have had kind letters from each of my brothers 
 regarding Sam and they have grieved for him as for 
 an own brother; indeed, my heart has been touched 
 even to tears to see their solicitude and tender devotion 
 for him. George's last gave me much consolation. 
 
 "The Government," he says, "in all its endeavors 
 has been unable to prove anything against our own 
 dear friend and relative, Sam. The Military Court, 
 however, will be harsh with him I fear ; but even so, 
 no matter, we will have everything prepared to obtain 
 his speedy release and return to his interesting and 
 lovely family," etc. Alice Burch said she would tell 
 you the rest. 
 
 Please give kind and tender love to dear ones, and 
 believe me, Your cousin, 
 
 Sister Mary Rose. 
 
 Not knowing where my father had been 
 sent, my mother wrote to General Ewing and 
 enclosed a letter for him. General Ewing at 
 the time was away, and before his return my 
 mother had received a letter from my father, 
 which was mailed at Charleston. As soon as 
 General Ewing returned, he answered her let- 
 ter in the following terms: 
 
 Washington, July 31, 1865. 
 Dear Madam : 
 
 I was absent with my family when your letter of the 
 nth of July was received, enclosing letter addressed 
 
112 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 to your husband, and only returned a few days ago. 
 I have sent your letter to the Secretary of War with a 
 request that he will cause it to be sent to wherever the 
 Doctor now is. I do not know where he has been sent, 
 but it will be known soon I guess. If he has gone to 
 the Tortugas, nothing can be done in his case until the 
 Supreme Court sits, which will be next December. 
 
 Your affidavit, with the affidavits of Doctor Bland- 
 ford, Sylvester Mudd, and Mr. Dyer, were laid before 
 the President accompanied with a letter from me to 
 him showing the relation of the facts stated in your 
 affidavit to the other evidence. He read the papers, 
 and informed me that the sentence would not be 
 changed by him as at present advised. So there is no 
 hope for the Doctor's release, except from the courts 
 or from Congress. 
 
 I regret very greatly on your account, as well as his, 
 that my hopes of his speedy release are frustrated, or 
 likely to be, by the removal of your husband beyond 
 the jurisdiction of an established State Court, and that 
 the President will not give to your evidence the weight 
 it deserves. You should seek comfort, however, in the 
 reflection that the vindictive and energetic effort to 
 take his life failed, and that he will be returned to you 
 before many months in spite of all that can be done by 
 the Administration to keep him imprisoned. If he is 
 sent to the Tortugas, the place is better for his health 
 than almost any other. The island is dry, and the 
 climate good. Rely on it, wherever he has gone his 
 sanguine temperament will buoy him up, and preserve 
 his health and strength. You doubtless saw in the ac- 
 count of their trip to Fort Monroe, that the Doctor 
 was in excellent spirits. 
 
 With very best wishes for you and your family, 
 
 1 am, Very truly your friend, 
 
 Thomas Ewing, Jr. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 113 
 
 A letter of Mr. R. T. Merrick, advisory coun- 
 sel for the defense, written to Dr. J. H. Bland- 
 ford, my father's brother-in-law: 
 
 Washington City, August 12, 1865. 
 J. H. Blandford, Esq. 
 
 Dear Sir: Yours of the 8th instant, with the en- 
 closed letters, were received a few days since, on my 
 return from the country. On reflection, I think it bet- 
 ter not to enclose the letters, but will leave them with 
 the young man in my office, in an envelope addressed 
 to you, and should I not be in when you call, you can, 
 therefore, get them. 
 
 After reading and carefully considering the letters, 
 I have concluded that their publication could do no 
 good, and might do harm. Let this cruel and unfor- 
 tunate affair rest quiet for the present. It will wake 
 with greater vigor when the time comes to arouse it. 
 
 When the time does come, I will let Mrs. M'udd 
 know. When you are in the city call and see me, and 
 we will exchange views in regard to the subject. 
 
 Present my kindest regards to Mrs. Mudd when you 
 see her. She must exercise patience and fortitude in 
 her afflictions, and abide the day of her deliverance. 
 Very truly yours, etc., 
 
 R. T. Merrick, Atty. 
 
 The following letter explains itself. It gives 
 credence to rumors never authenticated. The 
 result was that my father was put in chains and 
 subjected to most rigorous restraint: 
 
 Louisville, Ky., August 17, 1865, 9 A. M. 
 Hon. T. T. Echert, 
 
 Actg. Asst. Sec. of War : 
 
 I have important papers. I think the commanding 
 officer at the Dry Tortugas should be put on his guard 
 8 
 
114 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 against an attempt to rescue the State prisoners in his 
 charge. 
 
 A company is organizing in New Orleans for that 
 purpose. I have all the facts from a reliable source. 
 
 (Signed) L. C. Baker, 
 Br. Gen'l Pro. Mar. War Dept. 
 A true copy : 
 A. G. Office, Aug. 17, 1865. 
 
 E. D. Tovvnsend, Asst. Adj.-Gen. 
 
 The second letter my mother received from 
 her husband, after being taken from Washing- 
 ton to the Tortugas. The one written her by 
 him, and mailed from Charleston, was lost. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugus, Florida, 
 
 August 24, 1865. 
 My Dearest Frank : 
 
 To-day one month ago we arrived here. Time 
 passes very slowly and seems longer than that period — 
 years gone by, apparently no longer. What do you 
 think? I have received no letter or news whatever 
 from home since being here. One or two of those 
 who came down with me have received letters, con- 
 taining no news, and do not advert to the possibility or 
 the subject of release. 
 
 You know, my dear Frank, that that subject is the 
 all-absorbing one of my mind. Frank must be sick — 
 the little children are sick — some may be dead, or some 
 other misfortune has happened, are questions fre- 
 quently revolving in my mind and heart, and the dear 
 ones at home are unwilling to break the cruel intelli- 
 gence to me. 
 
 My dear Frank, were it not for you and those at 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 115 
 
 home, I could pass the balance of my days here per- 
 fectly content or satisfied. Without you and the chil- 
 dren, what is life for me — a blank, a void. Then, my 
 dear Frank, if you have any regard for me, which you 
 know I have never doubted, let me hear from you and 
 often. I have written to you by every mail that has 
 left this place, and surely some have been received. I 
 wrote to you aboard the boat before arriving here. 
 Mail, sometimes, arrives here in five days from New 
 York. 
 
 This place continues to be unusually healthy, and the 
 only fear manifested is that disease may be propagated 
 by the arrival of vessels and steamers from infected 
 ports. At this time there is a vessel lying at quaran- 
 tine with all hands aboard sick with fever of some de- 
 scription, — several have died, and there is not one well 
 enough to nurse the sick, — no volunteers from among 
 the prisoners going to them, so the chances of life are 
 small. 
 
 I am now in the hospital. I have little or no labor 
 to perform, but my fare is not much improved. My 
 principal diet is coffee, butter and bread three times a 
 day. We have had a mess or two of Irish potatoes and 
 onions, but as a general thing vegetables don't last 
 many days in this climate before decomposition takes 
 place. Pork and beef are poisonous to me; and mo- 
 lasses when I am able to buy it, and occasionally 
 (fresh) fish, when Providence favored, are the only 
 articles of diet used. I am enjoying very good health, 
 considering the circumstances. 
 
 Sweet, dearest Frank, write to me soon on the re- 
 ceipt of my letter. I am afraid letters have been inter- 
 cepted from either you or myself. If I don't hear 
 from you soon, I am afraid I will become alike indif- 
 ferent and careless. I have written to Jere, Ewing, 
 
116 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Stone, Ma and Papa some several letters — others, one 
 or two, and not one syllable have I received. 
 
 I am afraid when the silence is broken, the news 
 will be so great as to endanger the safety of the boat. 
 My dear Frank, I have nothing to interest you — sev- 
 eral hundred prisoners have been released and gone 
 home recently to their families. 
 
 My anxiety increases upon the arrival of every boat 
 and mail, and I envy the departing homeward bound. 
 Give my love to all — kiss the children and believe me, 
 truly and sincerely, 
 
 Your husband, 
 
 S. A. Mudd. 
 
 Shortly after receiving the following letter 
 from General Ewing, my mother went to 
 Washington to see the President. President 
 Johnson told her that if Judge Holt would sign 
 papers for my father's release, he (President 
 Johnson) would. Then my mother left the 
 White House for Judge Holt's office. There 
 she told him what the President had said; his 
 brow darkened, and he simply remarked, "Mrs. 
 Mudd, I am sorry, I can do nothing for you." 
 
 Washington, August 31, 1865. 
 My dear Madam : 
 
 I have received yours of the 28th instant, and next 
 day one from the Doctor written in excellent spirits. 
 He is doing a great deal better than he would have 
 done at Albany, and is evidently bearing himself with 
 Christian and manly fortitude. I will write him an 
 encouraging letter, and will not neglect to seize the 
 best occasion to attempt his release by legal means. 
 
 I think the next time you are here you had better 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 117 
 
 call to see Judge Holt, who has spoken to me twice of 
 you highly, and asked about you and your children. 
 I think you have made some impression on the old 
 gentleman. In all these matters, his opinion will guide 
 the action of the President. 
 
 When Mr. and Mrs. Browning return from Illinois, 
 which will be about the 20th of September, I will show 
 him your letter. He feels a deep interest in the Doc- 
 tor, and a conviction of his entire innocence. 
 
 Do not worry too much. You and the Doctor are 
 both young, and will yet live a long and happy life to- 
 gether. 
 
 In haste, 
 
 Sincerely your friend, 
 
 Thomas Ewing, Jr. 
 
 This letter is explained in that of August 
 12 to Dr. J. H. Blandford: 
 
 Washington City, September 1, 1865. 
 My dear Mrs. Mudd : 
 
 About three weeks since I received a letter from Dr. 
 J. H. Blandford requesting me to examine two letters 
 from your husband to you, and determine whether it 
 would be expedient to publish any portion of them. 
 
 I replied to Dr. Blandford, telling him that I thought 
 it would be inexpedient to publish anything at this 
 time, and asking him to call at my office, when in town, 
 and get your letters. I have since heard nothing from 
 him. 
 
 Lest my letter to him may not have reached its des- 
 tination, I now write you. I have your letters, and will 
 take care of them, subject to your order. 
 
 I regret that I have no news for you, and hope that 
 
118 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 you are waiting the coming of a better clay with forti- 
 tude and patience. 
 With great respect, 
 
 Your true friend, 
 
 R. T. MERRICK. 
 
 The following order was issued upon the in- 
 formation contained in the letter of L. C. 
 Baker, brigadier-general, dated August 17, 
 1865: 
 
 Hd. Qrs. Dist. of Florida, 
 2d Separate Brigade D. F., 
 Tallahassee, Sept. 3, 1865. 
 To The Comd'g. Officer, 
 Sub. District of Key West. 
 
 Sir : Official information has been received at these 
 Headquarters from Washington that a plot exists to 
 release the prisoners at Fort Jefferson. You will take 
 the proper precautions to prevent any uprising of the 
 prisoners, and in case you find this information to be 
 correct take measures to ferret out the leaders and 
 place them in irons. 
 
 By command of Brig.-Gen. Newton, 
 
 A. C. PrKTz, 
 1st Lt. and A. A. A. G. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, Florida, 
 
 September 5, 1865. 
 My dear Frank : 
 
 A transport has just arrived and will take off at 
 least a hundred prisoners, thereby thinning our ranks 
 considerably. I am so credulous or hopeful as to ex- 
 pect my release upon the arrival of every steamer, and, 
 not receiving, feel disappointed. 
 
 T have received but one letter since being cast upon 
 this desolate, barren isle, and that was from your lov- 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 119 
 
 ing self, dated August 9. I have written between thirty 
 and forty letters to various ones. I have written at 
 least half a dozen to General Ewing, and Stone three 
 or four. Jere and others as many each. I am truly 
 anxious to know whether they intend to keep me here 
 this Administration — I want to know the public opin- 
 ion. 
 
 I have had several opportunities to make my escape, 
 but knowing, or believing, it would show guilt, I have 
 resolved to remain peaceable and quiet, and allow the 
 Government the full exercise of its power, justice and 
 clemency. Should I take French leave, it would 
 amount to expatriation, which I don't feel disposed to 
 do at present. 
 
 When you write, do not fail to enlighten and ad- 
 vise me upon all these points. I am with you, my dear 
 Frank, whatever may be your resolve — my only de- 
 sire for life is the assistance I may be capable of af- 
 fording to you, our dear little ones, Pa, Ma and fam- 
 ily. Were it not for these considerations, apart from 
 the odium, I could remain here in contentment the bal- 
 ance of my days. 
 
 When you write, send me newspaper extracts or 
 clippings that may be favorable or otherwise toward 
 us, or to me. When you are reading over the papers, 
 and see anything likely to interest, cut it out and en- 
 close in your letters. At the same time, don't fail to 
 mention all new developments that have arisen since 
 our trial, whether any more arrests have been made, 
 and all particulars concerning. 
 
 I want to know whether Ewing is doing anything, 
 and whether any other influence has been brought to 
 bear. I feel considerable disappointment in not hear- 
 ing from either Stone* or Ewing. I wrote to Ewing 
 
 ♦Frederick Stone, one of my father's legal advisers, afterward 
 a judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland. 
 
120 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 at the same time I wrote to you on the boat bound to 
 this abominable place. He could judge well, from 
 that first letter, that I made no such admissions or con- 
 fessions as reported by the various Northern newspa- 
 per reports. I have lost all confidence in the veracity 
 and honesty of the Northern people, and if I could 
 honorably leave the country for a foreign land, I be- 
 lieve our condition would be bettered. There was 
 never before a more persistent effort to criminate and 
 to blast one's character and fortune than was resorted 
 to in my case. What could not be effected by fair 
 means, was done by foul — and villainy, and all for the 
 almighty dollar. I saw no love and no patriotism. 
 Had these virtues existed, I should have had a re- 
 ward (although not asked nor expected) instead of the 
 treatment received. 
 
 My dear Frank, I have nothing to mention worthy 
 of interest. I am well in body. I am often cast down 
 by depressing thoughts about you and all near and dear 
 to me. I sometimes in my dreary walks look home- 
 ward, and feel an involuntary gloom and despondency 
 to come over me. The thought often arises, or the 
 question is asked within myself, "Shall I ever see home 
 again, or those fond ones left behind?" God alone 
 knows and can answer. 
 
 Good-by, my dearest Frank and all. Kiss the chil- 
 dren and write soon and often, 
 
 S. A. Mudd. 
 
 My father unfortunately, on the 25th of Sep- 
 tember, 1865, endeavored to effect his escape. 
 He stated after his release that he intended, 
 had his effort been successful, to reach some 
 point where the writ of habeas corpus was in 
 force, surrender himself to the proper authori- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 121 
 
 ties, and then have the writ sued out in his 
 behalf. The disastrous result of his unsuccess- 
 ful attempt is shown in the order and report 
 that follow: 
 
 Headquarters Fort Jefferson, Fla., 
 
 September 26, 1865. 
 Captain H. A. Harris, 
 
 80th U. S. C. L, Pro. Mar. 
 
 Capt: By direction of the Major Commanding, 
 you will see that Dr. Sam'l A. Mudd is placed at "hard 
 labor." Let him be detailed in the Engineer Dept. to 
 wheel sand. And hereafter, when any boat arrives, 
 he will be put in the dungeon and kept there until it 
 departs, and in future no favors of any kind will be 
 shown him. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obdt. servt, 
 
 H. S. Manning, 
 2nd Lieut 80th U. S. C. I., Post Adj't. 
 
 Headquarters Fort Jefferson, Fla., 
 September 27th, 1865. 
 Captain E. C. Woodruff, 
 
 Actg. Ass't. Adj't Gen'l. 
 Dep't. of Florida. 
 
 Sir, I have the honor to report, that, on the 25th 
 ins't. Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, one of the Conspirators, 
 sentenced to this place for life, made an attempt to 
 escape. 
 
 Since he has been in confinement here, he has been 
 employed in the Prison Hospital, as Nurse and Act- 
 ing Steward. When he came here, it was noticed that 
 he immediately adopted the same clothing as worn by 
 other prisoners. Although he had good clothes of 
 his own. On the day he attempted to escape he put 
 
122 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 on one of the suits he brought with him and in some 
 way got outside the Fort to the Wharf, where the U. 
 S. Transport, Thos. A. Scott, was lying. He went on 
 board that boat and, (with the assistance rendered 
 him by one of the Crew, Henry Kelly), secreted him- 
 self under some plank in the lower hold. After a 
 short search he was found and I put him in irons, into 
 one of the dungeons. I also ordered the arrest of the 
 man Kelly, and put him in close confinement. 
 
 Dr. Mudd's statement is that Kelly promised to as- 
 sist him but had not done so. While Kelly denies 
 knowing him or ever having seen him. Enclosed J 
 forward the deposition of Jas. Healy, Coal passer on 
 the steamer, which clearly proves that Kelly has told 
 a falsehood. He has the appearance of being a hard 
 case, and his reputation on the boat was bad. 
 I am very respectfully 
 Your obedient serv't., 
 
 Gso. E. Wentworth, 
 Major 82nd U. S. C. Inf'ty., 
 Commanding Post. 
 
 The above is a literal copy. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 PRISON UPE IN 1865, CONTINUED ATTEMPTED 
 
 ESCAPE, AS TOU> BY MY FATHER 
 
 Letter from my father to his brother-in-law, 
 Mr. Jere Dyer: 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Tortugas Island, Fla., 
 
 September 30, 1865. 
 My dear Jere : 
 
 I wrote to you and Frank by the last steamer, but at 
 the same time intended to arrive before it. Provi- 
 dence was against me. I was too well known and 
 was apprehended five or ten minutes after being 
 aboard the steamer. They were so much rejoiced at 
 finding me, they did not care to look much farther; 
 the consequence was, the boat went off and carried 
 away four other prisoners, who no doubt will make 
 good their escape. I suppose this attempt of mine to 
 escape will furnish the dealers in newspapers matter 
 for comment, and a renewal of the calumnious charges 
 against me. Could the world know to what a de- 
 graded condition the prisoners of this place have been 
 reduced recently, they, instead of censure, would give 
 me credit for making the attempt. This place is now 
 wholly guarded by negro troops with the exception 
 of a few white officers. I was told by members of the 
 161st N. Y. V. Reg., that so soon as they departed, 
 the prisoners would be denied many of their former 
 privileges, and life would be very insecure in their 
 hands. This has already proved true; a parcel of 
 new rules and regulations have already been made and 
 
124 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 are being- enforced, which sensibly decreases our 
 former liberties. 
 
 For attempting to make my escape, I was put in the 
 guard-house, with chains on hands and feet, and 
 closely confined for two days. An order then came 
 from the Major for me to be put to hard labor, wheel- 
 ing sand. I was placed under a boss, who put me to 
 cleaning old bricks. I worked hard all day, and came 
 very near finishing one brick. The order also directs 
 the Provost Marshal to have me closely confined on 
 the arrival of every steamer and until she departs. I 
 know not how long this state of things will continue. 
 I have arrived at that state of mind at which I feel 
 indifferent to what treatment I am subjected. The 
 161st N. Y. Reg. were very kind and generous to me, 
 and I was as much induced by them to make the at- 
 tempt to take French leave as my own inclination and 
 judgment dictated. I am now thrown out of my 
 former position, chief of dispensary, and not likely 
 to be reinstated. I know not what degree of degrada- 
 tion they may have in store for me. I was forced, 
 under the penalty of being shot, to inform on one of 
 the crew who promised to secrete me aboard. They 
 have him still in close confinement, and will likely try 
 him before court martial for the offense. I have 
 written a note to the Major and have seen the Pro- 
 vost Marshal, and have taken upon myself the whole 
 blame and responsibility of the affair, yet they pay 
 little or no attention, and the young fellow is still kept 
 in close confinement. 
 
 I don't regret the loss of my position. Take away 
 the honor attached, the labor was more confining than 
 any other place or avocation on the island. At the 
 same time it relieved me of the disagreeable necessity 
 of witnessing men starve for the nutriment essential 
 for a sick man, when it could be had with no trouble 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 125 
 
 and but a little expense. Four prisoners have died 
 during the short time I have been here; the last one 
 died the morning I made my attempt to escape. Not 
 a single soldier or citizen laborer has died or suffered 
 with any serious sickness ; thereby showing some- 
 thing wrong, something unfair, and a distinction 
 made between the two classes of individuals. Every 
 case of acute dysentery or diarrhea among the prison- 
 ers, either dies in the onset or lingers on and terminates 
 in the chronic, which eventually kills. 
 
 We have a disease here which is termed bone fever, 
 or mild yellow fever, which has attacked at least three- 
 fourths of the inmates of the Fort. It lasts generally 
 but two or three days ; during the time, the patient im- 
 agines every bone will break from the enormous pain 
 he suffers in his limbs. None has died with it. 
 
 I have not been a day sick or unwell, owing no doubt 
 to the fact of my thoughts being concentrated upon 
 home, my dear Frank, and the children. Little did I 
 think I would ever become the veriest slave and lose 
 the control of my own actions, but such, unfortunately, 
 is too true, and God, I suppose, only knows whether 
 these misfortunes will terminate with my frail exist- 
 ence, or that after being broken down with cares and 
 afflictions of every kind, I be returned to my family a 
 burden, more than a help and consoler. My only hope 
 now is with you and the influence you can bring to 
 bear. To be relieved from my present situation, I 
 would be willing to live in poverty the balance of my 
 days with Heaven my only hope of reward. If money 
 be necessary, sell everything that I possess, and what 
 might be allotted by poor Papa from his already ex- 
 hausted means. 
 
 I feel that I am able now, and have resolution to 
 make a decent living in any section of the world in 
 
126 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 which I am thrown by the Grace and Providence of 
 the Almighty. 
 
 It strikes me that the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, Mont- 
 gomery Blair, and many others whose principles and 
 opinions are growing daily more popular — their in- 
 fluence could be easily brought to bear in my behalf. 
 You fail to give me any idea of what was being done 
 or any reasons for me to hope for relief by any cer- 
 tain time. You may have omitted this for prudential 
 reasons. I have been too careless in my language 
 among the evil disposed. They have never failed to 
 misinterpret my language and meaning, and to omit 
 everything having a tendency to exonerate me. 
 
 Knowing this, I shall be the keeper or guardian of 
 my own thoughts and words for the future. I never 
 knew how corrupt the world was before being visited 
 by my recent calamities and troubles. They have 
 shamefully lied and detracted everything I have said 
 or done — a privilege for the future they shall never 
 have. 
 
 No doubt they will get up a great sensation in re- 
 gard to my attempted escape. Some thirty or forty 
 have made their escape, or attempts to do so, since I 
 have been here, and there never was anything thought 
 of them. Since my unlucky attempt, everything seems 
 to have been put in commotion, and most unfounded 
 suspicions, rumors, etc., started. 
 
 My only object for leaving at the time I attempted, 
 was to avoid the greater degradation, and insecurity 
 of life, and at the same time be united again with my 
 precious little family. I don't perceive why there is 
 so much odium attached, as the authorities, by their 
 harsh and cruel treatment, endeavor to make believe. 
 
 I will soon be returned to some duty more com- 
 patible with my qualifications. In the mean time, as- 
 sure Frank and all that I am well and hearty, and as 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 127 
 
 determined as ever. Write soon. Give my unbounded 
 love to all at home, and believe me most truly and de- 
 votedly, Yours, etc., 
 
 S. A. Mudd. 
 
 Oct. ist. — I am constrained before mailing this, to 
 acquaint you with the following: The young man 
 Kelly, and Smith who was locked up with him, and 
 bound with chains and thrown in a place they denomi- 
 nate the dungeon, on my account, freed themselves 
 from their chains, broke out the iron-grated window, 
 let themselves down from the window by the chains 
 with which they were bound, stole a boat, and made 
 good their escape last night. 
 
 Smith was one of the most outrageous thieves that 
 ever walked. You would marvel to hear him tell of 
 his wonderful feats and thefts. Kelly promised to 
 secrete me aboard the steamer, and to save my life. I 
 was necessitated to inform on him. He was brought 
 to the same room in which I was locked. He excused 
 me, and said that the Commandant was a fool to think 
 that they could hold him upon this island, which Iris 
 proved too true. The authorities are no doubt much 
 disappointed and chagrined at this unexpected occur- 
 rence. I feel much relieved. 
 
 Yours as ever, etc., 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, Fla., 
 
 October 5, 1865. 
 My dear Jere : 
 
 A vessel is about leaving port. I take advantage of 
 it to drop you a few hasty lines. I forgot to mention, 
 in the letters previously written, to inform you that 
 none of the drafts, that I drew upon you, will be pre- 
 
128 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 sented for payment. I was fortunate in being able to 
 borrow twenty-five dollars; the check, so soon as I 
 can obtain the money, will go to liquidate it. I shall 
 endeavor to be as economical as possible, knowing to 
 what straits my family has been already reduced. The 
 only need I have for money is to purchase a few 
 vegetables, and supply myself with tobacco. The only 
 article of clothing I need is shirts. The Government 
 furnishes flannel shirts, which I find very pleasant in 
 damp weather, but very disagreeable and warm in dry 
 sunshine. 
 
 If the friends of Arnold and O'Laughlin should send 
 a box of clothing to them, you may put in a couple of 
 brown linen, or check linen, shirts and a couple pairs 
 cotton drawers. You may not bother yourself to this 
 extent if you anticipate an early release. My clothing 
 is sufficient to come home in. I will need no more 
 money before the first of December, or latter part of 
 November. It generally takes a letter ten or twelve 
 days to reach this place, so anticipate the period, and 
 send me twenty-five dollars in greenbacks. Address 
 your letters to me, and not in care of any one, and I will 
 get them without fail. Write me soon and let me know 
 whether my attempted escape caused much comment in 
 the Northern papers. I fear it will have the effect to 
 again agitate the question. I had written so often and 
 desired information and council, that I became truly im- 
 patient and vexed. I expected to hear something from 
 Ewing or Stone, but not a word have I received from 
 either. I received a letter a few days ago which ga/e 
 me more consolation and hope than any yet come to 
 hand, from Henry.* Had I received such a letter 
 earlier I would have been content, and would never 
 have acted as I did. I would have succeeded, only for 
 meeting a party aboard, who knew me, before I could 
 
 ♦His brother. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 129 
 
 arrive at my hiding-place. I was informed on almost 
 immediately, and was taken in custody by the guard. 
 I regret only one thing, being necessitated to inform 
 on the party who had promised to befriend me. It 
 was all done by the mere slip of the tongue, and with- 
 out reflection ; but perhaps it was all providential. He 
 is now free, having made good his escape with a 
 notorious thief with whom he was locked up. I under- 
 stand, after escaping from the dungeon, in which they 
 were confined, they robbed the sutler of fifty dollars 
 in money, as much clothing as they needed, and a 
 plenty 'of eatables in the way of canned fruits, pre- 
 serves, meats, etc. Six prisoners made good their 
 escape on the same boat upon which I was so unfor- 
 tunate. It seems they were too much elated to look 
 farther after my apprehension. 
 
 I am taking my present hardship as a joke. I am 
 not put back in the least. I will soon assume my 
 former position, or one equally respectable. The only 
 thing connected with my present attitude is the name, 
 and not the reality. I have no labor to perform, yet I 
 am compelled to answer roll-call, and to sleep in the 
 guard-house at night. This will not last longer than 
 this week. Write soon, give me all the news, and 
 continue to send me papers. I have received several 
 from you, Frank, and some have been sent from New 
 York by unknown parties, which afforded me consid- 
 erable recreation. Give my love to all at home, and 
 send this, after reading, to Frank, so that she may 
 know that I am well, etc. I am sorry Tom is going 
 to leave so early. I am under the greatest obligations 
 to him for interest and kindness manifested. I am in 
 hopes my release won't be long deferred, when I shall 
 be able to see you all. 
 
 Samuel Mudd. 
 
 9 
 
130 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 The following pointed and manly letter from 
 Hon. Charles A. Eldredge, Representative in 
 Congress from the Fourth Congressional Dis- 
 trict of Wisconsin, to Judge-Advocate Holt, 
 speaks for itself: 
 
 [From the Ohio Crisis, October n, 1865.] 
 
 Fond du Lac, September 25, 1865. 
 Judge-Advocate-General Holt. 
 
 My Dear Sir: The folowing circular letter ad- 
 dressed to me has been duly received, to wit : 
 
 "War Department, 
 "Bureau of Military Justice. 
 "Washington, September 12, 1865. 
 "By direction of the Secretary of War a number of 
 copies of the argument of Hon. John A. Bingham in 
 the case of the assassin conspirators, and also a number 
 of copies of the opinion of Attorney-General Speed, 
 are sent enclosed in envelopes to you, in order that 
 they may be well distributed throughout your district. 
 It is especially desirable that the legal profession 
 should be furnished with the information which these 
 documents contain. 
 
 "J. HouT, Advocate-General" 
 
 The copies of the argument and opinion which you 
 desire "may be well distributed" in my district, are 
 also received. The importance of it to yourself and 
 the Secretary of War may or may not justify the large 
 expense consequent upon the publication and distribu- 
 tion. The people of my district will not, I presume, 
 mind the expense in these times of light taxation. 
 But I trust you will pardon me the suggestion that 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 131 
 
 black and horrible as is the crime in the consideration 
 of all good men, of the assassination of President Lin- 
 coln, neither the blackness of that crime nor the argu- 
 ments and opinions of those learned gentlemen, will 
 prevent my constituents, and when the history thereof 
 comes to be written, posterity generally, from brand- 
 ing military trials of civilians as infamous violations 
 of the Constitution and laws. 
 
 Do not, I pray you, flatter yourself that you and the 
 Secretary of War can, by the circulation of these docu- 
 ments at your own or the people's expense, convince 
 your countrymen that arrests without warrant, impris- 
 onment without trial, sentences without conviction, 
 trial without indictment or jury, and the worse than 
 mockery of your victims in military trials, are any- 
 thing but crimes — gross outrages of the people's rights 
 and liberties, and violations of the people's Constitu- 
 tion. Respectfully, 
 
 CharlKS A. Eldrsdge. 
 
 The documents forwarded Mr. Eldredge for 
 distribution, intended as a defense of military 
 commissions for the trial of citizens, were 
 printed at the expense of the people, and were 
 forwarded by mail free of postage. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, Florida, 
 
 October 18, 1865. 
 My dearest Frank : 
 
 You will no doubt, ere this reaches you, see some 
 mention in the newspapers of my effort to get away. 
 I learn from a friend a pretty lengthy account has been 
 sent on for publication. My dear Frank, it is bad 
 enough to be a prisoner in the hands of white men, 
 your equals under the Constitution, but to be lorded 
 
132 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 over by a set of ignorant, prejudiced and irresponsible 
 beings of the unbleached humanity, was more than I 
 could submit to, when I had every reason to believe my 
 chances of escape almost certain, and would be 
 crowned with success. Connected with this inspiring 
 hope, and an early union with you and our precious 
 little children, the higher-minded and unprejudiced 
 mind would rather give me credit than blame for the 
 attempt. Why should I be expected to act more hon- 
 orable than my persecutors, who sent me here ? Have 
 they not, from the beginning to the present, endeav- 
 ored to degrade and humiliate by previously unknown 
 and unheard of tortures and cruelties even in an un- 
 civilized community, to lower us, the victims of injus- 
 tice, beneath the dignity of the brute creation ? 
 
 My darling wife, when I am capable of beholding 
 with a serene eye the mild and beneficent sway of the 
 Fathers of the Republic, and the former prestige of 
 the American Flag, the shield, the protection of the 
 citizen, be he at home or in a foreign land, vindicated, 
 then I shall calmly and patiently submit. I am 
 resolved henceforth to yield my opinion, and bear up 
 against all the indignities and hardships they can heap 
 upon me, to the better judgment of my advisers, to 
 God, and the justice of my cause. 
 
 You need have no further apprehension regarding 
 my conduct. I have not had a cross word with an 
 individual, soldier or prisoner, since I have been 
 closeted upon this island of woe and misery. I have 
 striven to the utmost of my ability to render myself 
 and those around me comfortable, visiting the sick, 
 and saving my scanty means to the last dime. So for 
 the future, make yourself easy, and rest assured that I 
 will be guilty of no act that will ever have the tendency 
 to compromise my cause. I think hard of my law- 
 yers; they know how ignorant I am of law, and they 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 133 
 
 should have extended all the necessary advice and 
 counsel, which I repeatedly asked for. No mortal 
 mind can appreciate the feelings of one who has been 
 so foully dealt with, and separated suddenly and vio- 
 lently from family and all near and dear, and banished 
 hundreds of miles away, — no opportunities afforded of 
 being visited, and but imperfect and irregular mail 
 facilities, for no fault, and for having done my duty 
 to God and man. To bear patiently under such cir- 
 cumstances requires more than human strength. I 
 trust my present good resolutions will be supported by 
 grace from above, through the prayerful mediation of 
 you and all. 
 
 I fear, my dear Frank, you may be in need of 
 money, etc. I enclose in this some medical bills. Try 
 to collect them. You may think and say, "What is 
 the use of all this, Sam will be home time enough to 
 attend to it himself," but take my advice, and do not 
 rely too much on hopes. Make sure of this means; 
 pay off hirelings, and purchase all necessary family 
 supplies for yourself and children. Make provision 
 always for a more unpropitious day. The time may 
 be close at hand when you may be reduced to an even 
 worse condition than at present. I perceive a betrayal 
 of your anticipations and hopes by the kind offer to 
 send me clothing, money and other articles. If my 
 release is to be so speedy, there will be no necessity for 
 them. I can come home in anything. I have learned 
 to disregard the mocks and jeers of this cold and un- 
 charitable world. If it was no fault of my own, I 
 would take a delight in walking the streets of New 
 York on my way home on my knees; but if Provi- 
 dence favors me with a speedy release, I will return 
 by way of New Orleans and through the South. 
 
 On the 1 2th, three more prisoners made good their 
 escape, taking a boat just from under the eyes of the 
 
134 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 guard in open daylight, about 12 o'clock, and suc- 
 ceeded in getting some eight or nine miles before the 
 loss of the boat was discovered, when they observed 
 it was useless to pursue. These cases never will be 
 known to the public ; but cases in which party interests 
 are involved, will find no opportunity of escaping. 
 
 Since my effort to get away, eleven have made 
 good their escape, all of whom were sentenced for a 
 long period of years. Do not view my act with dis- 
 honor. I am a prisoner under guard, not under a 
 parole, and under no obligations to remain if I can 
 successfully evade and free myself. You will, when 
 you write, inform me whether the act has, or will have, 
 any injurious tendency, also send me the comments 
 of the press, should there be any. When you see any 
 article in the papers to which you wish to direct my 
 attention, mark it around with a lead pencil or pen. 
 You may rely upon my remaining perfectly quiet and 
 content, until I receive a hint from you to act to the 
 contrary. I am for the shortest road home, no matter 
 how difficult. My letters for the future will not be 
 so lengthy. I will write every opportunity, but we 
 fear, owing to a recent change in the government of 
 the Post, will be denied many of our former privileges. 
 
 Arnold was clerk in the Provost Marshal's office, 
 and without any cause assigned, has been ordered to 
 hard labor. We will endeavor to deport ourselves as 
 always, as true gentlemen and as men conscious of 
 innocence, and of the gross wrongs and injuries 
 inflicted. Be assured and satisfied that the ills we 
 now suffer proceed from no act of mine, or ours. I 
 am compelled to sleep now in the guard-house, but I 
 am presumed to be doing hard work. It is of little 
 importance as regards labor. Those assigned to 
 active duty are generally the healthiest, which is more 
 than a compensation for the change. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 135 
 
 My heart almost bleeds sometimes when I think of 
 you and our dear little children, and the many pleasant 
 hours we used to enjoy together. I feel they will be 
 too large for me to handle when I shall be a free man 
 again, and be able to return to you. My love and 
 devotion appears to increase with every day. With 
 the change from the white to the colored regiment, 
 many of our former privileges have been denied ; yet 
 we are determined not to give them the least cause to 
 complain, and for the future I am determined not to 
 leave or make an attempt without the proper authority. 
 I would not have thought of such a thing, were it not 
 for a change in the government of the Post. 
 
 Give my love to all, Ma, Pa, and all the family, and 
 tell them to write. I am consoled by every letter. I 
 don't wish you to write anything that may have a 
 tendency (if made public) to be detrimental to my 
 
 cause. Letters are no doubt read by for that 
 
 purpose, and notes taken of them, and then suffered to 
 proceed. The last letter I received, was dated Septem- 
 ber 22, and mailed from Baltimore October 8. Exer- 
 cise prudence. I don't expect you will be able to do 
 much until after the trial of Wintz, Davis & Co. 
 
 Good-by, my sweet, precious wife and dear little 
 ones. God bless you all. 
 
 Yours, etc., 
 
 S. M. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, Florida, 
 
 October 23, 1865. 
 My dearest Wife : 
 
 I wrote you on the 10th and nth. Since then 
 orders have been promulgated to look into all corres- 
 pondence leaving the Post, as well as those arriving, 
 so for the future you need not trouble yourself to be 
 lengthy or make public your domestic affairs. I am 
 
136 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 very well, although at present confined to a small damp 
 room with Arnold, O'Loughlin, Spangler, and a 
 Colonel Grenfel, formerly an English Officer, but 
 recently of the Confederate Army. What has led to 
 this treatment, we are at a loss to account. We have 
 all deported ourselves as gentlemen, and as Christians. 
 Do not let this trouble you, I have already borne worse, 
 and I am in hopes, through the mercies of God, to live 
 through these hardships and be a consolation to you 
 and my dear little family. We are now guarded by a 
 negro regiment. Good-by. Pray for me, and give 
 my love to all. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Samuex Mudd. 
 
 The following letter from my uncle, Mr. 
 Jere Dyer, to my mother, gives some idea of 
 the efforts that were being made to secure my 
 father's release: 
 
 Baltimore, November 6, 1865. 
 Dear Frank: 
 
 Your truly welcome letter did not reach me until 
 this morning, and ex-Governor Ford of Ohio did not 
 leave here until Wednesday. He promised to call to 
 see me before leaving, but failed to do so. He sent 
 a gentleman to see me to apologize for not calling, and 
 also to tell me he met with every success. He had 
 several interviews with Webster, who was in Congress 
 last winter, but is now Collector of this port, having 
 recently been appointed by the President, and he is 
 decidedly in favor of his release. He has promised 
 the Governor his influence, and also told his messenger 
 that everything was working to his entire satisfaction, 
 and he was quite sanguine of success. God grant it; 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 137 
 
 but still, my dear child, be not too sanguine, for you 
 know everything in this life is very uncertain. We, 
 too, have our part to perform, namely : send our peti- 
 tions to Him who is mightier than man. He may not 
 at first hear us as speedily as we wish, but He has 
 promised that whatever we ask in His name, will be 
 granted. He will not refuse much longer, and will 
 soon return him to you. 
 
 I am sorry to hear you have another case of typhoid 
 fever. It seems indeed you have your full share of 
 trouble; but, my child, you must try and be patient, 
 and bear them with Christian resignation, and God 
 will send you your reward. 
 
 Poor Cousin Henry — it seems fate is bearing hard 
 on him. How I pity him. He has never known 
 trouble before. Providence truly smiled on him in his 
 younger days, and it does seem hard he should have so 
 many troubles now he is old. 
 
 I mailed you Sam's letters last Tuesday. You did 
 not mention having received them. I judge you have 
 not sent to the office. I find they are keeping a pretty 
 close guard over them, but I am satisfied it will not 
 last very long. I suppose they only wanted to try and 
 make him say or do something for them to publish, 
 and try and keep up some excitement against him, but 
 I know he has learned by sad experience to be too 
 much on his guard to give them any further excuse 
 for their villainy and rascality. 
 
 I am going to R. I. Brent's office this evening to 
 show him Sam's letters. He is very anxious to see 
 them. Although he is a copper-head, he is a big man, 
 and a warm friend. 
 
 Frank, I am always at work whenever there is the 
 slightest chance of doing anything. I try to keep him 
 before all the big men, and make them talk about his 
 case. You know every opinion has its weight, so you 
 
138 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 must be hopeful, not too sanguine as to any particular 
 time. My own opinion is, from all I can gather, we 
 may reasonably expect him home between this and the 
 first of January. I wrote him a very long letter and 
 mailed it two days before your last one, in which I 
 told him I hoped to see him at the foot of his table on 
 Christmas Day carving that big old gobbler. 
 
 Well, I have not had a frolic for a long time, and 
 if it is the will of Heaven it should be so, I hardly 
 think my Heavenly Father would do anything with 
 me for taking two glasses of egg-nog. Do you ? Love 
 to all. Your brother, 
 
 j£R£. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 NEGRO TROOPS AT PORT JEFPERSON, RELIEVED IN PART 
 BY WHITE SOLDIERY 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Tortugas Island, Florida, 
 
 November n, 1865. 
 My dear Jere : 
 
 Yesterday, the 10th, four companies of heavy 
 artillery arrived to relieve the detested and abominable 
 negro regiment, and I am in hopes our future treat- 
 ment will be much milder. It can't be worse. We 
 were placed, without any cause whatever, in heavy 
 leg irons on the 5th of November, marched down to 
 headquarters, then placed under a boss at hard labor 
 cleaning old brick. A tug arrived that day, and it 
 was no doubt to please the crew's gross fancy and ex- 
 hibit the Major's power, that the cruel act was resorted 
 to. We had been closely confined under guard for 
 more than a fortnight previously. Notwithstanding 
 living in irons, we are closely guarded and not suffered 
 to leave the door for the most trivial thing without 
 having a negro guard with musket and bayonet by our 
 side. At night, our chains are taken off, the door 
 locked, and a sentry placed there on guard. This 
 treatment was not brought about by any fear of escape, 
 or the apprehension of any violence on our part, but 
 is no doubt done to degrade and lessen us in the esti- 
 mation of our fellow-prisoners and citizens, and to 
 keep down the apparent sympathy of strange arrivals, 
 of which every boat brings many. 
 
 I received a letter from you and Fanny* on the 7th, 
 
 * My father's sister. 
 
140 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 and was much rejoiced to know that your hopes of 
 release were so lively. God grant that your efforts 
 may succeed, and I be delivered from this hell upon 
 earth. Fannie was telling me what papa was doing, 
 which I thought was very improper, knowing that any 
 imprudence is subjected to the inspection of officious 
 officers, who are disposed to place their own wicked 
 construction wherever their personal gain or ambition 
 is likely to be profited. I am afraid papa will find him- 
 self in the end the victim of imposition of some of these 
 hostile intermeddlers, although mercy grant the con- 
 trary. I have had enough of the humanity and Chris- 
 tian spirit that animates the hand of the saints, to cause 
 me to remember them, and it is but natural I should 
 desire that they should be visited by the same degree of 
 chastisement which they have and are still inflicting 
 upon their fellow-countrymen through motives of 
 patriotism and vindication of the honor and supremacy 
 of the Republic. Every day increases my hate toward 
 the authors of my ruin, and sometimes I can scarcely 
 withhold my angry indignation. The near approach 
 of expected relief I am in hopes will keep me within 
 bounds. Should you be so fortunate as to effect my 
 release, lose no time in forwarding the joyous intelli- 
 gence. Telegraph it to Tom, and tell him to notify 
 me from New Orleans ; also write to Henry Benners, 
 postmaster of this place. You can enclose a letter to 
 his address for me, observing due precautions. I sent 
 you what might be a copy of a letter to Secretary 
 Stanton. I did not write, but scribbled it off so that 
 you and counsel could advise regarding. You can 
 omit and supply as you think the case may require. 
 We are all at this moment in chains. Neither Colonel 
 Grenfel nor myself has been taken out to work the 
 past two or three days, but suffered to remain passively 
 in our quarters. He is quite an intelligent man, tall, 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 141 
 
 straight, and about sixty-one or two years of age. 
 He speaks fluently several languages, and often adds 
 mirth by his witty sarcasm and jest. He has been 
 badly wounded and is now suffering with dropsy, and 
 is allowed no medical treatment whatever, but loaded 
 down with chains, and fed upon the most loathsome 
 food, which treatment in a short time must bring him 
 to an untimely grave. You will confer an act of kind- 
 ness and mercy by acquainting the English Minister at 
 Washington, Sir F. A. Bruce, of these facts. 
 
 Your brother, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Application was made on November 20, 
 1865, by my uncle, Thomas O. Dyer, of New 
 Orleans, to Major-General Sheridan, com- 
 manding the Division of the Gulf, for permis- 
 sion to forward to my father certain articles of 
 clothing and luxury. This permission was 
 granted, as will appear by a copy of the order 
 which follows. Up to this time the articles 
 sent my father by his friends had almost in- 
 variably failed to reach him; and even after- 
 ward many articles, and even sums of money, 
 sent him seem to have been "confiscated." 
 
 Headquarters Military Division of the Gulf, 
 
 Office Provost-Marshal General. 
 New Orleans, November 20, 1865. 
 Permission is hereby granted to T. O. Dyer to 
 forward this invoice of goods to Samuel A. Mudd, 
 confined at Fort Jefferson, Florida, care of command- 
 ing officer there, who will deliver same at his discre- 
 tion. Q. M. Dept. will furnish transportation. 
 
 By command of Maj.-Gen. Sheridan, 
 F. T. Sherman, 
 Brig. Gen'l & P. M. G. 
 
142 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 The articles, an invoice of which had been 
 furnished to General Sheridan, were duly sent, 
 and all were received by my father except "2 
 bottles Bordu Whiskey." These were never- 
 more heard of. Whether they were cast over- 
 board in transmission, or were intercepted and 
 the contents consumed by some bibulous indi- 
 vidual to whom opportunity offered tempta- 
 tion, will perhaps never be known. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, November 25, 1865. 
 My dearest Wife : 
 
 I am as well as circumstances permit. Give my 
 love to all, Pa, Ma, and the family. Tell the children 
 they must be good, learn their lessons, and pray for 
 their disconsolate papa. I am afraid to write more, 
 lest objection be made; and believe me, my dear 
 Frank, your most faithful and devoted husband, con- 
 fiding in the infinite goodness and mercy of God and 
 the prayerful intercession of many friends, I am in 
 hopes of a speedy release and return to you. 
 
 A mail has arrived. The letters and papers have 
 not been distributed, consequently I do not know 
 whether there is anything for me or not. Kiss all the 
 children, etc. Yours, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Dry Tortugas, Fla., December 9, 1865. 
 My dear Jere : 
 
 I received your last, dated November 7, 1865, which 
 I assure you has raised my spirits above description. 
 Let me hear from you all, not contraband, at your 
 earliest opportunity. 
 
 I received a trunk from dear Tom on the 3d of 
 December, invoiced as containing a quantity of fine 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 143 
 
 clothes, several cans of vegetables, fish, whiskey, etc. 
 The whiskey was not received. I wrote to him 
 acknowledging the receipt. He may not get it, so 
 when you write, inform him. 
 
 The negro regiment has been only partially relieved 
 by white troops. Our condition is not much better. 
 We are still in irons, compelled to wash down six 
 bastions of the Fort daily, closely guarded, denied all 
 intercourse with other prisoners, locked up at night, 
 and a sentry placed at the door. Our fare is some- 
 thing better, and we are allowed to purchase articles 
 of food, etc. I also received twenty-five dollars from 
 Tom. This was placed in the hands of the com- 
 mander, not to my credit. We are only allowed three 
 dollars per month. I assure you no reasonable cause 
 can be alleged for our present rash and inhuman treat- 
 ment other than my attempted escape. 
 
 I thought I had paid the penalty of my offense when 
 we were paid a visit by Generals Newton and Forsyth, 
 and we are informed by the negro Commandant that it 
 was through their order we were placed in irons. 
 Newton commands this department. God bless him 
 and his tribe! 
 
 I am well and in hopes of a speedy release from my 
 chains. Good-by, my dearest brother and friend. 
 Give my love to all and kiss Frank and the children 
 for me. You need not send me any more money. I 
 will call upon you when I need it. I have enough to 
 bring me home. This note is written far under- 
 ground. Your brother, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, December 12, 1865. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received last night yours of the 20th of November, 
 
144 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 which relieved me of many apprehensions regarding 
 you and our little ones. 
 
 I assure you last week has been the most miserable 
 of my imprisonment, on account of the gloom which 
 came over me in consequence of your failing to write 
 at the appointed time. You said nothing in your 
 letter about your previous sickness or indisposition. 
 I, therefore, conclude you have fully recovered. I 
 am truly pleased to see you so hopeful of my speedy 
 release. I can see nothing cheering in what you have 
 communicated, but it may be owing to my want of 
 understanding. It is my impression this flimsy pre- 
 tense is resorted to to keep up a show of doing some- 
 thing, when in reality nothing is intended to be accom- 
 plished. I am pleased to know that you are satisfied ; 
 as for myself, nothing short of removal from this 
 place can create an impression of fair dealing on the 
 part of those in authority. 
 
 I am sorry to hear of the death of George Garrico 
 and Mr. Bean. Our white population is wonderfully 
 diminishing by death and other causes. The negroes 
 will soon be in the majority, if not already. Should 
 I be released any time shortly, and circumstances per- 
 mit, I will use all my endeavors to find a more con- 
 genial locality. I wrote to you on the 7th, also on the 
 1st, which I am in hopes you shall have received before 
 this. I sent you on the 7th a couple of large moss- 
 cards, and to-day send you three more, having nothing 
 more suitable at hand. I have some small shell frames 
 for pictures, but cannot send them conveniently by 
 mail. I will try to send them by the next mail if I can 
 arrange a safe box, etc. I was in hopes I would have 
 the pleasure of bringing in person these little curiosi- 
 ties, but fate has decreed otherwise. 
 
 Don't bother yourself in regard to my wants; they 
 are all plentifully supplied at this time. I have plenty 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 145 
 
 of money for all my wants, clothing sufficient to last 
 me a year or more. 
 
 I am well with the exception of a pretty bad cold, 
 and occasional rheumatic attacks. Give my love to 
 Pa, Ma, and all the family. 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, December 14, 1865. 
 My darling Wife : 
 
 I have received no intelligence from you since the 
 letter dated November 7. In that I was led to hope 
 for a speedy reunion. I fear you have been misled 
 and caused cruel disappointment to visit me in this 
 ungodly place; a new pang to my sufferings. 
 
 We have not been visited by a priest up to this time. 
 There is no minister of any denomination here, and 
 no religious observation of Sunday or holidays. 
 
 The colored regiment has only been partially 
 relieved. Our fare has much improved since I last 
 wrote, though treatment is the same. 
 
 I received a trunk of clothing, cans of vegetables, 
 tobacco and twenty-five dollars from dear Tom on the 
 3d instant. The clothing is finer than I need, besides 
 I am not situated to wear them. You will please ex- 
 press my thanks and gratitude to Tom when you again 
 write. 
 
 Did you deliver the message to Fannie I requested 
 in a former letter, viz : to be more prudent in her 
 writing? The last letter that arrived was not handed 
 me on account of insulting language. She must have 
 been aware that all correspondence is inspected pre- 
 vious to the delivery to prisoners, and language preju- 
 dicial to me or herself would be observed, and likely 
 noted. Do caution her for the future, and allow noth- 
 ing in your power to prevent, to be said or done having 
 10 
 
146 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 a tendency to prolong my misery. I have arrived at 
 that point to which I would accept any terms for an 
 immediate release, — even death I crave to a much 
 longer protraction. So, my darling, try and prevent 
 all language that is not likely to accomplish anything 
 toward my relief. Spare no effort in endeavoring to 
 bring before the Executive my entire innocence. You 
 know well, my darling, could the truth be established, I 
 should receive the thanks and applause of the nation 
 instead of this cruel and unjust treatment. 
 
 My dear little Tommy continues still unwell ; alas ! 
 I fear I shall not be home in time to render him any 
 benefit. I am in hopes I shall be spared this afflic- 
 tion — the loss of one of our dear little children — by a 
 merciful Providence. What I have already under- 
 gone is beyond my power of expressing, and nothing 
 but the consciousness of having done no wrong, but 
 a duty, causes me to bear up against my adverse for- 
 tune. Written in haste. Write soon. My heart 
 yearns to see you, and the dear little ones. 
 
 Good-by, my darling wife, my hope and comfort. 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, Florida, 
 
 December 20, 1865. 
 My darling Frank: 
 
 I am well, things are "in statu quo." The weather 
 is very warm — mosquitoes and bed-bugs very numer- 
 ous and troublesome; coupled with this, I feel much 
 disappointed at not being able to enjoy my Christmas 
 dinner at home, as I have been led to hope. 
 
 I have received no letters since yours of the 27th of 
 November and December 5th. Since then I have 
 written — this the third letter to you and one to Fannie. 
 I have received no letter from you containing money, 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 147 
 
 and for the future you need not bother yourself to 
 send me anything, only as I may desire. You and 
 our dear little children will require every dime to sus- 
 tain you, and no doubt even then will suffer many 
 privations and hardships. When you write, let me 
 know whether you have succeeded in hiring any field 
 hands or a cook for another year. Do all you can to 
 avoid being an incumbrance to others, at the same 
 time be careful to prevent actual want to self and our 
 sweet little children — this thought occasions me more 
 anxiety and suffering than any other. A steamer is 
 coming in — I will await the mail before concluding. 
 The steamer has landed, but brought no mail. How 
 anxious I was that it would bring me the glad tidings 
 of release; but I fear the Almighty thinks it would 
 occasion me too much joy. 
 
 My darling Frank, when I read the papers that I 
 now and then receive I can see nothing to inspire me 
 with hope regarding myself, or the restoration of 
 peace and good feeling throughout the States. How 
 much I desire the States to assume their proper rela- 
 tion in the Union! Should I be released at this time 
 I would be very much bothered to find a place where 
 we could rest happy and content upon the habitable 
 globe — so demoralized have become the people and 
 insecure life, liberty, and prosperity. Nothing is re- 
 liable in these times, and God only knows when I shall 
 be suffered to return to you. I will likely be detained 
 longer than you anticipate, to keep up the appearance 
 of justice, or until excitement and agitation is 
 allayed — so, my dearest, do all you can; let not the 
 cares, which now press heavily upon you, lead you to 
 unnecessarily expose your health and strength — con- 
 sider the welfare of our dear little children and my 
 happiness, should Providence speedily favor me. 
 
 I am sorry I have nothing entertaining and inter- 
 
148 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 esting to relate — such would be a contradiction to this 
 place of woe. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 The following is a copy of a letter written by 
 my mother to President Johnson: 
 
 Bryantown, Md., December 22, 1865. 
 His Excellency, Andrew Johnson, 
 President of The United States. 
 Dear Sir: I hesitate to address you, but love is 
 stronger than fear, timidity must yield. I must peti- 
 tion for him who is very, very dear to me. Mr. Presi- 
 dent, after many weeks anxious waiting for news from 
 my innocent, suffering husband, Dr. Samuel Mudd, 
 last night's mail brought the sad tidings, he Avith 
 others, by orders from the War Department, were 
 heavily ironed, and obliged to perform hard work. 
 The plea for this cruel treatment is, that the Govern- 
 ment is in possession of news of a plot, originating in 
 Havana or New Orleans, for the rescue of the said 
 prisoners. The food furnished is of such miserable 
 quality, he finds it impossible to eat it. Health and 
 strength are failing. To my poor intellect, it seems 
 an ineffectual plan to put down a plot by avenging 
 upon the prisoners the acts of others. I suppose Sec- 
 retary Stanton knows better. It strikes me very 
 forcibly, your Excellency is ignorant of this order. I 
 saw you in September, and although I felt I was not 
 as kindly treated as others, I looked into your face, 
 and if it is true that "the face is an index to the heart,'' 
 I read in it a good, kind heart that can sympathize 
 with the sufferings of others. I marked the courteous 
 manner you addressed ladies, particularly the aged. 
 These things encouraged me to pray you to interpose 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 149 
 
 your higher authority. The setting of a leg is no 
 crime that calls for forgiveness. I ask you to release 
 him, and I believe you will do it. I beg you in the 
 name of humanity, by all that is dear to me, in the 
 name of his aged and suffering parents, his wife and 
 four babies, to immediately put a stop to this inhuman 
 treatment. By a stroke of your pen, you can cause 
 these irons to fall and food to be supplied. By a 
 stroke of that same pen, you can give him liberty. 
 Think how much depends upon you. You were 
 elected the Father of this people. Their welfare is 
 your welfare. Then, in the name of God, if you let 
 him die under this treatment, he an American citizen, 
 who has never raised his arm, nor his voice against his 
 country, can these people love you? Forgive me, I 
 speak plainly, but my heart is very sore. You say, 
 "Women are your jewels," you hope for much from 
 their prayers. I do not love you, neither will I ask the 
 Almighty to bless you; but give back my husband to 
 me, and to his parents who are miserable, — the wealth 
 of my love and gratitude will be yours. My prayers 
 shall ascend in union with my little children who are 
 in happy ignorance, daily looking for the return of 
 their "Pa." To Him who has said, "Suffer little chil- 
 dren to come unto me," God of mercy I pray you, touch 
 the heart of thy servant, make him give back my hus- 
 band. Could you look into our household, it would 
 give you a subject for meditation. In the Doctor's 
 childhood home, there is his father, who is old and 
 infirm. When he hears the name of his boy, his lips 
 tremble, but he thinks it is not manly to yield to tears, 
 besides, he has confidence in you. His mother has 
 scarcely left her sick-room since his arrest. "She 
 waits," she says, "to see him" ; then like Holy Simeon, 
 "she is willing to die." Pass from this to my little 
 household. I, a wife, drag out life in despondency. 
 
150 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 I, who was shielded from every care by him who is 
 now suffering a living death, am miserable and have 
 to battle with this overwhelming trouble. I am the 
 mother of four babies, the oldest, seven years, the 
 youngest, but one. The third, a delicate boy requiring 
 constant care. I have confidence in you and feel you 
 will grant my request. 
 
 Very respectfully yours, 
 
 Mrs. Dr. Samuel A. Mudd. 
 
 Saturday 23d, 1865. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 The steamer has remained until the present. I send 
 you one or two moss-pictures as a Christmas gift, 
 being the only thing in my power to transmit. You 
 need not send any person to see me, for at present all 
 intercourse and conversation with outsiders is inter- 
 dicted, and it would only increase my suffering to be 
 denied the pleasure and satisfaction of some kind 
 friend or familiar face's company. 
 
 I am well, but do not enjoy health. We have our 
 Christmas dinner already in prospect, viz : canned 
 roast turkey, sausage, oysters, preserves, fresh 
 peaches, tomatoes, etc. 
 
 Wishing from my inmost heart, you a happy, merry 
 and joyful Christmas, I am, 
 
 Your faithful, devoted and loving husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, December 25, 1865. 
 My dear Jere : 
 
 To-day being Christmas, I shall endeavor in spirit 
 to eat my dinner with you all, since Providence has 
 decreed the denial of the reality. I can imagine the 
 sight of all my little children, my dearest Frank and 
 yourself, with the usual glass of egg-nog and sweet 
 
THE 1AFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 151 
 
 things, seated around a happy fire with no thought to 
 mar the pleasure and joy of the greatest Christian 
 festival. This was not long since the happiest of my 
 thoughts, but oh! how far from the realization. I 
 hate to contemplate the time that yet intervenes. For 
 the future, do not mislead me to hope for relief by 
 a certain time when there is no certainty. It adds 
 only a new pain to my already languishing life. Do 
 all you can, say nothing when you know nothing can 
 be effected ; avoid irritating and offensive language on 
 all occasions, and with parties whose influence may 
 be of avail, make known the false testimony and unfair 
 measures resorted to in order to effect my conviction. 
 I am very well. Our treatment is the same as when 
 I last wrote. 
 
 I received a letter from Fannie dated December 6, 
 mailed the 13th, informing me of your inability to 
 accomplish my release. I have felt considerable dis- 
 appointment; try for .the future to save me this un- 
 necessary anguish. Write often and send me papers. 
 Lose no time in communicating the glad tidings should 
 Providence favor your efforts. Love to all. 
 
 Kiss Frank and all my dear little children. 
 Good-by. 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, December 25, 1865. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I wrote to you on the 20th, and now again on this, 
 that should be to us all a joyful festival, to let you 
 know I am well, and have received through Fannie 
 the intelligence of our mutual disappointment — the 
 inability to effect the object of" my sincerest hopes, — a 
 speedy reunion. I was much grieved to know that 
 Jere thought it necessary to rent out the farm. I was 
 in hopes you would be able to hire one or two good 
 
152 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 hands, and cultivate through old Uncle John's man- 
 agement the land yourself, but, I know all things will 
 be done for the best, therefore feel satisfied. Bear up, 
 my darling, against all the adversities and calamities 
 which have so suddenly befallen us, with Christian 
 fortitude. I sometimes ask myself the question, 
 "what have I done to bring so much trouble upon 
 myself and family?" The answer is from my inmost 
 heart — "nothing." I am only consoled to know that 
 the greatest saints were the most prosecuted, and the 
 greatest sufferers, although far be it from classing 
 myself with those chosen friends of God. Would to 
 God, darling, it was in my power to afford you some 
 consolation in this, I hope, the darkest hour of our 
 lives. I have endeavored to the best of my ability to 
 lead as spotless and sinless a life as in my power. I 
 have not omitted saying my beads a single day since 
 living on this horrid island. We have not been visited 
 yet by a priest, and I desire much to go to confession 
 and communion and conform to all the requirements 
 of our holy religion, yet I do not know whether I 
 would be allowed this privilege should a minister of 
 our church visit us at this time, since we are yet closely 
 confined under guard and denied all intercourse with 
 outsiders. Our duties are to sweep down the bastions 
 of the Fort every day under a guard. Our condition 
 is the same as when I last wrote. It is alleged my 
 attempted escape has been the cause of our continued 
 harsh treatment, but this can't be so, for none of the 
 rest made the least move, and none of the party was 
 there at the time. When the irons were placed upon 
 us we were told they were only to be kept on while 
 a steamer or vessel was lying at the wharf; but they 
 have been on every day, and taken off at night since 
 the first day they were put on. I am in hopes the day 
 is not far distant when reason and law will take the 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 153 
 
 place of passion, prejudice, and sectional hatred. So 
 far as our conduct is concerned, none have been more 
 quiet and submissive, although certain false statements 
 and representations have been made. My sweet dar- 
 ling wife, good-by. I am truly in hopes you have 
 spent a more agreeable Christmas than myself. God 
 bless you all. 
 
 Samuex Mudd. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 PRISON LIFE) IN l866 — NEW YEAR'S DAY AT FORT 
 JEFFERSON. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, January 1, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 To-day being New Year, I have no better means at 
 my command of spending the time appropriately than 
 dropping you a few hasty lines to afford you all the 
 consolation that lies in my power. On the morning 
 of the 28th, Bishop Verot, of Savannah, and the Rev. 
 Father O'Hara arrived here about 6 o'clock. Soon 
 word came that they desired to see me; my chains 
 being taken off, I dressed in my best, and was soon 
 ushered into their presence with my usual guard of 
 honor. I found them preparing to say mass, and had 
 the happy fortune of being present during the divine 
 service. 
 
 After service I had a short conversation with Bishop 
 Verot and Rev. Wm. O'Hara. I received the con- 
 tents of the letter formerly addressed to Father 
 O'Hara by Sister Joseph — a cross, a scapular, etc. In 
 the evening I had the pleasure of listening to a very 
 learned and practical lecture from the Bishop. After 
 the discourse, I repaired to my quarters, took my usual 
 supper, said my beads, and enjoyed for a time a 
 promenade up and down my gloomy quarters, when a 
 rap at the door was heard, and my name called. On 
 going to the door, I found our most pious and ven- 
 erable Bishop had called to bid me good-by; he in- 
 tended leaving in the morning. I had given the sub- 
 ject of confession my attentive thought during the 
 day, and remarked to the Bishop that I regretted I was 
 
Andrew Johnson 
 
 FACING PAGE I ^4 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 155 
 
 not allowed the privilege of confession that evening; 
 he said then, if I desired, he had the permission already 
 accepted, and I had the satisfaction and happiness to 
 confess to the Bishop. The next morning I went to 
 communion. Mass was said by the Bishop, Father 
 O'Hara serving as before. After mass I bade the 
 good and pious old man good-by, and received his 
 blessing. I have not language at my command, my 
 darling, to express the joy and delight I received on 
 the occasion of this unexpected visit. Father O'Hara 
 will remain a week, and I am in hopes I will have the 
 happiness of again communing before he departs; I 
 have made application. I heard mass yesterday. 
 There are many Catholics among the citizen laborers, 
 and we have quite a large congregation, nearly all 
 going to communion. I have now, my darling wife, 
 but one affliction, viz : uneasiness of mind regarding 
 you and our precious little children. Imprisonment, 
 chains and all other accompaniments of prison life, I 
 am used to. I believe I can stand anything, but the 
 thought of your dependent position, the ills and priva- 
 tions consequent, pierce my heart as a dagger, and 
 allow me no enjoyment and repose of mind. I have 
 apprehensions from the idle, roving, and lawless 
 negroes that roam unrestricted through the country. 
 Be careful, my darling, and be ever guarded. 
 
 The papers I notice are filled with horrible, most 
 infamous and degraded crimes perpetrated by these 
 outlaws. When you write, inform me what disposi- 
 tion is made of the farm, horses, cows, sheep, etc., and 
 whether any portion of land has been reserved for 
 yourself to cultivate. Will Old John remain with 
 you, or Albin? Consult, my dearest, with Pa and 
 Jere, and try to remain comfortable and free from a 
 dependent position. Give me all particulars that you 
 deem worthy, and that can be written with propriety, 
 
156 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL. A. MUDD 
 
 for letters are inspected before handed to us. Disap- 
 pointment produces more pain than the pleasure of 
 hope or release, so my darling when you write again, 
 say nothing illusive, and advise Henry and Fannie to 
 refrain from alluding to what is not certain or reliable. 
 It is all supposition, and I can suppose as well as they. 
 The Court who sent me here, I know well never con- 
 templated the carrying out of the unheard-of sentence, 
 considering the slight foundation for even the suspi- 
 cion of crime, so, my darling, I do not stand in need 
 of any of these vagueries. Life and everything in this 
 world is uncertain and changeable, and we little know 
 what other trials and crosses Providence may have yet 
 in store for us. I have endeavored to the best of my 
 ability to conform to all the duties required by our 
 holy religion; my conscience is easy, and if death 
 should visit me here (which I pray God to deliver me 
 from), I am in hopes it will not find me unprepared. 
 Live strictly agreeable to the dictates of your con- 
 science and religion, and the trials we have endured 
 may yet rebound to our earthly advantages ; if not, I 
 am in hopes we will meet in heaven. I forgot to men- 
 tion previously I had also the privilege of making the 
 jubilee. The month of December was appointed by 
 the Bishop for the province. Tell Henry and Fannie 
 I will answer their letters by next mail. I fear a copy 
 of a former letter of Fannie' s has been sent to the War 
 Department, at least a copy was made of it. The Pro- 
 vost Marshal so informed me. I know not whether it 
 was sent to the War Department. I fear imprudent 
 talk and writing will yet dispose the mind of the Presi- 
 dent not to listen to your appeals in my behalf. Be 
 careful, my darling child, and refrain as much as 
 possible from expressing any angry indignation 
 toward the ruling powers, or using opprobrious 
 epithets toward my known prosecutors. Such con- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 157 
 
 duct can have only the tendency to protract my stay 
 here by keeping up agitation and excitement, if noth- 
 ing else. Parties can have but little regard for my 
 welfare, who are ever indulging in idle and injurious 
 expressions. I feel that I should be perfectly satisfied 
 to remain the balance of my days only in your and my 
 little ones' company. My constant prayer is — God be 
 merciful to us and grant me a speedy release, and a 
 safe return to my family. Write often, don't await 
 answer, for months would intervene between the recep- 
 tion of letters. 
 
 How much I regretted to learn of the sad accident 
 that occurred to your old home. My heart is often 
 softened by the memory of our happiest days. It was 
 within its hallowed walls that we first indulged in the 
 hope of a blissful future, but alas ! to what gloom have 
 we arrived. 
 
 Good-by, my darling wife and little children. 
 Yours devotedly, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, January 2, 1866. 
 My dear Fannie : 
 
 The last letter I had the pleasure of receiving from 
 you was dated the 6th of November — the previous let- 
 ter was withheld on account of its objectionable con- 
 tents. The offensive matter was read to me, though 
 none of the family news. 
 
 I knew, my dear Fannie, you intended no insult to 
 any of the just and proper constituted authorities of 
 the Government in your remarks, but the unworthy 
 servants who scruple not to misconstrue and falsify — 
 having for their chief motives the hope of honor, and 
 the selfish lust and thirst for gain. It would be best 
 for the future, Fannie, since words are of no avail, to 
 
158 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 abstain from all criticisms — give me only the family 
 and neighborhood news. 
 
 There has been no amelioration in our treatment 
 since I last wrote, with the exception that our fare has 
 much improved. Our Commandant is named B. H. 
 Hill, formerly colonel, but now brevet brig.-genl. It 
 was unnecessary to mention what knowledge you had 
 of his disposition toward me — no word or sign of 
 recognition has passed between us or any of his staff 
 officers since he has been in command. Whatever 
 opinions he may have formed concerning me, I did net 
 wish or desire you to give any expression; I prefer 
 leaving all abstruse matters to the solution of time. 
 The opinion of one pro or con can effect but little 
 whilst it is quiescent — it is only when the sympathies 
 of good or evil are aroused, when good or evil is ac- 
 complished. Be careful, therefore, in your comments, 
 lest you produce an antagonism, which certainly will 
 not tend to shorten my stay at this woeful place. 
 
 I have had the happiness to go to confession and 
 communion — I have given all particulars to dear 
 Frank. Bishop Verot and Father O'Hara visited us 
 on the 28th. When you write to Cousin Ann, tell her 
 I have received the contents of the letter she sent 
 Father O'Hara. The Bishop is a most saintly man, 
 plain and unassuming as an old fiddlestick. Father 
 O'Hara is also a very pious man, and is quite a fine 
 preacher. I feel easy in spiritual matters, but not in 
 the temporal. Frank and the children cause me more 
 uneasiness and suffering than all the miseries of im- 
 prisonment. I am truly in hopes she will have the 
 strength to bear up against our present misfortunes 
 and discomforts. When you write tell me if the ne- 
 groes have committed any outrages in the neighbor- 
 hood or county. Father O'Hara will be stationed at 
 Key West, and will visit this place once every four or 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SA3IUEL A. MUDD 159 
 
 five weeks. You can write to him and make what in- 
 quiries you deem necessary regarding our present con- 
 dition. I don't wish you all to make any more ap- 
 pointments without first and foremost enabling me to 
 comply. You know how slowly the time passes when 
 something pleasant and agreeable is in anticipation : 
 the days and even the hours are counted, preparations 
 and expense are made and incurred, then comes a put 
 off, and finally a smash up — crushed hopes and nasty 
 feelings. This I think is a picture of what has been 
 presented to me. My dear Fannie, I have lost all my 
 sugar teeth, and don't stand in need of sweets — I like 
 something stable and real — no friend to sugar-coated 
 pills. 
 
 If you have anything reliable, sufficiently so to allow 
 you to fix a time, I would like much to know it, but 
 where everything is so indefinite and dependent, I 
 much prefer no allusion to the subject. When you 
 write, inform me whether Ewing is interesting him- 
 self in my behalf. Be guarded and say nothing in your 
 letters that may be used to my detriment by the evil 
 disposed. Adopt the principle of do much and say lit- 
 tle. I was much grieved to hear of the death of Mr. 
 Miles. I am in hopes he is better off than being in this 
 world of strife and degradation. I was also much 
 pained to hear of Pa's loss on Jere's place, the destruc- 
 tion of the dwelling. I am afraid Pa will worry him- 
 self too much about his present misfortunes and trials. 
 Try, dear Fannie, to comfort dear Papa and Ma as 
 much as in your power. Excitement, agitation, etc., 
 bring about many bodily disorders and predispose to 
 disease, so do all you can to soothe in trials and tribu- 
 lations that now press so heavily upon us. Let me 
 know whether Pa has succeeded in hiring any hands 
 for this year, and what disposition is made of my 
 place, and what Frank contemplates. I have heard 
 
160 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 nothing of the particulars of your and Frank's visit to 
 Washington — only the fact. You need not tell me, if 
 prudence dictates. Frank has never, in the letters I 
 received from her, made any reference or allusion, and 
 presume her silence was influenced by prudential mo- 
 tives. Tell Henry his three months will have nearly 
 expired by the time this reaches you, and certainly 
 before an answer reaches me. His letter was dated 
 October 30, so the end of the present month will com- 
 plete the period. All is surmise and speculation. An 
 early release on my part would be a virtual acknowl- 
 edgment of the injustice of the court martial; there- 
 fore, my conclusions are — I will have to remain here 
 some time yet, to keep up appearances. Give my love 
 to dear Ma, Pa, and all. 
 
 I will not be able to answer Henry's letter before 
 the next mail. It is impossible for me to answer every 
 letter by the same mail. I have but a few minutes al- 
 lowed me now for writing, generally by dim candle 
 light, and can't be select in my language, or. writing. 
 Tell dear Frank that I either write to her, Jere, or 
 some of you, every mail, and a letter to one must be 
 considered for you all. Likely some of my letters 
 have been held back like yours on account of objec- 
 tionable contents, for I am confident not one boat has 
 left without my writing to some one of you. Give me 
 all the neighborhood news. You have taken a fancy to 
 your neighbor's wealth, what will be next on the pro- 
 gram? Give particulars of all my dear little children 
 and dear Frank. Remember me to all friends, etc., 
 and believe me, 
 
 Your most devoted brother, 
 
 Sam. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 161 
 
 Fort Jefferson, January 22, 1866. 
 My dearest, my darling Wife: 
 
 I will now attempt a description of myself, having 
 exhausted in this and all previous letters all other sub- 
 jects. I am beginning to realize the saying of the 
 Psalmist — "I have grown old in my youth," etc. Im- 
 agine one loaded down with heavy chains, locked up in 
 a wet, damp room, twelve hours out of every twenty- 
 four during working days, and all day on Sundays and 
 holidays. No exercise allowed except in the limited 
 space of a small room, and with irons on. The atmos- 
 phere we breathe is highly impregnated with sulphuric 
 hydrogen gas, which you are aware is highly injurious 
 to health as well as disagreeable. The gas is generated 
 by the numerous sinks that empty into that portion of 
 the sea enclosed by the breakwater, and which is im- 
 mediately under a small port hole — the only admission 
 for air and light we have from the external port. My 
 legs and ankles are swollen and sore, pains in my 
 shoulders and back are frequent. My hair began fall- 
 ing out some time ago, and to save which I shaved it 
 all over clean, and have continued to do so once every 
 week since. It is now beginning to have a little life. 
 My eyesight is beginning to grow very bad, so much 
 so that I can't read or write by candle-light. During 
 the day, owing to the overpowering light and heat, my 
 eyes are painful and irritated, and can't view any ob- 
 ject many seconds without having to close or shade 
 them from the light. With all this, imagine my gait 
 with a bucket and broom, and a guard, walking around 
 from one corner of the Fort to another, sweeping and 
 sanding down the bastions. This has been our treat- 
 ment for the last three months, coupled with bad diet, 
 bad water, and every inconvenience. The greatest 
 wonder is, that we have borne up so well. The weather 
 11 
 
162 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 here since the beginning of the winter has been as 
 warm as summer with you. The inhabitants are nearly 
 always in their shirt sleeves and bare feet. There has 
 been no time yet that a person could not sleep out com- 
 fortably in open air, when raining all night. It sounds 
 strange to read of heavy snows and persons freezing to 
 death, in the papers. I am truly in hopes, my darling, 
 you and my precious little ones have not suffered from 
 the want of fuel, and the necessary comforts of life 
 and health. Try, my darling, and do not expose your 
 health — consider the welfare and the duty we owe to 
 our children. Save them, if possible, from being- 
 thrown upon this cold and heartless world, uneducated 
 and ignorant of the debt they owe the Supreme Ruler 
 of all. With the picture I have presented, you no 
 doubt think I enjoy no pleasure or comfort. This, my 
 dearest Frank, is not the case. My principal consola- 
 tion is the knowledge of having no responsibilities im- 
 mediately, other than the salvation of my own soul. 
 Be assured then that I have done all that laid in my 
 power toward that end. I have already written you 
 concerning the visit of the Bishop of Savannah and 
 Father O'Hara, now stationed at Key West, to this 
 place. I have received no tidings from the letter you 
 sent containing money. I received the contents of the 
 letter forwarded to Father O'Hara. I sent you some 
 time ago a ring, containing a silver set of a cross and 
 four little diamonds in the center, and on each side a 
 heart. Let me know whether you received it or not. 
 Love to all. Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, January 28, 1866. 
 My darling Wife: 
 
 I had the happy consolation on the 26th of receiv- 
 ing four letters, and being relieved from the horrible 
 chains. The letters were, one from Cecie, one from 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 163 
 
 Jere, and two from your sweet self. I was much re- 
 joiced to know that you were all well, and that our 
 precious little boy was convalescent, or fully recovered. 
 Jere spoke of Pa and Ma's health being yet very bad. 
 I am afraid affliction is the cause. Try, my darling, 
 to cheer and console them all in your power. They are 
 the only friends I have on earth, and the only tie that 
 binds me to the land of my birth. Tell them, my dar- 
 ling, though absent, they are not forgotten, and the 
 truly Christian lessons imparted during my youth, now 
 more than ever, are being appreciated and practiced. 
 
 I wrote to you and Henry some days ago. The 
 letter was returned on account of containing some ob- 
 jectionable matter. I have written twelve or fifteen 
 letters to you and home folks since Christmas. I pre- 
 sume they have been forwarded to you, since they were 
 not returned. I have no direct knowledge. Letters 
 are likely delayed on account of having to undergo ex- 
 amination. I have never failed to avail myself of every 
 opportunity to write to you ; duty as much as love 
 and pleasure prompts me to do so. Be actuated by 
 similar motives, and, my precious one, I shall be satis- 
 fied. 
 
 Hoping to hear again shortly from you, and that 
 you may be able to communicate the realization of my 
 brightest dreams, I bid you a sorrowful adieu. 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 President Johnson having received my 
 mother's letter of the 22d of December, 1865, 
 issued an order for better treatment toward 
 my father and his companions in exile. This 
 order having reached those in command, the 
 prisoners were relieved from their chains and 
 given better quarters for a time. 
 
1G4 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Tortugas Island, February 8, 1866. 
 My dear Jere: 
 
 I received your very kind letter of the 26th of Jan- 
 uary last. I was in hopes ere this, from representa- 
 tions made, that I would be bounding the billows of the 
 wild ocean with home my happy destination. I sup- 
 pose it is decreed otherwise. I must be resigned. I 
 have nothing new to report other than we have been 
 relieved of our chains, and some interest manifested 
 for our general well-being. Please forward to Frank 
 after reading. 
 
 Write soon, remember me kindly to all friends, and 
 believe me, 
 
 Most sincerely your brother, etc., 
 
 Samuel A. Mudd. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, February 18, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received yesterday two letters, dated January 25 
 and February 3, though bringing me nothing definite. 
 I was much consoled to learn you were all in the en- 
 joyment of good health and spirits, and possessed with 
 brave resolutions to bear up bravely against our pres- 
 ent adversity. Continue, my darling, upon this happy 
 course, and God, I am in hopes, will crown our efforts. 
 
 You (invariably) mention in your letters that the 
 time is but short that I have to remain ; afterward you 
 remark, "Should weeks and months pass without re- 
 ceiving a letter," etc. I want you to state in your next 
 what you consider a short time. I am becoming tired 
 of these expressions, because they don't comport with 
 my reckoning. Perhaps you call one, two, or three 
 years short — it seems very short after it is passed, but 
 distressingly long to view in my present position and 
 condition — "in fiituro" It generally requires from 
 twelve to fifteen days for a letter to reach me, and 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 165 
 
 about the same time one from you, so you can judge 
 at what time it would take me to get home after my 
 release was known to you — fully six weeks would in- 
 tervene, not short. 
 
 Our chains have been removed, our quarters changed 
 to a healthier locality, and our fare much improved, 
 so I have hopes of a prolongation of the thread of life. 
 Be assured, my darling, nothing will be done willingly 
 on my part to endanger health, or the violation of any 
 rule or order having a tendency to prolong my stay 
 here. You need not bother yourself about sending me 
 money. The clothing sent me, I have no use for, and 
 I can convert them into something to eat, should I re- 
 quire. I have not worn any of the clothing sent me ; 
 my occupation not being very clean, it would be the 
 height of nonsense to wear them. 
 
 Write soon. Remember me to Cousin Betty, my 
 precious babies, Pa, Ma and family, and Old Uncle 
 John. I will write to Mr. Best by the next mail. 
 Good-by, God bless you and our dear little ones. 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Baltimore, February 18, 1866. 
 Dear Frank: 
 
 On my way up, I stopped in Washington to see 
 Ford, but learned he was not in the city, so yesterday 
 I went over and had a long interview with him. He 
 told me he had a long interview with the President the 
 day before, and had every assurance he would release 
 Sam at the earliest moment he could consistently do 
 so; the President also remarked to him, he (Sam) 
 was a mere creature of accident, and ought not to have 
 been put there, but in the present state of political ex- 
 citement he did not think it prudent in him to take any 
 action, as it would be another pretext for the radicals 
 
1GG THE LIFE OF DK. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 to build capital on. He also stated that the issue be- 
 tween the President and the radicals would be made 
 in a few days, and if they still persisted in their ex- 
 treme measures, he would then take a decided stand 
 against them ; so, my dear Frank, you will still have to 
 exercise the virtue of patience yet awhile longer. 
 
 I have not the least doubt that Sam will be released 
 as soon as Johnson can do so with propriety, and I 
 really think the day is not far distant. These are my 
 own opinions from information derived from different 
 sources, which I will explain to you when I come 
 down, which will be the 8th of March. Let me hear 
 from you as soon as you receive this, and tell me all 
 the news, and tell me how you are getting along. 
 Your brother, 
 
 Washington, February 22, 1866. 
 My dear Madam : 
 
 It is not yet time to move in your husband's case. 
 The Supreme Court will try and decide the question as 
 to the jurisdiction of Military Commissions, in a case 
 from Indiana, on the first Monday in March. Let us 
 hear their decision before anything is done. 
 
 We are all glad to hear from you, and to know that 
 you are bearing your trials bravely. 
 
 Very respectfully yours, 
 
 Thomas Ewing. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, February 28, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 In all of your letters you seem animated with hopes 
 of an early release. It can't be so, after perceiving the 
 vindictive hate which has followed me to this place. 
 
 My attention was called some days ago to some "ex 
 post facto" statements made by Captains Dutton and 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL. A. MUDD 167 
 
 Heichman. I can't divine the motive of the author or 
 the prosecution in appending these affairs and unjust 
 fabrications after my trial, because they do not give 
 me a chance of refutation. To hold me responsible for 
 such, would be equivalent to the denial of all justice, 
 and all that would be necessary to condemn a man 
 would be first to bind and gag him, then allow his ene- 
 mies to come forward and make their accusations. 
 This is the exact proceeding in my case. In the letter 
 to Jere I wrote in relation to this, fearing he might not 
 receive, I again make mention, and request you to 
 confer with General Ewing or Stone in regard, and let 
 me know what, if any, bearing it has upon my case. 
 It is not my wish to agitate the matter, knowing it 
 will have no tendency to benefit me. All I wish you to 
 do is to speak to my counsel, and act under their wise 
 instructions. 
 
 Your ever devoted and loving husband, 
 
 Samuel Mudd. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, March 3, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Mail arrived this morning, being the second with- 
 out bringing any intelligence from you or friends. 
 You must know my anxiety upon the arrival of every 
 mail, and disappointment when receiving no tidings. 
 The mail will leave this evening. Father O'Hara ar- 
 rived here this morning, and I learn will return this 
 evening without affording us an opportunity to go to 
 confession; his visit was to the sick. I have no time 
 to say more. Give my love to all. Write soon and 
 pray for a speedy release. 
 
 Hoping you and our dear little ones are well, I am 
 most truly and devotedly, 
 
 Your husband, 
 
 Samuel. Mudd. 
 
168 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Fort Jefferson, March 13, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Since the reception of the last mail, I have been ani- 
 mated with greater hope of speedy release on account 
 of the firm and decided policy of the President and his 
 endorsement by the people. The President thought, 
 and wisely, that time enough had been given Congress 
 to fully appreciate the public needs ; they not acting, 
 every lover of peace and good-will has justified him in 
 taking the initiatory. God grant that his plan may be 
 accepted and acted upon by Congress in the true spirit, 
 and quiet once more be restored throughout the land. 
 
 When you write or see Jere again, tell him for me, 
 to go and see Colonel or Judge Turner of the War 
 Department in reference to what statements and lan- 
 guage I made use of on my way to this place. I was 
 often in his company. I did explain to him all I knew, 
 which was nothing more than I wrote to Jere on a for- 
 mer occasion. 
 
 Hoping the great mystery will soon be cleared up, 
 and an honorable release my portion, I am, 
 Your loving husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, March 17, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I know not how to express my indignation con- 
 cerning the unfairness of the detectives, the Court, 
 and the subsequent action of parties in append- 
 ing false and injurious statements after my trial, 
 when they know it was not in my power to refute by a 
 legal proceeding, or to make denial without using lan- 
 guage deemed improper. You, my darling, are differ- 
 ently situated ; you have liberty of action, and for your 
 theme the changes that every fleeting hour makes in 
 your midst and the surrounding world. These you sel- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 169 
 
 dom ever advert to, nor do I find the paper well used 
 up in the matter it contains. I, however, my loving 
 one, find no fault, believing- you influenced by motives 
 of discretion, and the duties that now press upon you a 
 sufficient cause. 
 
 I am now becoming of the opinion that it would 
 have been better for me had I never written a word 
 since being here. I certainly would have been 
 as well off, if not better, for I fear it has caused 
 indignant feelings, and words which are not tol- 
 erated at this time, only to a privileged set. Wm. L. 
 Garrison's remarks, which I see quoted in the papers 
 to-day, are as revolutionary as any that animated the 
 rebellion. But enough, I have no news for the fu- 
 ture, you must be satisfied with the fact that I am 
 well. It is the only pleasure I have in this lonely place 
 to write to you, and make known many of my sorrows 
 and difficulties, as I have none of joy to relate you. 
 
 I think it best for you to leave my case entirely in the 
 hands of my counsel and friends. If you can see Judge 
 Crain, I am confident he would, at the word, lend you 
 his aid in my behalf. I saw his name as chairman of a 
 committee in Baltimore to present certain resolutions 
 to the President. Hastily written, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, March 22, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I have just written to Cecie, and am now hastily 
 dropping you these few words to let you know that I 
 am well, and to comply with a precious promise to 
 write every opportunity. I am entirely without news, 
 and I find it impossible to gratify your desire for a 
 long letter without adverting to matter which has no 
 connection with us. Criticism is objected to; there- 
 fore, my precious one, accept the will for the deed. 
 
170 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 How much I desire to communicate to you something 
 consoling and cheering and free you from the many 
 anxieties and hardships that bother both mind and 
 body, but such unhappily is not in my power. Even 
 the little bird that has strayed away from a more con- 
 genial clime, and finds a resting-place here, loses his 
 song, and shows evident marks of despondency. With 
 us all is gloom and monotony, no pleasant change of 
 scenery, or anything new to divert the mind or body. 
 Mail arrives about once in ten or fifteen days, and the 
 papers bring us nothing but stale news, which serves 
 to occupy the mind but a few hours. I am very anx- 
 ious to hear from you, and when a mail arrives with- 
 out bringing any intelligence, I feel more heavily my 
 exile. 
 
 My darling Frank, I have but one desire, namely : 
 to be with you and see our dear little children properly 
 trained and educated. Fannie writes gloomily of af- 
 fairs now in your midst, and I fear, unless kind Provi- 
 dence intervenes, great suffering in the community 
 must ensue. God grant that you may be spared, and 
 that I may be allowed soon to contribute my feeble 
 strength toward your support and protection. 
 
 Be assured, my sweet Frank, you are the object of 
 all my thought and solicitude upon earth, and my fond- 
 est dream is the hour when I shall bid adieu to this 
 land of exile, and fly to the bosom of you, and our pre- 
 cious little family there, never more to part. God 
 speed the time is my daily prayer. Give my love to Pa 
 and all the family, Cousin Betty and Uncle John. Kiss 
 the children for me and believe me most fondly and af- 
 fectionately, 
 
 Sam. 
 
Jni 
 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 PRISON UFT; IN 1 866, CONTINUED DESCRIPTION 01- 
 
 EORT JEFFERSON. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, Fla., March 31, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I am just in receipt of yours of March 7, and feel 
 much disturbed at the wretched condition of affairs 
 existing in your midst. Sooner or later the wrath of 
 the Almighty will fall upon these public plunderers 
 and destroyers of the liberty, peace, and happiness of 
 our best citizens. 
 
 You spoke of Thomas being implicated or strongly 
 suspected. I am in hopes his day of retribution is nigh. 
 He is no doubt the principal source (fool as he is) of 
 my ruin and present unhappy state. I am truly sorry 
 for poor Padgett and 'Squire George. Negro evidence 
 was brought against me, why can't it be used against 
 Thomas? "It is a bad rule that won't work both 
 ways." 
 
 The picture above presents an easterly view of the 
 Fort. No. 1, marked in ink, shows you the location of 
 our quarters. These three marks are loop holes, about 
 four inches wide on the inside and two feet outside — 
 about seven feet above the floor, serving better the pur- 
 pose of ventilation than agreeable breeze. The door 
 below is the sally port, and is the only entrance to the 
 Fort. No. 2 is the lighthouse; 3, officers' quarters; 
 4, prisoners' quarters; 5, Logger Head Lighthouse, 
 about three miles distant ; No. 6 represents Hog Island, 
 a turtle, and a barrel used to carry water to hogs. 
 Turtles are frequently caught weighing two or three 
 hundred pounds. 
 
172 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 In yours of a prior date you remarked that you 
 would in the course of a few weeks visit Washington 
 and Baltimore. By the time this reaches you I expect 
 your tour will have been completed, and if nothing ac- 
 complished toward my release, I am in hopes you will 
 have nothing to regret, but, on the contrary, your 
 health and spirits much invigorated by the reaction of 
 both mind and body, which no doubt the observance of 
 Lent, the cares of family, changeable weather, bad 
 colds, etc., has tended to depress. This, together with 
 the advent of stuffed ham, boiled chicken, the spring- 
 ing into life of numerous salads, will brace you up to 
 bear more bravely the vicissitudes of your present con- 
 dition of life. With us the virtue of necessity is ever 
 our privilege, and on the principle of nature accommo- 
 dating itself to circumstances, finds me no worse off at 
 the end than in the beginning of Lent. My health con- 
 tinues good, and without the intervention of yellow 
 fever, cholera or some other dread malady, may sur- 
 vive a while longer. 
 
 Art often overcomes and subdues nature. A ball 
 can be made to roll up a hill. My disposition is under- 
 going a change. The virtue of resignation to an ad- 
 verse and unjust punishment is rapidly dying out 
 within me, and a different spirit supplanting. God 
 knows I try to control these emotions, but it seems 
 almost in vain. 
 
 History often reverses itself. Pilate, fearing the dis- 
 pleasure of the multitude, condemned our Lord to 
 death. Is not mine somewhat an analogous case. Ow- 
 ing to the excitement and influence prevailing at the 
 time of my trial, I could excuse much ; but since time 
 has elapsed for a sober, dispassionate consideration of 
 the matter, I am becoming vexed at my protracted 
 exile. I suppose it is all human. 
 
 I am truly grieved to hear of Mother's bad health — 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 173 
 
 would that I could prescribe something to cure or re- 
 lieve. I know nothing of her condition or disease, con- 
 sequently can advise nothing without the risk of doing 
 more evil than good. God grant it may be in my 
 power soon to come to her aid. I must now, my dear 
 Frank, reluctantly conclude by advising your best dis- 
 cretion in the selection of parties to represent my case. 
 I fear those who have been making you such fair prom- 
 ises are influenced principally by selfish motives and 
 have no real personal interest of mine at stake. I leave 
 you and friends judges of the matter; but it strikes 
 me, the party in whom you have been confiding is 
 guilty of child's play, and should no longer be esteemed 
 an adviser and friend. Use more care in writing, and 
 give me all news correct. Let me hear further in rela- 
 tion to these incendiaries. 
 
 Your disconsolate husband, 
 
 Samuel Mudd. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, April 8, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I am very well, and the island continues quite 
 healthy. Yellow fever and cholera are reported pre- 
 vailing at Key West about sixty miles distant ; precau- 
 tions have been taken to prevent its introduction here. 
 I received no letter from you by the last mail. I wrote 
 to you on the 22c\ and 29th, also to Sissy. Give my 
 love to Pa, Ma, and all the family, Cousin Betty and 
 Mr. Best, and kiss all our precious little children. I 
 have not time to say more. 
 
 Hoping we may be spared further afflictions, and our 
 unhappy situation about ended, I am most affection- 
 ately and devotedly, 
 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
174 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Baltimore, April 9, 1866. 
 Dear Frank: 
 
 This is the first opportunity I have had since my re- 
 turn to write you. I had a long talk with Judge Grain 
 yesterday, and he has promised to get for me the de- 
 cision of the Supreme Court. It is generally believed 
 that they have decided there was no law for trying- 
 civilians or persons not attached to the army by mili- 
 tary courts. He has gone to Harford County to at- 
 tend court, and will not be back before Friday. He 
 promised me when he returned he would go to Wash- 
 ington, and get Reverdy Johnson, as he knew the Pres- 
 ident was very fond of him, and try to get the Presi- 
 dent to release Sam ; and if he would not do it, he 
 thought he probably could be gotten out through the 
 courts, if the decision of the Supreme court is as rep- 
 resented, which there seems to be no doubt about ; but 
 they are keeping it from the people for political rea- 
 sons. I myself am very sanguine of being able to do 
 something for him in a short time. We will probably 
 have to send a lawyer to Florida to get out a writ, but 
 I hope to be able to accomplish his release without go- 
 ing to any more expense. You may rest assured I will 
 not let the matter rest if I find there is any chance of 
 doing anything for him. When the Judge returns, I 
 will write you and give you all the information I can 
 get. 
 
 Brother JerE [Dyer]. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, April 16, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 We received papers as late as the 3d instant, and 
 were much delighted to see the veto message of the 
 President upon the Civil Rights Bill and the Proclama- 
 tion of Peace, restoring the equal rights of all States 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 175 
 
 throughout the South, and the suspension of all mili- 
 tary proceedings in civil cases. 
 
 I am anxiously awaiting the good news promised in 
 your letter. I was a little indisposed a few days ago, 
 but have fully recovered upon hearing all was well with 
 you. The mail will leave this evening, and my letters 
 have to be examined; unless I am short, it may not 
 meet with approval. 
 
 Your husband, etc., 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, April 27, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I wrote to you a few days ago in anticipation of 
 a departing mail. To-day I received letters from 
 Fannie, Henry, and Doctor Blandford, and was 
 much grieved to learn that you were all much 
 disturbed at the appearance in the papers of a lying re- 
 port concerning myself. It seems to be the intention 
 of prejudiced parties not to let the effect of a slander 
 die out without birth being given to another. I have 
 not had a dozen words with a commissioned officer 
 since the present regiment had command of the Post, 
 therefore I could not have been very "querulous." I 
 have not been reticent without a motive. My health 
 has been better than might have been expected. I am 
 not as strong as I might be, for the want of proper ex- 
 ercise. We are under guard all the time, and no exer- 
 cise allowed except in the performance of duty, which 
 is very light. I can perform all I have to do in a couple 
 of hours. We are confined to our room on Sundays 
 and no exercise allowed. My duty is simply to sweep 
 down the bastions once every day. I am very well, 
 and anxiously awaiting relief from my unjust banish- 
 ment. Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
176 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, May i, 1866. 
 My dear Cousin : 
 
 We received yesterday the box containing all the 
 articles mentioned, in good condition, for which we 
 are under many obligations of gratitude. Accept my 
 kindest thanks. We are all very well and possessed of 
 the liveliest hopes for a speedy release, through the mer- 
 cies of a kind Providence. I am entirely without news. 
 I wrote to you early in March, and returned the cards 
 pressed with moss agreeable to request; since then I 
 have received no intelligence from you. I have letters 
 as late as the 12th of April from my family ; they were 
 well, and more prosperous than I could reasonably 
 suppose. Don't forget to thank Cousin M. for her 
 kind present of books. I will not have time to write 
 to her by this mail. Enclosed I send you a few moss- 
 cards. I am sorry it is not in my power to send some- 
 thing worthy of your kindness. I shall say to-day a 
 pair of beads for your intention. The weather is ex- 
 ceedingly warm here ; two were nearly overcome from 
 the effects of heat yesterday. Up to this time I have 
 heard of no fatal termination in consequence. 
 
 Hoping to have the pleasure soon of greeting you in 
 person, I am most truly, 
 
 Your cousin, etc., 
 
 Samuel Mudd. 
 
 From Carmelite Convent, 
 
 Baltimore, Md., May, 1866. 
 Cousin Jere : 
 
 After reading this letter, please send it to Frank ; it 
 may be later news than she has had. I am glad the 
 things reached them in safety. They were a long time 
 on the way. 
 
 Sr. Joseph. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 177 
 
 New Orleans, May n, 1866. 
 Dear Sam : 
 
 I have sent box containing canned fruits, etc., also 
 enclosed thirty dollars. Anything you need that the 
 authorities will permit, inform me and I will forward 
 to you. Frank and the children are well, also your 
 father's family. I think you may expect relief in a 
 short time. Trusting to hear from you, believe me, 
 Truly yours, 
 
 Thomas O. Dyer. 
 
 Dept. General's Office, May 10, 1866. 
 The commanding officer at Dry Tortugas will please 
 permit Dr. Mudd to receive this letter with the en- 
 closed thirty dollars. 
 
 By order Major General Sheridan, 
 
 C. D. McCafpey, 
 Capt. & Pro. Mar. Gen'l. 
 Received of the within thirty dollars, the sum of 
 twenty dollars, to be paid in installments. 
 
 F. Robinson, 
 
 2d Lieut. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 2, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received yours of the 7th to-day, and beyond the 
 fact that Andrew has recovered from his accident, and 
 that you are all well, etc., imparted but little satisfac- 
 tion. I want no applause, no ovation, on my way 
 home, should Providence vouch the favor. On the 
 contrary, I desire more than ever quiet and content- 
 ment in the bosom of my precious little family. 
 
 I feel that I have complied with every duty to God, 
 to man and to the Government. My conscience rests 
 easy under all the grossly false and frivolous charges, 
 12 
 
178 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 notwithstanding their approval by an unjust, bigoted, 
 and partisan Court. I scorn the idea, the doctrine that 
 the innocent should suffer to satisfy a bloodthirsty and 
 vindictive people. Was Pilate justified in sanctioning 
 the death of our Saviour to appease the wrath of the 
 multitude, who cried out for his blood? They who 
 contend that the multitude, the mob, must rule, though 
 innocence and justice be trodden under foot, are walk- 
 ing exactly in the footsteps of poor weak old Pilate. 
 Spare me from the many kisses — they bode no good, 
 and the many promised visits deliver me from. These 
 things instead of having the effect you intended, 
 namely: to bear up my spirits, etc., having served only 
 to embitter. You are wrong to tolerate any such sen- 
 timent or interpretation — it only coincides with, or con- 
 firms, the verdict of the Court, who sentenced me to 
 this hell. I know, my darling, you never intended or 
 thought such an interpretation could be implied. For 
 the future, give me only family, and neighborhood 
 news. You need not say anything upon the subject of 
 my release; for, instead of lessening, it has increased 
 the bitterness of my banishment and close confinement. 
 I should sooner see, than hear talk of it. I would 
 sooner not be told and promised so often, and then not 
 to see it. Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 10, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received yesterday a letter from Cousin Ann, ap- 
 parently reflecting your opinions, protracting my stay 
 in this hell for several months longer. Thus I am led 
 like an infant beginning to crawl. Phantom-like, at 
 the moment you arrive at the summit of all your ex- 
 pectations, and are about to grasp the coveted prize, it 
 vanishes, or is seen only in the distance. The vagueries 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 179 
 
 which you and others had so implicitly relied upon as 
 certainties, and which were innocently imparted, or 
 intentionally to stimulate hopes, have had their react- 
 ing influence. I do not wish to be considered a scold ; 
 you know my temperament, that I am naturally nerv- 
 ous and excitable — to such there is perhaps no greater 
 or more painful state of trial than that occasioned by 
 severe and long suspense. When we know precisely 
 what we have to endure, we can usually call to our aid 
 the needed strength, and submission ; but a more than 
 ordinary patience and forbearance is necessary to en- 
 able us calmly and tranquilly to await the approach of 
 an important period, containing within its fleeting 
 hours the promise to us of life's sweetest joys in doubt 
 — our reunion. One moment hope usurps the misery 
 and promises happiness ; we smile, breathe freely, and 
 banish care and anxiety; but an instant more, and 
 some word, look, or even thought changes the whole 
 aspect, clouds take the place of smiles, the heart heaves 
 with apprehension, fear is awakened, and in proportion 
 as we have cherished a confident pleasure or joy, are 
 we plunged into the agony of doubt and disappoint- 
 ment. You are not alone, my darling, in contributing 
 to these emotions ; nearly every letter received the past 
 seven or eight months has had the tendency to lead me 
 to expect release at an early day; and that I should 
 now feel indifferent toward the reception of such let- 
 ters, is only the natural consequence of a nervous sen- 
 timent and feeling. 
 
 In my last I came to an abrupt close, the mail going 
 off sooner than I expected. I had not time to say all 
 that I intended, and to qualify that which I had writ- 
 ten, therefore, have fears you will mistake its purport. 
 You spoke of the sympathy of friends, etc. Their kind 
 wishes can never do me any good so long as I am here 
 caged ; on the contrary, I fear you do me harm by the 
 
180 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 expression of any opinion favorable to the President 
 and his policy. This was hinted at some time ago by a 
 member of Congress, viz : "Even the conspirators 
 were favorable to his (the President's) plan of recon- 
 struction." You will do well, my darling Frank, since 
 you know every word and act is so grossly miscon- 
 strued, to cease all utterance upon political subjects 
 and adverting to the sympathy of friends in my regard. 
 I assure you I do not desire it. After all, it may be 
 only flattery, passing away an idle moment, or dissimu- 
 lation. Acts of indiscretion are often committed by 
 a too-confiding nature. Spurn those who would seek 
 to elevate pride. 
 
 My darling Frank, I had promised myself long ere 
 this the possession of more joy and happiness upon our 
 second reunion than realized at the first. We know 
 each other better, thus better able to reciprocate and 
 appreciate our mutual love and affection ; besides sur- 
 rounded by our precious little children, naturally binds 
 us more closely, and will inspire us with every devo- 
 tion of love and gratitude to promote their welfare. 
 So confident was I at one time, that I did not deem it 
 necessary to write, believing that the arrival of the next 
 steamer would take me rejoicing to your fond em- 
 brace. 
 
 It is now two months or more since the decision of 
 the Supreme Court was rendered; time, I would say, 
 sufficient to ascertain its application and bestow its 
 benefits, yet hearing nothing definite in relation, leads 
 me to many conjectures. I am well, but you can better 
 imagine than I can express, the animus of a being who 
 has suffered so long the alternations of elevation and 
 depression of spirit. Don't send any more of my let- 
 ters to outside parties, and have as little to say as pos- 
 sible to the inquiries of others regarding me. Stone 
 
THE LIFE OF PR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 181 
 
 and Ewing seem to be doing nothing. I have never 
 received a syllable from one of them. 
 
 Try, my darling Frank, to give me as correct an 
 idea of affairs as prudence will permit. Judging from 
 the newspapers, I think matters look quite hopeful, and 
 I can't bring myself to believe that I will be here a 
 month longer. I received a box of eatables and thirty 
 dollars from dear Tom on the 30th of May. This is 
 the third letter I have written to you recently. Father 
 O'Hara paid us a flying visit a few days ago, not in a 
 ministerial capacity; he being called away by the 
 Bishop. We will have no minister here again before 
 November next. He told me he had received a letter 
 from you, and handed me money in compliance with 
 your request; but I was well supplied, and returned 
 him thanks for responding to your ever-solicitous at- 
 tention in my regard. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam Mudd. 
 
 Baltimore, June 13, 1866. 
 Dear Frank : 
 
 On my way up last Thursday I stopped in Wash- 
 ington, and had a long talk with Wood,* and he re- 
 quested me to say to you, he had given you his word 
 to do all for Sam in his power, and he never falsified 
 his word. He told me he would give me a letter which 
 he knew would be of great service; he was then very 
 busy, and preferred not writing until he could take the 
 time to write in such a manner as would be satisfac- 
 tory to himself and us. He promised to try and write 
 it on Sunday, and let me know as soon as he got it 
 ready, but I have not yet heard from him. 
 
 Ford [John T. of Ford's Theater] told me yesterday 
 he had engaged Reverdy Johnson in Spangler's case, 
 
 *Wm. P. Wood, the Keeper of the Old Capitol Prison.— Ed. 
 
182 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 and would take action as soon as Congress adjourns; 
 he thought it useless to do anything before, as it would 
 probably do harm. Congress might take some action 
 to defeat him. I am very sanguine, after the adjourn- 
 ment of Congress, we will be able to accomplish Sam's 
 release ; and the so much desired event, namely : the 
 adjournment of that august body, will take place about 
 the first of July. 
 
 Your brother, 
 
 JER£ [Dyi^r]. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 17, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Although your last and Fannie's, received the 13th 
 instant, held out no immediate prospect of release, on 
 the contrary led me to infer you had lost all hopes in 
 previous measures, and parties so confidently relied 
 upon, yet I assure you, though the effect was depress- 
 ing at first, after due consideration I could but feel 
 grateful to our all-kind Providence for having be- 
 stowed upon you so much ambition and cheerfulness 
 to bear up against our sudden change of fortune. I 
 am really proud of your success in farming, and regret 
 my want of language to express due praise. I am 
 afraid my presence would be only an incubus, the long 
 and close confinement, etc., endured rendering me but 
 illy prepared to contend actively with the pursuits 
 which the farm and my profession demand. Since 
 matters have progressed so well, I will be too happy 
 to surrender to you the dictation in all affairs pertain- 
 ing to the farm. I sometimes try to feel indifferent, 
 and ask myself the question — why should I feel dis- 
 turbed, my family can take care of themselves? — sep- 
 aration must inevitably come one day, and perhaps it 
 is better now than later. I have had every desire com- 
 mon to a husband and parent to be restored to my fam- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 183 
 
 ily, and feel I have done all consistent with my knowl- 
 edge of right to be restored, failing in which has but 
 disinclined me to future efforts or hopes. My endeav- 
 ors are not to be resigned and careless, regardless of 
 every surrounding. You are, my darling, differently 
 situated. You have freedom of action, you have four 
 precious little babes to provide for, to love and be 
 loved, and my daily prayer has been, and for the future 
 will be, that you may be blessed with strength and 
 perseverance to perform agreeably to every duty re- 
 quired by our holy religion. 
 
 I can't imagine, after the turn which matters have 
 taken, why a shadow should come over your dream, 
 and render it necessary to put the management of my 
 case into other hands. I almost feel like advising you 
 to take no more counsel, but leave matters in statu 
 quo, believing further action now will not hasten, but, 
 on the contrary, cost money needed for the support of 
 you and family. However, being in no situation to 
 advise, I must leave you and our friends to judge 
 what steps are necessary to be taken. I have no news. 
 I wrote to you last on the ioth and 13th. I am as well 
 as usual, weak and nervous from the long confine- 
 ment, otherwise healthy, and not much changed in ap- 
 pearance. Kiss all our darling little children, and, as 
 ever, most fond and devotedly, 
 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 21, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Writing is the only pleasure I enjoy, because I im- 
 agine myself so many minutes in conversation; yet 
 much is dissipated by its being subject to the criti- 
 cism and scrutiny of others. My heart yearns to be 
 with you and our precious little children. How much 
 
184 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 I need your consoling and soothing voice, and the 
 happy and innocent pranks and glee of our dear little 
 ones, to cheer me up. In being separated from you, 
 my dear Frank, I am parted with all that I desire to 
 live for in this world. My restoration, I am afraid, 
 would afford me more pleasure than Divine Provi- 
 dence is willing to accord; this thought gives me un- 
 easiness. 
 
 I have nothing new — matters are about the same. 
 My employment is the same, viz : sweeping dowa 
 the bastions. This does not occupy many minutes to 
 perform, when I can repair at my option to my quar- 
 ters, which consist of two casemates— being all the 
 time under close guard. My health continues gener- 
 ally good, though I am weak and nervous, which I 
 attribute to the diet, want of exercise and climate, 
 combined with the reception of unfavorable news, and 
 consequent agitation of mind. I have received no let- 
 ter from you since the one dated June the ist, from 
 the last week in May up to the present ; this is the 
 seventh that I have written to you. I scarcely ever 
 receive any papers, although I have had the benefit of 
 the papers received by my roommates. Write often, 
 and accept the kindest wishes of one that loves you 
 more dearly than life. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 24, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I wrote to you and Henry on the 21st instant, but 
 having written to Jere, I enclose this short epistle in 
 the same envelope. Writing to you is the only source 
 of pleasure I have on this inhospitable island, and I 
 never let an opportunity pass without availing myself 
 of it. The last mail I received no letter from any 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 185 
 
 one — mails arriving so seldom, about once in ten days, 
 making it generally a month between the reception of 
 your letters. 
 
 I had made calculations and promised myself the 
 gratification of the only desire of my heart to be with 
 you and our dear little children long before this late 
 period, and you can imagine my sore disappointment 
 when I discovered them to be only castles in the air. 
 I have lost patience and my usual serenity. I have 
 felt like throwing away pen and ink, and foregoing 
 the pleasure of ever writing again — and follow the 
 wise maxim, "Blessed are those who expect nothing, 
 for they shall not be disappointed." I know that you 
 would not knowingly deceive, and am rather disposed 
 to believe you were wilfully imposed upon by those 
 w r ho knew better. I am in hopes you will be more 
 guarded in future, and not suffer your credulity to 
 mislead you again. My darling Frank, I am nearly 
 worn out, the weather is almost suffocating, and mil- 
 lions of mosquitoes, fleas, and bedbugs infest the whole 
 island. We can't rest day or night in peace for the 
 mosquitoes. 
 
 The only objection I have to the linen shirts sent 
 me by Cousin Ann, is the fact they are not proof 
 against the penetrating beak of the mosquitoes, and I 
 fear I will have to throw them aside and take to the 
 flannel again. There is a great deal of sickness among 
 the white soldiers ; the colored ones stand the climate 
 and diet better. The garrison is composed of one-half 
 black troops. There are about one hundred and sev- 
 enty prisoners here at this time; out of this number 
 there are not more than thirty whites, the balance are 
 negroes. I have no other news worthy of mention. 
 Your affectionate husband, 
 
 Samu^Iy Mudd. 
 
186 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 30, 1866. 
 My darling Frank: 
 
 In looking over my daily summary I find that dur- 
 ing the present month I have written to you on the 
 following dates, viz: the 3d, 7th, 10th, 13th, 17th, 
 2 1st, and 24th, besides three or four in the latter 
 part of May. Several mails have arrived without 
 bringing any news from any one. I do not complain, 
 but merely make mention in order that you may know 
 when I last received a letter. I have exhausted in 
 those letters all the language I had at command, ex- 
 pressive of my longing desire to be with you, and bitter 
 disappointment. 
 
 Nature does not tolerate an excess in anything 
 without a corresponding reaction. There is a positive 
 and negative to every question and thought — an equi- 
 librium must be kept up, and is essentially necessary 
 to the healthy or natural performance of every ma- 
 terial and immaterial act ; being lost, destruction either 
 ensues or things fail to be comprehended in their sen- 
 sible and rational form. I believe I am philosophizing, 
 but all that I wish to be understood is, that suffering is 
 just as natural to follow a sudden fading away of 
 bright hopes, as day, night. 
 
 I am now composed, and feel somewhat like my 
 former self, determined and resolute, and will likely 
 remain so until shaken by a repetition of insidious 
 and insinuating intelligence, having only the tendency 
 to confuse, inspire doubt and irregularity of the mind, 
 which many of you so well understand. Try and do 
 not deceive me again; if you know nothing positive, 
 have the resolution to tell me so. I can appreciate 
 your love and anxiety in my regard, and fear you have 
 concealed the true nature of affairs, lest it might cause 
 me pain. How different have I acted toward you. I 
 have never failed to give you, as far as in my power, 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 187 
 
 a true condition of my health, treatment, etc., so that 
 your mind might be prepared even for the worst. 
 
 We have received the Baltimore Weekly Sun of the 
 1 6th and Gazette of the 19th. I have seen an extract 
 of Harris's speech made in Congress and some 
 sketches taken from the report of Dr. Craben upon 
 the treatment, etc., of Jeff Davis. If you can obtain 
 these in full, you will much oblige by sending at your 
 earliest opportunity. I expect nothing will be done 
 toward our relief until after the adjournment of 
 Congress. I am in my usual health. I am truly in 
 hopes Ma's health has improved ere this. Tell 
 Tommy and Sammy that Papa had a dream that he 
 was down in the "swamp" and enjoyed a hearty laugh 
 at their race after the little fishes. How much I de- 
 sire to see you all. Write soon, give me all current 
 news, and believe me most affectionately, 
 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, July 20, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Owing to stormy weather, we have not had an ar- 
 rival of mail for several days. To-day two steamers 
 came into port, one a gunboat, the other a transport, 
 and the mail schooner is just in sight. This is some- 
 thing unusual, and you can't imagine how hopeful I 
 have been the past few minutes. One of the steam- 
 ers has just come to the wharf bringing some thirty 
 odd additional prisoners from New Orleans and sur- 
 rounding (Gulf) Military District. The gunboat is 
 anchored out and has just landed a boat crew with 
 four naval officers ; they have marched to headquar- 
 ters, I suppose to confer with the General Command- 
 ant. I am inquiring every minute, yet have not heard 
 so much as a rumor. The schooner has just come in, 
 
188 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 bringing no mail ; this throws a gloom over me — it will 
 now be a week or ten clays before the next arrival. I 
 have just heard that there are twenty released prison- 
 ers, this exciting my envy, and caused the query, 
 "When, oh! when will my time come?" 
 
 I suppose the public mind is too much engaged with 
 the affairs of Congress to entertain the subject at 
 present. How anxiously I have been waiting for them 
 to adjourn, and cease unsettling the country. I have 
 now finished giving you all the news that has trans- 
 pired since I last wrote, which was on the 13th. I 
 wrote Fannie a short note in the same, and sent her 
 some moss-cards. I wrote to Sissy on the 12th. You 
 write so seldom (about twice a month) and give so 
 little news, I find it difficult to say much, or to comply 
 with a former desire of yours, viz : to write long let- 
 ters. You never think to give me any of the neighbor- 
 hood news. I desired, in a letter some time ago, to 
 know what disposition was made of John T. Hardy's 
 place, and whether any other farms had changed 
 hands? Beyond births and deaths, you never men- 
 tion anything. Generally your letters are short, and 
 so careless and indifferently written that I sometimes 
 imagine that you only wish to keep up the forms, and 
 have something to swear by. I have one or two let- 
 ters which I could neither read nor understand. 
 Words were spelled backwards, and sometimes a 
 whole syllable left out. That which I could not make 
 out, I am not able to state what was wanting. I am 
 partly resolved for the future, to write no letters, only 
 in answer to those I receive. I cannot impart any 
 comfort to you by writing so often, nor relieve myself 
 from misery that ever attends. You must not think 
 I am in a pet or in anger; on the contrary, I feel in 
 better spirits at this moment than for several months 
 past, consequently, better disposed to unload my breast 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 189 
 
 of what has existed for some time. You must not be- 
 lieve me so unreasonable as to expect you always to 
 convey hopeful intelligence; to the reverse, I have de- 
 sired you to say nothing on the subject of my release, 
 unless you had positive facts, and prudence did not 
 forbid its revelation. My darling Frank, for the fu- 
 ture, do not let the subject of my release cause you 
 the slightest uneasiness or trouble. What can't be 
 helped must be borne, contented or otherwise. I can't 
 bring myself to believe my stay will be much longer 
 delayed. 
 
 For the want of reading matter, I have the past 
 week overhauled all my correspondence, commencing 
 from the earliest to the latest date after my unfortu- 
 nate landing at this place. I have been led like a child 
 beginning to walk, with the difference that the child 
 always succeeds in reaching a neighboring chair with 
 a struggle. 
 
 My darling Frank, my sweet wife, how anxious I 
 am to see you all. My heart at times almost bursts, 
 and feels as if it would leap from my breast. Know- 
 ing this, I am in hopes you will bear up bravely, and 
 remain steadfast for my sake, and for the good of 
 our precious little ones. There is no sacrifice under 
 heaven that I would not make to see and be with you 
 again as in days gone by. 
 
 Hoping the time of our cruel separation is close at 
 hand, and that we will be again happy united in bonds 
 of double love and matrimonial accord, I am, my dar- 
 ling Frank, 
 
 Your faithful and devoted husband, 
 
 Samuel Mudd. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 PRISON UEE IN 1 866, CONTINUED — GENERAL SHER- 
 IDAN INTERVENES FOR BETTER TREATMENT 01? 
 PRISONERS. 
 
 Headquarters Military Division of the Gulf, 
 
 New Orleans, July 21, 1866. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Your kind note of July 12 has come to hand, and 
 gives me great pleasure to hear from you. I will 
 write to General Foster to subject Dr. Mudd to only 
 such punishment as is warranted by the condition of 
 his sentence. 
 
 Should I visit Washington, it will give me great 
 pleasure to pay my respects to you, and to renew to 
 you my bond of love and reverence. I am, 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 PhiIv Sheridan, 
 Major General. 
 To Rev. N. S. Young, 
 
 St. Dominick's Church, 
 Washington. 
 
 St. Dominick's Church, Washington, D. C, 
 
 July 26th, 1866. 
 Mr. H. L. Mudd [father of Dr. Saml. A. Mudd]. 
 
 My dear Friend : I send you this letter from Gen- 
 eral Phil Sheridan, hoping it may give you all some 
 consolation to learn that your dear son, Dr. Mudd's 
 condition will be ameliorated. I wrote to General 
 Sheridan to obtain for him at least this compassion. 
 I told him that you and the Doctor's family were my 
 particular friends. As soon as you can, let the Dr. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 191 
 
 know the promise General Sheridan has made me; 
 and ask him to inform you if General Foster has exe- 
 cuted that promise. 
 
 I am sorry that your heart is yet afflicted by the con- 
 tinued bad health of your good wife. You will be re- 
 signed, I am sure, under all your great trials. They 
 are intended by our good God to prepare us for a bet- 
 ter life and add to our crown of glory. If possible, 
 I shall pay you a visit soon, and once more have the 
 happiness of offering up for you and your good fam- 
 ily the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar. 
 
 Give my kindest respects and remembrance to each 
 one of your family, and that God may bless you all 
 is the prayer of 
 
 Your sincere friend, etc., 
 
 N. S. Young. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, July 26, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received yours of the 10th this morning. The 
 boat will return to Key West in a short time, so I 
 can't say much. With all my exertions, I have not 
 been able to crawl from my present locality. Yet the 
 mind with hopes, as in a dream, was carried from one 
 period to another, and apparently when in the act of 
 taking my flight to Heaven, and dreading to look 
 back, fearing the fate of the wife of poor old Lot, all 
 vanished as smoke, and the same dread reality ex- 
 isted. 
 
 Bright beams begin again to lend their light, and I 
 have been induced to believe, with the visitation of 
 cholera upon the city of "magnificent distances" and 
 crime, a scatteration might be produced, and give our 
 worthy Chief Magistrate a chance to look into my 
 case, and purge it from the foul suspicions placed upon 
 my unsuspecting shoulders, although he will be un- 
 
192 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 able to repair the injury. Every dollar the nation is 
 worth is insufficient to that end. 
 
 I am very sorry, my darling Frank, I can't be more 
 entertaining; be not offended with my criticism or 
 resolutions, expressed in the foregoing. I forgot to 
 credit you with the burdens and cares of our darling 
 little children and family, and the distraction that they 
 naturally produce. Write as often as inclination and 
 freedom from the restraint of family will permit. I 
 can't ask more. I can write every day, and it would 
 be an agreeable pastime, but there would be no op- 
 portunity of mailing, nor would it be necessary; but 
 I never fail to comply with my promise to write by 
 every mail that leaves this place. If you write often, 
 I will always have a letter to answer, which will be far 
 more agreeable and pleasant. 
 
 I shall be content until after Congress adjourns ; 
 after that, I shall be anxious, and look for some de- 
 cided action to be taken by you and my friends; 
 otherwise, I will give up all hopes of ever leaving this 
 place alive, and live only to curse my enemies, as I 
 will merely remark that I perceive not the slightest 
 change in the character of your letters ; it is another 
 put off, another child's play — to play and torment and 
 vex me. I will now proceed to give you plainly what 
 I mean by child's play, viz : It was three months be- 
 fore Christmas that I had the happiness of dining 
 with you on that festive day, then you had hired a 
 servant who would remain until the spring (three 
 months longer). I had the duty of supplying her 
 place. Now, my darling Frank, what a splendid din- 
 ner! What delicacies, etc.! Don't I enjoy myself? 
 Then how I was favored in finding such a neat, tidy 
 and active servant for you. The spider could no 
 longer spin his silken cords unharmed, etc. The 
 President's proclamation appears in April. May, 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 193 
 
 sweet May would be the consummation of all my 
 earthly joys. I would be treated to green grass, and 
 dipped into some health-restoring fountain. In a 
 word, I would be transplanted to Elysium. Now, do 
 you remember how I floated through the aerial vapors, 
 resting in placid dreams upon the bubbling clouds and 
 visiting the moon? Venus would attend me. The 
 decision of the Supreme Court is made public, this is 
 what has been looked for all the time. I am released 
 from hell and summoned to heaven, but held by ter- 
 rible Mars. Poor old Achilles, shot in the heel ! Un- 
 forgetful mother! why didst thou not turn and dip 
 the other end? Now I have a feast of three months 
 longer. My darling Frank, I have grown weary of 
 these delights; cease, for God's sake, if not for mine, 
 extending the time. The "first of September," "two 
 or three months longer," "be patient," etc., are expres- 
 sions of yours, and seem only moments in your 
 thoughts of the future; but they excite my calcula- 
 tions, and cause the days, hours, and minutes to be 
 counted, whereas, if you said nothing, since you know 
 nothing, the time might pass by and be forgotten. 
 Don't, my sweet wife, write any more in this loose 
 style. Let me know whether you are sick or well, and 
 the health of all home ones, the neighborhood and 
 farming affairs, etc. I am not so anxious about re- 
 lease, so long as I know you are well and content, but 
 I dislike being treated as a child. I am far less de- 
 sirous about release now than I was some time ago. 
 Fifteen months of the most brutal and degrading im- 
 prisonment has done its work. I am broken down 
 and good for nothing. You spoke of turning gray — 
 I am nearly bald. 
 
 In reading the papers, I perceive nothing clearer 
 than the near approach of anarchy. I feel sorry for 
 *3 
 
194 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 you and our dear little children, but for myself my ene- 
 mies have done all the harm they can do me, and death 
 would only free me from a greater misery. I hope 
 they may meet with the chastisement their crimes de- 
 serve, in this world, as a warning to future genera- 
 tions. The inspired volume reminds us of Retributive 
 Justice, and those need fear who have perjured, cal- 
 umniated and endeavored to reform the divine laws, 
 and remodel His works. 
 
 I have my usual health. We have three sentries 
 within ten feet of our door that cry out the hours of 
 the night at the pitch of their voices, which awakens 
 us and destroys all sleep. This is a recent change and 
 an aggravation. I have no news. The mail we re- 
 ceived to-day is the only mail we have received of this 
 month's news. I received Mr. Harris's speech, and 
 two Sun papers from you. You need not bother your- 
 self in sending the Sun, as we get it regularly; one 
 of our members being a subscriber; also the Gazette. 
 Comments from other papers, you can send. 
 
 Give my love to all home ones, present my kindest 
 thanks to Mr. Best for his true devotion to self and 
 family. Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 6, 1866. 
 My darling Frank: 
 
 I wrote to you last on the 26th and 30th of July. 
 Mails arrive quite seldom now, owing, I understand, 
 to quarantine regulations. One of the mail boats ar- 
 rived here this morning, although bringing no mail. 
 She will leave this evening at 6 o'clock. To relieve 
 you of fear in my regard, I post these few hasty lines 
 to acquaint you with the fact that I am in possession 
 of my usual health and spirits. I am more afflicted 
 when I think of you and our dear little children, know- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 195 
 
 ing how dependent you must be, and how incapable 
 you are to provide for self and family without the in- 
 tervention of kind friends. Your burdens and re- 
 sponsibilities will increase daily, and you must sum up 
 all your resolution and courage to brave misfortune. 
 Instruct and educate the children as well as you can ; 
 be gentle, kind and positive, enforce obedience and re- 
 spect now whilst they are young, and when they grow 
 older they will not give you trouble and cause shame. 
 You can promise yourself nothing certain in this 
 world, therefore do not act on the idea that I will soon 
 be home, and that it will be unnecessary for you to 
 observe duties that it would be my place to attend to. 
 Should I be favored with an immediate release, I fear 
 I shall lack the strength, for a considerable time, to 
 perform the least labor. 
 
 In appearance I have not much changed. I am told 
 I am growing fat, and seem a picture of health; ap- 
 pearances deceive, and my legs have to work terribly 
 to get the body along. Begin now, my darling Frank, 
 to act as if you expected nothing, only what was to 
 be accomplished through your own exertions, and you 
 will not suffer the pain of disappointment, nor lack the 
 energy when it is most needed. Give my love to all, 
 write soon, and believe me as ever, 
 
 Your fond and affectionate husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 9, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 The papers give full accounts of the proceedings of 
 the National Convention, and the President's procla- 
 mation restoring all the States to all their former priv- 
 ileges, which with the promise contained in your let- 
 ter relieves me of all doubt regarding a much longer 
 separation. I now hail with delight the thought of 
 
196 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 soon being in the fond embrace of you and our little 
 ones, sharing with you, to the extent of my ability, the 
 blessings and privations of life in this miserable world. 
 We are still under close guard. There is a sheriff 
 at Key West. Should you get out a writ, it may be 
 well to know the fact; but according to the learned 
 counsel in the recent habeas corpus case at Charleston, 
 we are in the hands of the President, and you will have 
 to bring action against him. I am sorry to involve 
 expense, which I know you cannot meet without the 
 intervention of kind friends. Steamers pass here al- 
 most daily on their way to New Orleans, and other 
 points on the Gulf, and it would be attended with but 
 little delay to one of those to stop and take us off. By 
 acting with the friends of my roommates, it would 
 make the expense much lighter. A message could be 
 sent per telegraph to New Orleans giving direction 
 and instructions to competent parties, thus excluding 
 the necessity of sending a party down from home. 
 This will be my last letter. Give my love to all. 
 Your affectionate husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 13, 1866. 
 My precious Wife: 
 
 I received yours of the 20th and 28th of July 0.1 
 the 10th. I was sorry to hear of our little Tommy's 
 indisposition. I am in hopes it will soon pass away, 
 and be my fortune to realize your expectations. You 
 spoke of the murder of Mr. Lyles, and the papers 
 mention the robbery of Mr. Posey. Owing to their 
 proximity to you, I have suffered some alarm, know- 
 ing your timid nature and unprotected and helpless 
 condition. Such crimes, and far more brutal, are of 
 daily occurrence, and when far away hardly excite 
 our horrors; so soon does the mind become familiar 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 197 
 
 by their daily narration through the press. I think 
 it advisable for the citizens to take measures of pre- 
 caution, by appointing suitable officers in every dis- 
 trict to inquire into the condition and purpose of every 
 suspicious party. These atrocities are only the fruit 
 of the late unnatural strife, and we can only blame the 
 fanatical majority of Congress for their long continu- 
 ance. Congress by its action has rather favored than 
 imposed the needed restraints upon these horrid 
 enormities. 
 
 I rejoice to see the noble response of the people in 
 behalf of the President's policy, the influence of which 
 response, I am led to believe, will soon induce him to 
 exert his constitutional prerogative and issue a proc- 
 lamation of amnesty restoring to all the States their 
 original rights and privileges. Much, though, depends 
 upon the harmony of the Philadelphia Convention 
 which meets to-morrow. The cholera prevailing there 
 will, I fear, prevent a full attendance. 
 
 You seem to manifest some uneasiness on my ac- 
 count, apprehending the injurious effects of the heat 
 upon my feeble constitution. In this regard I must 
 remark that the climate being more moist and equable, 
 is not liable to the evil and depressing effects, as with 
 you. Heat in the sun here is very great, yet rarely at- 
 tended with "sun stroke'' ; no fatal case from this 
 cause having occurred since I have been here. When- 
 ever there is a breeze, which is generally the case, it is 
 always pleasant. A strict eye is kept to the cleanli- 
 ness of the place, and being remote from the main 
 land, we have no fears of any infectious or epidemic 
 disease. Unsuitable diet, beef, pork, etc., are more 
 frequent causes of disorders and disease than locality 
 or climate. We stand in need of a vegetable and fruit 
 diet, of which this place is woefully deficient. My 
 strength and general health have improved within the 
 
198 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 past week or two. With suitable diet and proper ex- 
 ercise, I feel that I would soon be my former self 
 . again. Allow yourself no unnecessary uneasiness. I 
 have more fear concerning habits contracted by an 
 unavoidable indolence than I have of speedy dissolu- 
 tion by organic or infectious diesase. Mails arrive 
 now very seldom, being seventeen days between the 
 last two. Give my love to dear Ma, Pa, and the fam- 
 ily. 
 
 I wrote to Jere some days ago and enclosed a note 
 to you. We have money enough to supply our wants 
 for some time to come, so give yourself no uneasiness 
 on this point. I am truly delighted to know that your 
 crops are looking well, and promise a fruitful yield. 
 In Fannie's last she spoke rather discouragingly of the 
 prospects of the crops. 
 
 Kiss all our dear little children, and wishing you a 
 pleasant and successful trip to Washington, I am, my 
 darling Frank, as ever, 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 18, 1866. 
 My dearest Cousin: 
 
 I received your last a week or two ago. Being like 
 yourself, without anything likely to interest, I delayed 
 writing until the present, hoping for something to 
 turn up, whereby I might be furnished with a theme; 
 but the same old monotony continues to exist, etc. The 
 fear that you may think your kind letters are not prop- 
 erly reciprocated, prompts me at least to an acknowl- 
 edgment. Instead of a lack of appreciation, I value 
 your letters more than all the rest of my correspond- 
 ents, because you do not appear to disguise the true 
 nature of affairs, and lead me contrary to the expec- 
 tations of my friends — thereby, causing the time to 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 199 
 
 pass more observed, suspense more painful, and in the 
 end, the blight of disappointment. 
 
 You asked me if I did not feel honored at seeing 
 my name so often mentioned and commented upon in 
 the "public prints." I assure you, so far from exciting 
 my pride, it creates in my heart only feelings of indig- 
 nation. The greatest honor they can show me is to 
 release me ; until this is consummated, I shall consider 
 their time, ink, and paper thrown away, and all they 
 can say as empty. I am truly in hopes that what has 
 been said will be the means of directing public opinion 
 to the great wrong perpetrated upon my personal 
 rights as an American citizen, and that the outrage 
 will not be suffered much longer to continue. 
 
 We were visited the first week in July last by Father 
 Clauriel (a little Frenchman) from Savannah, Ga. I 
 had the consolation of going to confession, and receiv- 
 ing holy communion on the 8th. 
 
 My health is much better now than some two or 
 three weeks ago. I attribute the change to the kind- 
 ness of the officials in giving us a plank floor to our 
 sleeping quarters. Up to a late period we were upon 
 a dirty floor, which was very wet and damp all the 
 time. After every rain, our quarters leak terribly, 
 and it's not unusual to dip up from the floor ten and 
 twelve large buckets of water daily. We have a hole 
 dug in the floor and little trenches cut, so as to con- 
 centrate the aqueous secretion, which facilitates the 
 dipping up process and freeing the room from noxious 
 miasma. 
 
 Having nothing more worthy at my command, I 
 send you a small collection of moss-cards — ten small 
 and one large intended for a wreath. I regret my bad 
 taste, manipulation, and paper. Should I be so fort- 
 unate as to have an early release, I shall endeavor to 
 procure a large assortment of shells, etc., considered 
 
200 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 curiosities with yon, which I will present yon with, 
 should you desire them. They cost us nothing here, 
 and if you wish them, let me know in your next, and 
 if any particular variety. 
 
 Present my kindest regards to Sister M. and the 
 rest of the saintly members of your association. 
 
 Hoping a continuation of your prayerful supplica- 
 tion, and to hear again from you soon, I am most 
 truly and sincerely, 
 
 Your cousin, etc., 
 
 Samuel A. Mudd. 
 To Sr. Joseph. [Carmelite Convent, Baltimore, Md.] 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 20, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I am now feeling perfectly well, and improved in 
 health and flesh, which I attribute to the laying of a 
 plank floor in our quarters. My hair has also taken 
 new life, and in a short time will have a thick suit, 
 even where it was most thin. I am entirely without 
 news of importance. The mails arrive now about once 
 in three weeks, and in the interim nearly every one 
 becomes cross and peevish. The mail boats, I under- 
 stand, are not allowed to enter the port of Havana 
 from this place without undergoing quarantine regu- 
 lation, which causes the delay. The health of the Post 
 remains remarkably good, no epidemic or infectious 
 disease having made its appearance. The principal 
 disorders arise, I think, from the use of stale and salt 
 diet. We never use it, consequently remain exempt. 
 I have not touched a piece of salt beef or pork for nine 
 or ten months. 
 
 Don't let this letter cause you uneasiness; for the 
 future confide in none but the most honest and reliable. 
 You need not reply to it, if prudence forbids. I fear 
 injury to my cause has resulted from matters being 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 201 
 
 made too public. You do wrong also, I fear, in com- 
 municating with Cousin Ann, and in mentioning the 
 names of parties. Very often they do not like to be 
 known, and often take offense. Be guarded, my dar- 
 ling child, how you act in the future. Use discretion, 
 and don't depend too much on your own judgment. 
 My soul is tired of this place beyond expression — do 
 nothing that may tend to prolong my exile. How 
 anxiously I am waiting for the arrival of the prom- 
 ised release ! Act immediately. I don't see that any- 
 thing can be gained by delay, for the courts, in the 
 course of time, are bound to release us. Let me have 
 at least an honest exposition of my case before the 
 President. 
 
 Give my love to Pa, Ma, and all the family, and ac- 
 cept the most endearing sentiments of the heart of 
 your afflicted and distressed husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, August 22, 1866. 
 My darling Frank: 
 
 I wrote to you on the 10th, 13th, and 20th, oppor- 
 tunity presenting. I again avail myself of this only 
 pleasure, indulging with you a short pen and ink con- 
 fab. By the time this reaches you, the first of Sep- 
 tember will be at hand, and with it the promise of a 
 speedy "homeward bound," as fast as steam and sail 
 can bring me, your long-lost and desolate exiled; or 
 will he be again doomed to disappointment? I can't 
 bring myself to believe those in authority will much 
 longer disregard every principle of justice and fair 
 dealing to satisfy vulgar thirst for vengeance. The 
 Government certainly is aware by this time of the un- 
 precedented number of false and perjured witnesses, 
 and by no action being taken to bring these scoundrels 
 to account, an invitation is indirectly given to these 
 
202 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 and every plotter against the lives and liberty of their 
 fellow-men to continue, and come forward with their 
 mendacious yarns for monied and party considera- 
 tion. I am firmly convinced, by circumstances, that 
 men were bought to give false testimony. Those in 
 authority, in their zeal to find out the originators, ac- 
 tors, and accomplices, offered enormous rewards for 
 evidence, and the apprehension and conviction of the 
 parties. This alone was a sufficient inducement to the 
 unscrupulous, who were adroit enough to frame a 
 plausible tale, to make "merchandise" of the most sa- 
 cred right and duty of man, his oath. For God's sake 
 lose no time in bringing this subject before the Presi- 
 dent. No matter how he decides (pro or con), I shall 
 be happy to have the sanction of his authority. 
 
 The report of the Judiciary Committee favors the 
 trial of Davis upon the false and frivolous charges 
 which were adduced upon our trial in connection with 
 the assassination. With equal justice might every 
 distiller of whiskey be arraigned and tried for all the 
 crimes committed by its abuse, and every man be at 
 the mercy of an enemy capable of writing him a ficti- 
 tious letter. I have read nearly all the charges made 
 by this committee against Davis, and I can't see for 
 my life the least shadow of evidence to connect him 
 with the infamous deed — which circumstances alone 
 are sufficient to refute, independent of the unreliability 
 of the testimony. Arnold's letter, upon which they 
 built the conspiracy, shows conclusively that up to a 
 late period in March, 1865, Booth had no connection 
 with the Richmond authorities, or their Canadian 
 agents. This letter and his statement, which the Gov- 
 ernment has never made public, is worth all the evi- 
 dence brought forward by the prosecution, so far as 
 showing the motive and intention of the parties. I 
 believe sincerely there are parties at the head of the 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 203 
 
 different departments of the Government who delight 
 in human affliction and suffering, especially when they 
 can by any pretext prosper their own, or their party's 
 cause. I cannot view the conduct of Judge Holt other- 
 wise; his attempt through a parcel of false and per- 
 jured statements, to bring public opinion to bear upon 
 my case, after the trial was over, and when I had no 
 power to rebut, shows his animus and is unpardonable 
 for one occupying his position. I am ignorant of the 
 laws, but certainly this act does not appear to me like 
 justice. It is hard to suffer without the consciousness 
 of having committed the least wrong, and with full 
 knowledge of the foul and unfair means resorted to 
 to bring it about. I am almost driven to desperation 
 when I reflect upon the outrages I have already en- 
 dured and continue to suffer. You will please impart 
 the subject of this letter to my counsel and friends that 
 they may determine and act immediately. 
 
 I am feeling quite strong again. We have, through 
 the kindness of officials, a plank floor placed in our 
 quarters, which renders it a thousand times more com- 
 fortable. Before, we were on the ground, and half 
 of the room continually wet from leakage through the 
 ceiling. Yesterday a negro accidentally fell over- 
 board, and was drowned. There were a large num- 
 ber present, and no effort was made to save him. How 
 tired I am of this life, and how anxious I am to see 
 you and our precious little children, and home ones. 
 When you write, do not disguise the truth. Let me 
 know the worst and hope for the best. Answer this 
 soon. 
 
 Giv<e my love to all, and believe me as ever, 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam Mudd. 
 
204 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 23, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I have just this moment received yours of the 7th 
 and Fannie's of the 2d. I am happy to know that you 
 are all living and have thus far escaped greater afflic- 
 tions than mere indisposition on the part of our dear 
 little pets. It grieves me to hear of Ma's continued 
 bad health. Your letter differs on this point essentially 
 from Fannie's. God grant she may be spared many 
 years yet is my constant prayer. 
 
 I am sorry you were not able to communicate more 
 gladdening tidings after your visit to Washington. I 
 suppose it was too early after adjournment, and the 
 parties whom you mentioned preferred awaiting the 
 action of the Philadelphia Convention, which met on 
 the 14th instant, to obtain anything decisive. I regret 
 to see so much subserviency on the part of our public 
 men, without ideas or mind of their own, but mere 
 weathercocks of public opinion. They seem to throw 
 law and justice entirely out of the question, and are 
 afraid to act only upon what may be public sentiment. 
 So much afraid are they that their acts, though strictly 
 in conformity to every principle of justice, may be 
 used to the detriment of party, they hesitate and post- 
 pone action until warranted by circumstances to be- 
 lieve that no injury can result to their political ambi- 
 tion. 
 
 Fannie sent me the letters of Father Young and 
 General Sheridan. You will present my thanks to Fa- 
 ther Young for having through his solicitation, suc- 
 ceeded in calling the attention and influence of General 
 Sheridan to the grievances under which we suffer. 
 
 We have been under close guard both day and night 
 since November last, and no word or act of ours could 
 escape the scrutiny of the sentinel. We can't move 
 five steps from our door without permission of the 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 205 
 
 sergeant of the guard, and followed by the sentry. 
 When we are at work or walking, we can't nice 
 faster than the guard is disposed to walk himself, so 
 you see all running, fast walking, wrestling, etc., is ex- 
 cluded. This is now our principal grievance, which has 
 been brought about by no word or act of ours. All the 
 rest of the prisoners, except those confined to the guard- 
 house, are allowed the freedom of the island; we ask 
 no more. The only amelioration we have received 
 recently is the rendering our quarters more comfort- 
 able by a plank floor instead of the former dirt, wet 
 and damp. I do not complain of the labor, it is com- 
 paratively nothing, but being under guard is a con- 
 tinual confinement, or a check to all free exercise. 
 
 By this morning's mail I learn the four recently ar- 
 rived prisoners from Charleston will be transferred to 
 Fort Delaware, thereby placing them under the oper- 
 ation of the writ of habeas corpus. I think it would 
 be better on the part of the Government to release 
 them at once, than place them where they can effect 
 it with a little trouble and expense. Nature provides 
 for all its wants, and on that principle alone can I ex- 
 plain the peculiarity of my appetite. All articles of 
 meat, salt and fresh, are repulsive. I can't bear the 
 sight of them. My diet consists principally of mo- 
 lasses, when we can get it, butter, canned tomatoes, 
 beans, etc. The bread we get is usually very good, 
 though at times is very bad. Having little or no duty 
 to perform, and no exercise, but little and the light- 
 est diet is required to satisfy the wants of nature. 
 Gross, heavy diet would, in this climate, and under ex- 
 isting circumstances, be highly injurious. I am toid 
 by all that I am growing fat, yet I do not consume in 
 a day as much as one of our little children at one meal. 
 With the exception of bread and coffee, we subsist 
 ourselves entirely by making little work boxes, picture 
 
206 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 frames, which we shell and inlay with different kinds 
 of colors of wood. These command a ready sale to 
 visitors, and soldiers of the garrison. Should my stay 
 be protracted beyond September, you can write to 
 Tom to send me a box, as everything is very high 
 at the post sutler's. I am very well and hopeful. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 31, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 The last letters received were Fannie's of the 2d and 
 yours of the 7th of August. I am very well. No news 
 worthy of interest. The mail leaves in a short time, 
 so I have no time to say more. I wrote to you last on 
 the 22d and 23d of August, and made known to you 
 then all that was desirable on my part. I have no 
 further request to make, but hope sincerely this may 
 be the last tidings you may have from me in the shape 
 of a letter from this place. The Fort has been unusu- 
 ally healthy thus far. Remember me to Mr. Best, and 
 tell him not to expose himself, in securing the crops, 
 unnecessarily. 
 
 Give my love to all, and pray for your disconsolate 
 husband, 
 
 S. A. Mudd. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, September 3d, 1866. 
 My dear Tom : 
 
 I have been truly anxious to hear from you for some 
 time. I have been led to believe the whole South ex- 
 terminated, or reduced to abject slavery, until news 
 of the recent riot reached us. I am grieved at the oc- 
 currence, the loss of valuable lives, but proud to know 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 207 
 
 there is manhood enough left among the people to re- 
 buke the oppression of the interventionists. 
 
 The mail will leave in a few minutes, so I have 
 barely time to tell that I am well and continue to hope 
 for an early release. Why don't you write to me 
 sometimes? You do not say in any of your short 
 notes with whom you are engaged in business, or speak 
 concerning any of our old relations and friends. 
 Write occasionally and send me papers that may con- 
 tain matters of interest. The last intelligence I had 
 from home was from Frank dated August 7. Jere 
 seldom writes, and when he does, never gives any 
 neighborhood news, consequently I am ignorant of 
 what is transpiring outside of this miserable place. 
 
 Write soon and give all news. Remember me to 
 all relatives and friends, and believe me most truly, 
 Your brother, etc., 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, October 11, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Yours of the 14th of September, also a box and 
 thirty dollars from Tom has been received. 
 
 I regret to hear of your troubles and our afflicted 
 little children. You ask counsel upon the subject of 
 my release (this is done, I suppose, to make delay 
 plausible). You know that I am unable to give 
 advice, being unacquainted with the difficulties and 
 circumstances. 
 
 Fearing my silence might be misconstrued, you see 
 I have again written, though contrary to previous re- 
 solves. I am well. Give my love to all, kiss our 
 darling little ones, and answer, 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Samuel M. 
 
208 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, October 14, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received to-day yours of September 24 expressing 
 some fears as to the statement in some paper regarding 
 me. I received word also from the General, inform- 
 ing me of the reception of a letter from you, inquiring 
 into the truth of the matter. I am sorry you should 
 have been misled by so apparent a fabrication. I am 
 very well and my health much better than some time 
 ago. 
 
 Parties who are given to lying and suborning per- 
 jury to sustain their own wicked preconceived ideas, 
 can easily invent a malicious newspaper report. For 
 the future, give yourself no uneasiness concerning 
 what may be said by newspapers. I wrote to you on 
 the 9th and 24th of September and the nth of Oc- 
 tober. These letters will reach you, though contain- 
 ing no denial (as I was not aware of the lie), and it 
 will be evident that no such outrage has taken place. 
 
 Tell Jere to try and find out from whence this 
 infamous report originated. I can scarcely credit the 
 idea that it came from this place, although I do not 
 know the animus of those around me, having had no 
 conversation nor disposition, since I have been so 
 falsely and inhumanly represented and treated. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, October 28, 1866. 
 My dear Jere : 
 
 Except by indirect allusion of others, it has been a 
 long time since I have heard from you. Time has 
 already falsified the predictions which they gave upon 
 your authority, and it has seemed to me "you picked 
 the stones for others to throw" — but enough, I must be 
 short. The time intervening between this s and the 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 209 
 
 assembling of next Congress is growing quite short, 
 and the indications are that there will be a stormy time 
 between the President and the majority. Should mat- 
 ters be prolonged until that period, I shall give up all 
 hope, for the excitement consequent will be plead an 
 excuse for further delay and continuing the outrage, 
 against me, of all law, justice and humanity. Neither 
 the President nor Congress will assume the responsi- 
 bility to release, and I shall be here a living sacrifice to 
 the damnable ends of party. 
 
 I saw something in the papers some time ago 
 intimating that a memorial was being gotten up by my 
 friends, and would be presented to the Picsidem, on his 
 return from the West, for my release. A considerable 
 time has elapsed since, and I have not heard a single 
 word in reference. I am truly desirous of knowing 
 something definite in regard to my future fate, or what 
 may be the pleasure of the Government. 
 
 An order came by the last mail to send on the names 
 of all those who have been here six months, except the 
 state prisoners (meaning us), and those who are here 
 upon the charge of murder, arson, and rape. We are 
 the only prisoners that are styled state prisoners. 
 Why is this ? Let me know in your next. 
 
 Hoping you will not let this (only) auspicious 
 moment mentioned above pass disregarded, and that 
 you will let me hear from you immediately upon the 
 receipt of this, I am, 
 
 Most truly your brother, 
 
 Samuel M. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, October 30, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I wrote you last on the 25th, also by the same mail 
 to Cecie and Cousin Ann. I wrote yesterday to Jere, 
 14 
 
210 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 and made known to him all my desires. You had 
 better in future consult him in reference to all domestic 
 affairs, and act agreeably to his judgment. I have 
 but little means of ascertaining the many difficulties and 
 embarrassments under which you have to contend, 
 therefore, incompetent to form an opinion. 
 
 I view actions more than I do words. What con- 
 cerns me most, seems nobody's business, and I am fast 
 losing all forbearance under the cruel and unwarranted 
 oppression to which I am subjected, the result of a 
 tyrannical and unjustifiable usurpation. I have been 
 over eighteen months languishing in prison for no 
 crime against God or man that I am cognizant of, and 
 I think it high time the friends of humanity and law, 
 particularly my own personal friends and relations, 
 were coming to the rescue. I don't believe any good 
 will come of the party or nation that will tolerate such 
 injustice; sooner or later they will meet with the same 
 judgment and chastisement they mete to others. 
 
 For the future try not to deceive me by representa- 
 tions from others. The six weeks and the two months 
 have passed, and I am still here a victim to the folly of 
 the nation. Do not let me lose confidence in you, do 
 not throw stones which others have picked. 
 
 Jere was kind enough to give you this information 
 perhaps for your own satisfaction. He told Cousin 
 Ann the same, yet he has not written one word in 
 regard to me. Does not this look contradictory, and 
 that he intended to deceive me through you and others? 
 
 The Court refuses to try Davis agreeably to appoint- 
 ment, and it is quite uncertain whether they will meet 
 at the regular term in November; if so, their judg- 
 ment upon the trial of civilians by court martial will 
 continue to remain unfiled, also upon the test oath 
 question. I am unable to surmise, having had no in- 
 formation from any of my friends, and only such news 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 211 
 
 as I have been able to glean from a lying and 
 infamous press. 
 
 Let me know at your earliest convenience what has 
 been done favorable, or otherwise. Let me know the 
 whole truth, if prudent, otherwise it will not be neces- 
 sary to mention the subject. I would rather be in 
 complete ignorance than have the reliance of mere con- 
 jecture. Write soon and give all neighboring and 
 farming news. 
 
 Sincerely hoping this may be my last letter, and that 
 our present afflictions are near at an end, I bid you a 
 hopeful adieu, 
 
 Sam. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 prison life in l866, continued — plans for my 
 father's release by habeas corpus proceed- 
 ings. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, November 3, 1866. 
 My dear Jere : 
 
 Colonel Grenfel handed me a letter he received 
 to-day from A. J. Peeler, a lawyer in Tallahassee, 
 Florida, who intends acting in his case immediately. 
 It seems to me, if yon have to resort to law for my 
 release, this would be the least expensive and most 
 expeditions medium. He has promised to act for the 
 Colonel free of charge, requiring only the actual ex- 
 pense attendant. With a small amount from each of 
 us interested parties, to pay for trouble, etc., he would 
 no doubt be pleased to undertake our case. The Col- 
 onel also received a letter from B. T. Johnson, Rich- 
 mond, Va., promising to do all in his power toward 
 his release. I have hastily written to acquaint you 
 with the above, thinking the information might be 
 desirable at this time. If you conclude to act through 
 him, you can address, or perhaps telegraph, A. J. 
 Peeler's law office in the South Western Railroad 
 Bank Building, Tallahassee, Florida. I wrote to you 
 a few days ago. Remember me to all kind friends and 
 inquirers. Your brother, etc., 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, November 5, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received on the 13th instant yours of the 19th of 
 October, and Fannie's of the 18th. I am truly sorry 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MtJDD 213 
 
 to hear that you continue to suffer with your ankle 
 from erysipelas, and that you felt aggravated at the 
 tone of a former letter. Try to be more prudent for 
 the future, and see that you are entirely well before 
 you venture much exercise. I must confess I wrote 
 too precipitately, and without weighing the effect my 
 language and resolution might have. The truth is, 
 your letters were generally so hopeful and cheerful, 
 always directing my attention to some period when I 
 might, with confidence, expect something to be done 
 toward effecting my release, — which invariably ended 
 in disappointment, — I had become as a child whose 
 brightest anticipations had been raised to the highest 
 pitch, experiencing the sudden ebullitions of dissatis- 
 faction. Time is fast proving how unfounded were 
 your hopes, and how unnecessary it was to communi- 
 cate the same to me. I am sure I would have been 
 spared many hours of anxiety and watching. My 
 fate is made to rest unjustly upon public opinion, and 
 judging from the tone of the press, and the signs of 
 the times, another delay is not improbable. Then, 
 how foolish it was to lead me on. I am the subject 
 of every political caprice and whim, and cannot expect 
 speedy relief from my present degradation and suffer- 
 ing. I feel no inclination to criticise, but it does not 
 seem to me that the President is consistent with his 
 oft-repeated declarations and earnest solicitations to 
 the people to return to the Constitution of our fathers, 
 and conform to its spirit and requirements. How 
 essential it is to the inculcation of the precept, "to 
 remove the beam from your own eye before attempting 
 the mote in your neighbor's." It is no wish of mine 
 to frustrate the efforts of the President in his attempts 
 at restoration, but I do object most strenuously to be 
 made to suffer for the sake of some political expedient. 
 As I am subject to the pleasure of the President, it 
 
214 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 seems to me a demand ought and should be made upon 
 him, and that I should not be put to unnecessary ex- 
 pense, being here contrary to law and every instinct 
 of justice. I am told by you and Fannie to be patient. 
 You may as well, under the circumstances, tell the 
 ocean to be calm in a storm. Having to submit to 
 the vilest slavery ever allotted to man, unheard, is 
 sufficient to destroy all humanity, did not the little 
 Christianity I possess come to the rescue. I never 
 before could bring myself to believe that men occupy- 
 ing positions of honor, influence, and power could 
 become so innocently affiliated with liars and scoun- 
 drels; yet with the acknowledgment of the fact, no 
 investigation is made in regard to my case, where even 
 the evidence itself against me bears the impress of 
 untruth without any other refutation. I am growing 
 daily more impatient. I feel that I am an American 
 citizen and entitled to the protection which the Consti- 
 tution and laws guarantee. I must now conclude. 
 Your fond and devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 November 19, 1866. 
 Dear Frank : 
 
 Knowing your great anxiety to hear from me, I write 
 to let you know I have been in consultation with Mr. 
 Reverdy Johnson and his son-in-law, Mr. Ridgely. 
 Mr. Johnson has promised to superintend and instruct, 
 but could not do the necessary work in getting up the 
 law or preparing papers. I had a long interview with 
 Mr. Ridgely this evening. He says he must have 
 time to examine every point, and consult Mr. Johnson, 
 as it is a case of great importance, not only to the 
 Doctor and his friends, but to the lawyer also who has 
 it in charge. He will see Mr. Johnson to-night, and 
 they will be able to-morrow to give their opinion. He 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 215 
 
 will charge two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) to 
 prepare the papers, go to Washington, and swear out 
 the writ, and if it has to be argued before Judge 
 Chase, will charge two hundred and fifty dollars 
 ($250) more, making five hundred dollars ($500). 
 As soon as I get matters thoroughly arranged, I will 
 write or come down. Before this reaches you, we will 
 have to decide what course to pursue, so keep a brave 
 heart, and, with the blessing of Providence, I trust all 
 will soon be well. Your brother, 
 
 JSRE. 
 
 Baltimore, December 7, 1866. 
 Dear Frank : 
 
 I want day and date of the following questions : 
 Let me know when and where Sam was first arrested, 
 the date he was taken to Washington and where first 
 in prison — was it the old Capitol or Carroll Prison ? — 
 by whose order he was first arrested and imprisoned, 
 and by whom held? If you have a copy of the 
 charges served on him, send it to me, not the book of 
 evidence or Ewing's argument, — I have them, — but 
 just the specific charges. Let me know the full name 
 of the officer in charge of Fort Jefferson. I think you 
 have the note from Colonel Wells or Hancock, request- 
 ing him to report to Washington. Be particular and 
 give dates as near as possible. I will go to Washing- 
 ton to-morrow, and will probably get part of the infor- 
 mation asked of you. We are doing all we can, and 
 will probably have the papers prepared by Thursday, 
 or as soon as we can get the information necessary to 
 base our petition on before the court. 
 
 I will be down as soon as I get this matter off hand. 
 I would come instead of writing, but would have to 
 return next day, which would make my visit too short. 
 I will be down on Saturday next if possible. Mr. 
 
216 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Ridgely will have to go to the Law Department for 
 some orders and papers covering the Military Court, 
 and if they find out his object, may put some difficulty 
 in the way. 
 
 I received a letter from Sam yesterday, very short 
 and urging something be done in his case. He is very 
 well; letter dated ioth of November. Get Henry to 
 assist you in giving the information asked and any 
 other you may think of. If it is any service, I can 
 use it, if not, it will do no harm. 
 
 Hoping you and the children are enjoying good 
 health, I am, Your brother, 
 
 j£RE. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, December 7, 1866. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I have written to you to-day a long letter, and 
 having nothing more worthy, I send you enclosed two 
 large moss-cards, a cross, and a wreath as a Christmas 
 gift. I am afraid they will be much disfigured by 
 folding and the rough usage of the mails, etc. They 
 were pressed by myself. I devote a great deal of my 
 leisure to pressing moss for the want of a more suit- 
 able employment, which acts as a diversion to my 
 thoughts, a pastime and a profit. Tell little Tommy, 
 Papa sent him one to pay for the rosebud received 
 some time ago. I had to cut the paper to make it 
 small enough for the envelope. You can paste a piece 
 around to make it fit in a frame. A likeness can also 
 be put within the wreath. Should these arrive in good 
 condition, and you desire more, let me know, and I 
 will send you more by the same means. Bear up 
 bravely against present adversity, and I am in hopes 
 it will not be long before we are restored to each other 
 by a merciful Providence. I have not much hope of 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 217 
 
 its taking place during the session of Congress. The 
 time for action was permitted to go by. 
 
 Your loving husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Washington, December 17, 1866. 
 My dear Mrs. Mudd : 
 
 The Supreme Court of the United States this morn- 
 ing gave an opinion which must secure the liberation 
 of your husband. I have before spoken to you of the 
 case, and the opinion should have been delivered last 
 winter when the case was decided, but was deferred 
 until the present session. I have been unwilling at 
 any time to say anything to you that might induce 
 hopes which, if disappointed, would only increase your 
 suffering; and preferred to wait until I could myself 
 see the light before I told you there was light, and I 
 am now most happy that I can say to you that I think 
 the case is settled, and your husband must be speedily 
 released from his most unjust confinement. 
 
 Deeply sympathizing with you in your long suffer- 
 ing, and congratulating you sincerely upon the pros- 
 pect of its termination, I remain, with great respect, 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 R. T. Merrick. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, December 30, 1866. 
 My darling Frank: 
 
 We are just in receipt of the box sent by friends of 
 O'Loughlin. The articles all came safely to hand 
 and perfectly sound. They are just in time for New 
 Year's, and are considered quite a treat. I also re- 
 ceived yours of December 7, written with your usual 
 hopeful spirit ; not hearing anything from those better 
 informed, gives but little consolation. The papers 
 make mention of the decision of the Supreme Court; 
 
218 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 this surely must have some effect in loosening the 
 reins of power. 
 
 Christmas has passed, and with it the usual dull 
 routine of the military. Nothing occurred to divert 
 our minds from the disagreeable reflection of our 
 present situation, and regrets of the past. I am in 
 hopes you have spent a more cheerful one with our 
 dear little children, alone, hearing their innocent jokes 
 and merry prattle. I know you enjoy a feast that 
 serves to blot out from memory many unpleasant 
 recollections, and drown all other cares for the time 
 being at least ; with me reigned the gloomy thought of 
 hopes deferred. In imagination, I am sometimes ca r - 
 ried back to scenes of the past, and indulge in a pleas- 
 ant smile at the little oddities and sayings of you and 
 our dear little ones, to be succeeded in turn by the 
 depressing one of an unhappy reality. 
 
 We have made application to the Secretary of War, 
 through General Hill, giving many valid reasons for 
 our removal to some Northern prison. I am in hopes 
 it may prove unnecessary, and that we may be released 
 through the medium of the recent decision of the 
 Supreme Court. God grant it may not be much 
 longer deferred. 
 
 I wrote to you November 26th, December 1st, 7th, 
 1 2th and 22d. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 PRISON LIFE IN 1867 CAPTURE OP JOHN H. SURRATT 
 
 IN EGYPT, AND HIS ARRIVAL IN WASHINGTON. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, January 15, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received on the 12th yours of December 31, also 
 papers as late as January 3, containing the decision of 
 the Supreme Court, which fully covers our case, and 
 the denial of Judge Chase of the writ of habeas cor- 
 pus in my case. 
 
 It is vexatious to see how partial the laws are made 
 applicable and administered. Milligan was tried 
 during the existence of active war. His case is de- 
 clared illegal. We were tried after the war, and 
 peace declared. If the trial of Milligan was wrong, 
 certainly ours was more so, and no necessity can be 
 pleaded in palliation. 
 
 The chief point of difference in the Court was as to 
 the powers of Congress, which did not involve in the 
 least the illegality of our trial and conviction. The 
 question upon which they did not coincide seems en- 
 tirely a constitutional one, from which both the citizen 
 and soldier derive all their rights. I don't understand 
 why application should be made to Judge Chase in 
 preference to any other judge. From the partisan 
 course which he has pursued for the past two years, 
 prejudice alone, I am afraid, would be sufficient to 
 influence him to a denial of the benefit of the laws to 
 those of an opposite opinion. 
 
 The "writ" should be served on the Secretary of 
 War or the President, and not upon the Commander 
 of this post. General Hill said to one of the prisoners 
 
220 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 a few days ago, that if the writ were served on him he 
 would not take the responsibility of acceding to the 
 demand. So you see that, notwithstanding the de- 
 cision of the Supreme Court, the highest tribunal in 
 the land, I am still a prisoner in the hands of the Presi- 
 dent and his honorable Secretary of War, serving their 
 pleasure. 
 
 The arrival of Surratt will be the advent of a new 
 excitement, and the reiteration of every species of lie 
 and slander which were given currency at our trial and 
 subsequently, and serve as a pretext to continue my 
 unlawful and unjust imprisonment. Be slow to credit 
 the wild, loose newspaper articles. 
 
 The weather has been cold and pleasant up to a day 
 or two past. It is now growing warm and uncom- 
 fortable. We have a garden in the center of the Fort, 
 the soil or surface of which has been brought from the 
 mainland. It is now luxuriant with all kinds of vege- 
 tables that have been planted — beets, peas, tomatoes, 
 beans, radishes, etc. The few trees we have never 
 lose their foliage and the cocoanut, the only tree bear- 
 ing, always with its peculiar fruit. The flowers that 
 are cultivated are always in bloom. We have one or 
 two little caged song-birds that enliven the island with 
 occasional merry notes. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 The Surratt referred to by my father in the 
 above letter was John H. Surratt, one of the 
 alleged "conspirators." He was, at the time of 
 the assassination of President Lincoln, a 
 young man who had barely reached his ma- 
 jority. When he learned of the assassination 
 he was in Elmira, New York, where he had 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 221 
 
 been sent by the Secret Service Bureau of the 
 Confederate Government. 
 
 The day after the assassination a reward of 
 $25,000 was offered by the United States Gov- 
 ernment for the capture of Surratt, dead or 
 alive. He escaped into Canada, and was se- 
 creted five months in Quebec. From that city 
 he took passage on a steamer for London. 
 Subsequently he made his way to Rome, where 
 he enlisted, under an assumed name, in the 
 Papal Guards. When his identity was dis- 
 covered he was, by order of Pope Pius IX, ar- 
 rested and cast into prison. He succeeded in 
 escaping, and after experiencing many vicis- 
 situdes, finally reached Alexandria, in Egypt. 
 
 Here he was arrested and handed over to the 
 United States authorities. He was brought to 
 Washington, and after much delay was tried 
 before a jury in the Criminal Court of the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia, his trial lasting sixty-two 
 days. The jury disagreed and were dis- 
 charged. Surratt was subsequently admitted 
 to bail, but his case was never again brought 
 to trial. 
 
 Baltimore, January 17, 1867. 
 Mrs. Dr. Mudd. 
 
 My dear Madam : Yours of the 6th instant came 
 duly to hand. I have not seen the resolution you 
 spoke of, but do not see how it can affect Dr. Mudd's 
 case. I have never abandoned the hope of yet getting 
 him released, and think I will now make application to 
 the judges of the courts of the District of Columbia. 
 
222 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 I think it advisable, however, to wait awhile, but will 
 confer with Mr. Revercly Johnson on the subject. 
 Very faithfully yours, 
 
 Andrew Steritt Ridgely. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, January 23, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 As the mail will go out in a few minutes, I have but 
 barely time to say I am as well as usual, and desire 
 my remembrance to all. Your letters arrive very 
 seldom. Yours of the 31st of December has been re- 
 ceived. The hopes it created were immediately 
 blasted, on perusing the paper received the same day. 
 I am rejoiced, however, to know that something has 
 been done, though fruitless. 
 
 It is plain, since the decision of the Court, that I am 
 only held by armed hand, and in spite of law. I could 
 ask nothing more final and complete than the decision 
 in question, yet I am uncertain of the period when its 
 benefits will accrue. I wrote to you on the 15th, and 
 addressed the letter to Jere. He will forward as soon 
 as received. 
 
 Hoping to hear something more definite shortly, 
 which will have the tendency to shorten our unhappy 
 separation, I am as ever, truly and affectionately, 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, February 6, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I wrote to you a few days ago, I believe on the 28th 
 of January. 
 
 I am becoming discouraged to continue my frequent 
 correspondence, finding the interval growing so long 
 between your very short epistles. I am also begin- 
 ning to think there was but little calculation or penetra- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 223 
 
 tion, on the part of those who had the management 3t 
 my case, to have impressed yon so erroneously. Mat- 
 ters, I fear, have assumed a more complicated nature in 
 consequence. I am in hopes the sober thought of the 
 people will not sustain the ultra and unconstitutional 
 legislation of Congress. 
 
 I am well. The weather again becoming very 
 warm, I fear the return of the distressing symptoms 
 which I enumerated in some of my letters last year. 
 We continue to be under close guard, and allowed but 
 little exercise. 
 
 Inquire and let me know whether it would be advis- 
 able for us to make application for removal North, 
 through General Hill to the War Department. We 
 have had no priest here in his official capacity since last 
 July. A young priest stopped here on his way to 
 Key West two or three weeks ago. I did not learn 
 his name. He said he would pay us a visit in the 
 course of a few weeks. Good-by, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, February 14, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Yours of the 28th of January, and Jere's of the 29th, 
 have come to hand. You and Jere, though instructed 
 by able counsel, seem no better informed than myself, 
 and I have had only access to newspapers. Judging 
 from papers, the old ship of state is adrift, floating 
 without a rudder, without a captain, and they threaten 
 to throw overboard the chief engineer, the President. 
 
 The Constitution and the decision of the supreme 
 tribunal of the land seem completely overlooked and 
 passed by unnoticed. They now threaten to impeach 
 the President without the legally required court : all 
 the States. When these bounds are passed, God only 
 knows and can judge the finality of their proceedings. 
 
224 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 I fail to perceive and conjecture anything favorable. 
 I cannot yet look forward to any period with certainty. 
 In the mean time, I am making myself as content as 
 circumstances will permit. My health has continued 
 unusually good through the winter up to this time; 
 God grant I may be spared another summer here. I 
 weighed a few days ago one hundred and forty-five, 
 which is only a few pounds short of my usual weight. 
 Put in practice your own preaching, — be patient, be 
 prudent, etc. Under our present hard lot I have an 
 innate feeling that tells me the time of our cruel sepa- 
 ration will not be much longer deferred. How much 
 I have desired to be with the children catching snow- 
 birds, and enjoy with you their delight of triumph. 
 We are yet under close guard, and I am afraid I will 
 become so accustomed to this life, I will naturally look 
 for the guard to accompany me on all occasions, when 
 it shall please Providence and the head of the en- 
 lightened American nation to release me. 
 
 Your disconsolate husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, February 20, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I did not receive yours of January 6, until yester- 
 day — being considerably over a month on the way. I 
 wrote to you on the 14th and Jere on the 16th. I have 
 nothing new, nor additional requests to make. My 
 health continues about the same — suffering an indispo- 
 sition occasionally with the change of weather. 
 
 You need not bother about sending anything for 
 the future unless I request it. I am well supplied 
 with clothing — other necessaries I will be able to obtain 
 through my own exertions. 
 
 I have had my occupation changed to that of the 
 carpenter's shop, which affords me more exercise and 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 225 
 
 a greater diversion to my thoughts. I occupy my 
 time principally in making little boxes, ornamenting 
 them with different colors and varieties of wood. 
 
 The mail will close in an hour's time, so I must close 
 by desiring my kindest remembrance to all. 
 
 Your faithful and devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, February 26, 1867. 
 My dear Jere : 
 
 When I wrote last, I forgot to name the fact that 
 Fort Jefferson and Key West had been made separate 
 divisions, with the Commander stationed at the latter. 
 General Hill will, therefore, in a short time take up his 
 quarters at that place. 
 
 Could you be assured that a "writ" would be 
 accepted, the change renders the accomplishment of 
 matters more easy and expeditious, for all the neces- 
 sary authorities you need command of are there. 
 Here, there is no civil law or authority, and no means 
 whereby you could command an audience with the 
 Commander should he be disposed not to grant it. 
 
 You said in case other measures failed, "you would 
 send a lawyer to Florida." Unless you were confident 
 of the result, I think it would be only loss of time and 
 expense without recompense. I mentioned in a former 
 letter the remark that was made to one of our number, 
 and I suppose it would be applicable to myself, that 
 if a "writ" was served upon him, he (the Commander) 
 would not assume the responsibility of yielding to the 
 demand. 
 
 My attention has been called to the legislation going 
 
 on in Congress, having the tendency to thwart the 
 
 execution of the plain decision of the Supreme Court 
 
 upon the test oath ; if so, it will be used as a precedent 
 
 15 
 
226 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 by other courts relative to its judgment upon the 
 legality of trials of civilians by court martial. Please 
 inform me plainly upon all these points, and the bear- 
 ing they are likely to assume. I am growing weary of 
 perplexities arising from the many constructions of 
 public acts. 
 
 The action of Congress seems ex post facto, which is 
 clearly unconstitutional ; but will it not delay and 
 necessarily cause our cases to be specially brought 
 before the Court to be disposed of, not permitting the 
 recent judgment of the Supreme Court to be a finality? 
 
 The mail leaves in a short time, consequently I must 
 close. Your brother, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, March 5, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Yours of February 12th reached me this morning, 
 bringing me the desired news of all well and hearty. 
 You gave expression to despondency, and asked for 
 something cheering and consoling from me. How 
 willing this would be accorded were it in my power, 
 even the sacrifice of this miserable life, could it be of 
 benefit to you and our little ones. 
 
 By referring me to the newspapers for information 
 regarding my situation, you seem no better ac- 
 quainted than myself with the difficulties in the way of 
 my release. The altered relation which you appre- 
 hend will take place with the marriage of Jere, is very 
 natural. It will be impossible for him to extend his 
 former love, care and attention, and to this extent, my 
 darling Frank, is the principal source of your gloom 
 and anxiety. When I think of your dependent state, 
 the trials, inconveniences, and sufferings you have to 
 endure, my heart bleeds and my soul seems ready to 
 leap from this tenement of clay, and rush to the aid 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 227 
 
 and comfort of you and all ; but, alas ! how impotent 
 are all my efforts, and how incapable of affording you 
 and our little ones assistance at no distant day, — a 
 hope that would enable me to bear with more resigna- 
 tion the grievous trials to which I have been subjected. 
 I am debarred from all friends and advisers, being yet 
 under close guard, not allowed to hold conversation 
 with any one outside of my immediate roommates. 
 How then is it possible for me to form any idea of the 
 future, or to extend to you any hope of our speedy 
 union? I have naturally looked to you and Jere for 
 information and hope, but in vain, to receive anything 
 satisfactory. 
 
 Jere has written but seldom, and when he did, I 
 could arrive no nearer the truth than before. 
 
 We have received papers up to the 23d instant. 
 They make mention of the arrival of Surratt, and his 
 being surrendered to the civil authorities. I am in 
 hopes his trial will be speedy and impartial, and have 
 the effect to clear away many of the mists that sur- 
 round the tragic affair and lead to my early release 
 from this place of exile and misery, and our once more 
 happy union. To this end, my darling Frank, are all 
 my fondest anticipations centered. Be patient, be 
 prudent; in a word, be a good child, and let nothing 
 occur that will tend to mar the pleasure and happiness 
 of which we mutually dream, and God, upon whose 
 justice and mercy I rely, will not permit a much longer 
 delay. When you informed me in a previous letter 
 that Jere and M. C. were to be married, I was truly in 
 hopes I would be home in time to wish them in person 
 a joyous union, and more happiness than has fallen to 
 our lot. It now devolves upon you to perform this 
 both pleasing and gloomy duty. 
 
 I wrote to Mr. Stone on the 1st of December last 
 and directed the letter to Washington, D. C.«, thinking 
 
228 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 he would take his seat in the recent Congress ; it was 
 returned to me yesterday. I suppose he takes his seat 
 to-day by the new arrangement. Seek advice and 
 counsel from him and Mr. Ewing and see whether 
 something can't be effected through the Legislative 
 Department, the Judicial and the Executive having 
 failed. General Hill is of the opinion that, as soon as 
 Surratt arrives, the Government would send for us; 
 God grant his prediction may prove true. 
 
 Try and find out from Mr. Ridgely when he intends 
 taking further action, and what hopes he has of suc- 
 cess. There seems to be no mode of redress except 
 through Congress, and they appear to have shut up 
 the portals of felicity, both human and divine, and 
 thrown away the key. Let me know at what time he 
 thinks he will be able to succeed. You have made 
 many guesses when I would be home, which has only 
 the effect to increase my misery; but try once more 
 and see how near you can approximate the truth. If 
 it is one, two, three or four months, or the same num- 
 ber of years, give me the views of counsel. Cut out 
 of the papers all the proceedings in the trial of Surratt 
 as they appear, and send to me by mail. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Baltimore, March 6, 1867. 
 Dear Frank: 
 
 This is the first opportunity I have had of writing 
 you since my return. 
 
 I have been to Ridgely's office twice since my return 
 to see him; the first day he was in Washington ; he is 
 now in New York, but expected back to-morrow. I 
 will see him as soon as he returns and let you know the 
 result of my interview. You may rest assured I will 
 do everything in my power to procure Sam's release. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 229 
 
 Ford, the proprietor of the theater, has promised to 
 go with me. He says he is determined to leave noth- 
 ing undone that can be done to have Spangler released, 
 if it costs him five thousand dollars. 
 
 I received a letter from Sam yesterday. He re- 
 ceived my letter, but, poor fellow, he can't understand 
 why it is Johnson does not act under the decision of 
 the Supreme Court. He seems to think he ought to 
 do it, even at the risk of being impeached. I wrote to 
 him to-day and will mail his letter with this. I wrote 
 him fully, and explained everything to him as far as I 
 was capable. I would send you his letter with this, 
 but left it up at the house. 
 
 Your brother, 
 
 JERE. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, March n, 1867. 
 My darling Frank: 
 
 General Hill left here on the 8th to take up his 
 quarters permanently at Key West. These two pos'is 
 having been made a separate district, you can inform 
 Jere of the fact should it be of any importance to him. 
 He said in his last letter that in case other measures 
 failed, he would send a lawyer to Florida. I know 
 not the situation of affairs, but from what I can judge 
 of the legislation of Congress, all measures of redress 
 have been cut off by that body. I wrote to Hon. 
 Reverdy Johnson on the subject on the 8th, and de- 
 sire! his opinion of the matter. I want to be satisfied 
 one way or the other ; suspense is wearisome. 
 
 I suppose the trial of Surratt will be used now as 
 an excuse for delay in my case, upon the part of the 
 lawyers you have employed. Can't it be arranged to 
 have me tried with him ? Let me know what is being 
 done; I want prospects of success when you write; 
 also let me know when the trial of Surratt will come 
 
230 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 off. I have written this quite hastily on account of 
 being in time for the outgoing mail. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, March 25, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received yours of February 28th a few days ago. 
 I am glad you have resolved on more frequent corres- 
 pondence. You say you feel "miserable" when you do 
 not hear from me regularly. This might be doubted 
 if the number of your epistles implies anything. At 
 no period have I permitted three weeks to escape 
 without writing, yet with you it has not been unusual. 
 I am but one, you are many. My soul is wrapped up 
 in you all, and yet not divided. If you feel gloomy 
 and uneasy on my account, how much more so must I 
 feel for you, as you are the greatest number, and none 
 of us are exempt from the accidents of life, etc. 
 
 I am sorry matters still assume no different shape. 
 You remarked that Mr. Ridgely would repair to 
 Florida as soon as Judge Wayne entered upon his 
 judicial functions in that district. You did not state 
 the time it would take place, but led me to infer it 
 would be shortly by saying you would not await the 
 trial of Surratt, which the newspapers represent as 
 going on now. Try always to be explicit, and never 
 speak of a thing in contemplation without giving some 
 idea of the time. 
 
 Should Surratt have a speedy and impartial trial, I 
 have more hopes from its result than from everything 
 else, for I know it is bound to lead to my entire excul- 
 pation, and it will be impossible for those in power to 
 hold me against the will of an enlightened public. 
 
 I wrote to Mr. Johnson on the 8th of the present 
 month, and directed the letter to Washington. Should 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 231 
 
 Congress adjourn, he will likely not receive it, as he 
 will return to Baltimore. You will please notify Jere 
 of this fact. The letter I wrote to Stone was returned 
 to me. I believe he was a member of the last Con- 
 gress. Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, April 5, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Would I could be so hopeful as you express. View- 
 ing the situation of affairs by the public press of the 
 country, the days of the Republic have passed, super- 
 seded by the sad reality of a military despotism. I 
 feel often animated in spirit as those brave Cretes who, 
 sooner than surrender victims to their enemies, blew 
 up the castle and perished with their cruel and despotic 
 foes who had pursued them thither. The South is 
 certainly placed under no debt of gratitude. 
 
 The post-office at this place has been broken up for 
 some reason not accounted for. Our letters, therefore, 
 will be likely post-marked for the future from Key 
 West. You will, of course, direct your letters to me 
 as formerly. 
 
 The mail leaves in a few minutes, consequently can't 
 say much more. The priest from Key West arrived 
 here yesterday. I have not yet spoken to him, but will 
 do so as soon as practicable. 
 
 The papers record the death of Judge Turner of the 
 War Department, Bureau of Military Injustice. I 
 have no reason to lament the occurrence. It was in 
 his power to refute that unjust and slanderous state- 
 ment appended to the court martial proceedings with 
 Judge Holt's approval. Since he was so notoriously 
 unjust toward me in suppressing the truth or fabri- 
 cating a falsehood, it is fair to presume he was guilty 
 of all, or many of the misrepresentations and distor- 
 
232 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 tions of fact in regard to myself, Davis, and others. 
 The cause of his death is said to be apoplexy, but more 
 likely poison by his own hands. The fate of a guilty 
 conscience. I am still in my usual health. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, April 13, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I wrote to you on the 5th instant, and gave all par- 
 ticulars of health, etc., up to that date. Having noth- 
 ing additional, and not having received any tidings 
 from any one since, you can't expect a very extended 
 epistle. 
 
 I have heard nothing from Jere since his return to 
 Baltimore. I suppose he has nothing cheering to com- 
 municate, and concluded not to write. 
 
 General Butler has brought something new to light 
 in reference to our trial, Booth's diary, which was 
 never heard of before. "When rogues fall out, honest 
 men get their dues," is fully exemplified in this in- 
 stance; but the most astonishing part of the matter 
 is my retention here in spite of all these developments 
 of foul play and rascality. It has been intimated there 
 is something more yet unknown to the world ; you will 
 please let me know fully when you write again. 
 
 I have heard nothing of Surratt's trial having com- 
 menced. I fear it will be as predicted. He will bs 
 kept in prison until perhaps he dies before any trial be 
 given him, — like Davis, — and the delay be made an 
 excuse to protract my imprisonment. 
 
 I went to confession and communion on the 8th. 
 The name of the priest is Father Allard, a French Ca- 
 nadian ; speaks English very imperfectly. He is quite 
 young. I am sorry I can't write more interestingly. 
 My health has been unusually good up to the present. 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 233 
 
 Do not give yourself any uneasiness about my fare, 
 etc. We can supply our few wants by making little 
 boxes, frames, etc., which are in great demand. To- 
 day we contributed to the Southern Relief Fair at Key 
 West little articles, which were worth to us over sev- 
 enty-five dollars. Our work-boxes sell readily at 
 twenty-five and thirty cents apiece. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, April 16, 1867. 
 My dear Tom [T. O. Dyer, New Orleans] : 
 
 A favorable opportunity presenting, I avail myself 
 to let you hear more directly from me. I have written 
 you on several occasions, but have never received a re- 
 ply in acknowledgment, consequently fear you do not 
 get them. 
 
 Mr. Waters has kindly consented to take this to you 
 in person and present my best wishes for you and all 
 our kind relatives. Waters has just been released, 
 having been sent here for shooting a negro prisoner, 
 in discharge of his duty while in the Confederate ser- 
 vice, and for which the Federal authorities had no 
 right to take cognizance. His case though is only one 
 of the many thousand unlawful acts which they have 
 committed, and still continue, upon a brave and de- 
 fenseless people. You see, notwithstanding the dis- 
 closures made by Butler in Congress a few days ago, 
 and the charge made by Frank Blair of a similar na- 
 ture, no investigation is made or permitted. My sym- 
 pathies increase rather than diminish when I consider 
 the unjust, tyrannical, humiliating exactions and meas- 
 ures demanded of a defenseless people. A day of 
 reckoning surely will come, but I fear too late for the 
 present generation to bear witness of an offended God 
 and justice. 
 
234 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 The last letter received from Frank was dated March 
 19th. At that time they were all well. Surratt's trial 
 was expected to come off in the present month, and it 
 was believed we would be sent for by the Government, 
 to be tried again in conjunction. We are here yet, 
 and have very little hope of this small boon being of- 
 fered us. The cause of the Government is too weak 
 to expect to gain any advantage, therefore we expect 
 to remain here so long as the Government is in the 
 hands of its present occupants. I send you a verbal 
 message by the bearer. If you can, prudently, let me 
 hear from you in regard. 
 
 Colonel St. Ledger Grenfel is kept in close confine- 
 ment under guard. A few days ago, being sick, he 
 applied to the doctor of the Post for medical attention, 
 which he was refused, and he was ordered to work. 
 Feeling himself unable to move about, he refused. 
 He was then ordered to carry a ball until further or- 
 ders, which he likewise refused. He was then tied up 
 for half a day, and still refusing, he was taken to one 
 of the wharves, thrown overboard with a rope at- 
 tached, and ducked ; being able to keep himself above 
 water, a fifty pound weight was attached to his feet. 
 Grenfel is an old man, about sixty. He has never re- 
 fused to do work which he was able to perform, but 
 they demanded more than he felt able, and he wisely 
 refused. They could not conquer him, and he is doing 
 now that which he never objected doing. 
 
 Remember me to all, and believe me most truly 
 yours, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, April 25, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received to-day yours of the 10th, also the Weekly 
 Sim of the 13th. We used to get the Gazette, but T 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 235 
 
 suppose the subscription has run out. I wrote to you 
 last on the nth and 15th of April, and to Cousin Ann 
 on the 20th. I wrote to you also on the 20th, but the 
 officer, whose duty it is to inspect, had not time to ex- 
 amine, consequently it did not go. 
 
 Tell Ma, Pa, and family I do not write because I 
 have nothing to engross their attention, and nothing 
 cheering and hopeful to give them consolation. I 
 could only give them a picture of my woes, without the 
 requisite knowledge to impart for their redress, which 
 would only add to their discomfort, consequently re- 
 main silent, acting on the principle, "when ignorance 
 is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." Again I have been so 
 credulous as to believe something would be done 
 through the instrumentality of the lawyers engaged, 
 that caused me to look anxiously from day to day for 
 the arrival of the steamer that would bear me gladly 
 to you all, and did not think it necessary to write. 
 
 I am truly glad to hear you are satisfied with the 
 darkies engaged on the farm. Tell Bap. I say to pay 
 his whole attention to the farm, and do not run about 
 looking up little jobs, and he will succeed well. Should 
 he desire any carpenter work, he will find a plenty on 
 the farm, for which, should it be in my power, I will 
 amply compensate him. 
 
 A good corn-house is very much needed, also a barn 
 or pen-house for tobacco. At his leisure he could get 
 out the material for them, and leave it to some compe- 
 tent party to estimate value, and take it from rent or 
 otherwise. General Hill, I understand, will leave in a 
 short time for Washington on a furlough or leave of 
 absence. This Post is now in command of Major 
 Stone. He arrived here this morning from Key West. 
 It has been rumored here for several days that all the 
 prisoners at this place would be taken to Ship Island. 
 
 The number of prisoners is now about forty-five, in- 
 
236 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MLDD 
 
 eluding both black and white. I have not been able to 
 trace this rumor to any reliable source. How much I 
 desire to see and be with you all. It was three weeks 
 between our last letters. Good-by. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, May n, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 It will not be in my power to write you at this time 
 as long a letter as I desire. The mail will leave in the 
 course of an hour, so I must hurry to be in time to 
 have it examined previous to mailing. I was too late 
 the last mail, consequently did not get off the letter I 
 had written, so the last letter I wrote to you was dated 
 the 25th of April, the interval being much longer than 
 I generally suffer to pass. 
 
 Do not forget to see dear Papa and extend to him 
 whatever comfort you can. Tell him to give himself 
 no uneasiness on my account — not worry himself too 
 much about me and your affairs, etc. I fear he suffers 
 more from mental perplexities, resulting from the con- 
 dition of the country and domestic affairs. Thank 
 him, my darling Frank, in my name, for his ever kind 
 attention and parental solicitude toward us and the 
 dear little ones, and to consider that whenever I write 
 to you or any of the family, it is as much to himself 
 and Ma. Advise him not to read the newspaper for a 
 little while, and see whether he receives advantage 
 from the abstinence. I received yesterday a package 
 of newspapers from Tom, and a box. I have not yet 
 received the box or invoice of articles, etc. 
 
 Hoping this may find you and all the family in the 
 enjoyment of health, etc., I am, 
 
 Your loving husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 PRISON LIFE IN 1867, CONTINUED — BOOTH'S DIARY 
 WOULD HAVE TENDED TO ESTABLISH MY FATHER'S 
 INNOCENCE HAD IT BEEN OFFERED IN EVIDENCE 
 
 "somebody HAD TO suffer." 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, May 25, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 The papers mention the release of Davis under bail, 
 without trial. This truly seems strange to me. I feel 
 confident they will not try Surratt, but postpone from 
 time to time until finally released, the Government or 
 the prosecution not appearing against him. Rage has 
 become impotent; the bloodthirsty wretches, feeling 
 no longer security in their demon pursuits, have 
 shrunk away into ignominious nothingness, or are cry- 
 ing under the weight of a guilty conscience. I can't 
 see what Surratt's case has to do with me — it is only 
 .an excuse or put off. How strangely justice is admin- 
 istered in this enlightened nineteenth century. None 
 believed a few years ago that a corporal's guard could 
 be mustered throughout the country to carry out the 
 atrocious measures now heaped upon a helpless and de- 
 fenseless people, but it seems there is never lack of 
 means to the ends of vile purposes. I am afraid I may 
 say too much, and in consequence you may fail to hear 
 from me, so I will postpone all expressions of opinion 
 until I can see it will be of some avail. I am entirely 
 without news of interest. 
 
 The report of the committee appointed to inquire 
 into the condition, etc., of the penitentiary of the State, 
 gives a gloomy exhibit of the depravity and increase of 
 crime among the recent "emancipated." Laws made 
 
238 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 corrective and milder for that class of our population 
 called down upon the State and people the virtuous 
 indignation of the immaculate Congress. It has now 
 in its pride and presumption absorbed all the powers 
 of the Government, Legislative, Judicial and Execu- 
 tive — not governed even by the laws of God, only so 
 far as appears righteous to them. They would dictate 
 to God Almighty himself sooner than acknowledge the 
 error of the position they have assumed. Write soon 
 and often. Give me all the news of the neighborhood 
 and answer all my little queries. 
 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 3, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 The month of June, you will perceive by the above 
 date, has been ushered in with all its glory and sun- 
 shine, and the promised release of your most discon- 
 solate yet in fitturo. Mail came on the first. I received 
 no letter, nor the papers which you subscribed for. 
 
 I have seen the copy of Booth's diary. I can see no 
 reason for its being withheld from the Court which 
 convicted us ; on the contrary, it goes to confirm the 
 statement of those who participated with him, or who 
 were confederates. It shows clearly that I could have 
 had no knowledge of the deed, and would have tended 
 had it been before the Court, to establish my innocence. 
 I shall leave the whole matter with you and friends to 
 be dealt with agreeable to your best judgment. 
 
 I am curious to know what offense will be set up by 
 the Government in Surratt's case. I am very much 
 afraid the trial will meet with another postponement 
 so that they can urge a longer continuance of my exile 
 on this account. Our country seems a complete mob- 
 ocracy instead of a Government of law and order. 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 239 
 
 The President does not feel warranted in the execu- 
 tion of his plainest duties under the Constitution with- 
 out first consulting the mob spirit. I am well, though 
 growing exceedingly weary of the continued usurpa- 
 tion. Could I perceive that the Government had the 
 slightest shadow of suspicion against me, I could feel 
 perhaps more resigned; but take the whole evidence 
 and circumstances adduced on trial, and no court of 
 justice, it seems to me, could fail establishing my en- 
 tire innocence. I remarked this to Judge Turner on 
 my way to this place, when he remarked that some- 
 body had to suffer, and it was just as well that I should 
 as anybody else. This I believe was as good an answer 
 as he could make, but I could not see the justice. I 
 have written very hastily in order to be in time for the 
 outgoing mail. 
 
 For God's sake urge action on the part of those en- 
 trusted with the care of my case. Davis has been set 
 free, and Surratt, once regarded as his prime agent, 
 seems now without a charge against him, and here am 
 I, having suffered the tortures of the damned, without 
 one word of rebuke to those who have caused all — and 
 without pity, sympathy, or consolation from an en- 
 lightened public. Try and give me some definite news 
 in your next. 
 
 Hoping this may find you all in health, I am, as ever, 
 fondly and devotedly, 
 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 "Booth's Diary," referred to by my father in 
 the above letter, was found in a pocket of the 
 clothing Booth wore at the time he was shot 
 and killed by Sergeant Corbett. The "Diary" 
 was offered and read in evidence at the trial of 
 John H. Surratt. It was not put in evidence at 
 
240 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MXJDD 
 
 the trial of the alleged "conspirators" before 
 the Military Commission, although it was in 
 the possession of Secretary of War Stanton. 
 It is as follows: 
 
 "Te amo." 
 April 13, 14, Friday, the Ides. 
 
 Until to-day nothing was ever thought of sacrificing 
 to our country's wrongs. For six months we had 
 worked to capture. But our cause being almost lost, 
 something decisive and great must be done. But its 
 failure was owing to others who did not strike for their 
 country with a heart. I struck boldly, and not as the 
 papers say. I walked with a firm step through a thou- 
 sand of his friends; was stopped, but pushed on. A 
 colonel was at his side. I shouted sic semper before I 
 fired. In jumping, broke my leg. I passed all his 
 pickets. Rode sixty miles that night, with the bone of 
 my leg tearing the flesh at every jump. 
 
 I can never repent it though we hated to kill. Our 
 country owed all our troubles to him, and God simply 
 made me the instrument of his punishment. 
 
 The country is not 
 
 April, 1865, 
 
 what is was. This forced Union is not what I have 
 loved. I care not what becomes of me. I have no de- 
 sire to outlive my country. This night (before the 
 deed) I wrote a long article and left it for one of the 
 editors of the National Intelligencer, in which I fully 
 set forth our reasons for our proceeding. He or the 
 
 gov'r 
 
 Friday 21. 
 
 After being hunted like a dog through swamps, woods, 
 and last night being chased by gunboats till I was 
 forced to return wet. cold, and starving - , with every 
 
John Wilkes Booth 
 
 FACING PAGE 24O 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 241 
 
 man's hand against me, I am here in despair. And 
 why ? For doing- what Brutus was honored for — what 
 made Tell a hero. And yet I, for striking down a 
 greater tyrant than they ever knew, am looked upon as 
 a common cut-throat. My action was purer than either 
 of theirs. One hoped to be great. The other had not 
 only his country's, but his own wrongs to avenge. I 
 hoped for no gain. I knew no private wrong. I struck 
 for my country and that alone. A country that 
 groaned beneath this tyranny, and prayed for this end, 
 and yet now behold the cold hand they extend to me. 
 God cannot pardon me if I have done wrong. Yet I 
 cannot see my wrong, except in serving a degenerate 
 people. The little, the very little, I left behind to clear 
 my name, the Government will not allow to be printed. 
 So ends all. For my country I have given up all that 
 makes life sweet and holy, brought misery upon my 
 family, and am sure there is no pardon in the Heaven 
 for me, since man condemns me so. I have only heard 
 of what has been done (except what I did myself), and 
 it fills me with horror. God, try and forgive me, and 
 bless my mother. To-night I will once more try the 
 river with the intent to cross. Though I have a 
 greater desire and almost a mind to return to Wash- 
 ington, and in a measure clear my name — which I feel 
 I can do. I do not repent the blow I struck. I may 
 before my God, but not to man. I think I have done 
 well. Though I am abandoned with the curse of Cain 
 upon me, when, if the world knew my heart, that one 
 blow would have made me great, though I did desire 
 no greatness. 
 
 To-night I try to escape these blood-hounds once 
 more. Who can read his fate? God's will be done. 
 
 I have too great a soul to die like a criminal. O 
 may He, may He spare me that, and let me die bravely. 
 16 
 
242 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 I bless the entire world. Have never hated or 
 wronged any one. 
 
 This last was not a wrong, unless God deems it so, 
 and it's with Him to damn or bless me. And for this 
 brave boy with me, who often prays (yes, before and 
 since) with a true and sincere heart — was it crime in 
 him? If so, why can he pray the same? 
 
 I do not wish to shed a drop of blood, but "I must 
 fight the course!" 
 
 Tis all that's left me. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 10, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I wrote you on the 3d, more to let you know that I 
 still live and remember, than impart news otherwise 
 of a consoling character — such must be the nature of 
 the present. 
 
 The Tortugas is a desolate group of islands unpro- 
 ductive alike of news as well as vegetation. The casual 
 arrival of mail affording but little change from the 
 usual monotony on account of its rather ancient date. 
 We glance hastily over the files of newspapers to see 
 what is said having reference to us and what the prog- 
 ress made toward restoring the States to their former 
 status; this being done, the balance of the paper is 
 read with no more interest than the transactions of 
 centuries past. Within the past week we had three 
 days of storm, cloudy and rainy weather, although 
 lending a short respite to the customary dazzling sun- 
 shine — the dampness being intense, searches up every 
 old rheumatic disposition, penetrates every joint, 
 which more than counteracts the enjoyment. To ob- 
 viate the evil effects of the dampness I am forced to 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 243 
 
 wear constantly flannel or net shirts; though warm, 
 I find them more tolerable than the effects of the above 
 cause. I attribute my improved health principally to 
 their agency. 
 
 I received to-day yours of the 20th of May, and one 
 from Sissy of the 15th. I am rejoiced to know that 
 you all continue well, and the families healthy. Do 
 not lose courage; though my confidence in the hon- 
 esty of the generality of man is impaired, my increased 
 trust and hope in the Providence and justice of God 
 more than repays. I feel that though men may bury 
 every instinct of humanity and stifle every emotion of 
 conscience, truth and innocence will be declared and 
 made manifest, even if the stones of the earth have to 
 rise up as witnesses. Truth and virtue will ever 
 shine — then, my darling Frank let us be brave and 
 steadfast in all the ways of rectitude, and I feel as- 
 sured the time that intervenes between our happy re- 
 union, yet though in the unknown future, cannot be 
 much longer delayed. 
 
 I must now reluctantly bring my letter to a close, 
 and scribble a few lines to Sissy. The mail will leave 
 this evening, so if I don't hurry, my letter will not be 
 in time for the necessary examination and mailing. 
 My health continues good ; occasionally I am depressed 
 by the excessive heat. In weight and flesh I am about 
 the same as when I left home. Give yourself no un- 
 easiness for the future. Were I home at this moment, 
 nothing would tempt me to read a newspaper, for they 
 only tend to engender hate, and make the mind fa- 
 miliar with crime of every description. Kiss our dar- 
 ling little children, train them to obedience and good 
 behavior now whilst young, and when they grow 
 older, we will be spared the blush of shame at their 
 unruly conduct. 
 
244 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Hoping this may be my last from this barren and 
 miserable isle, I am, as ever, 
 
 Your fond and devoted husband, 
 
 Samuel Mudd. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 15, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I have received no letter, nor the Gazette from Jere 
 which you said you requested. M. C. perhaps occu- 
 pies all his thoughts for the present. 
 
 Should you see Cecie tell her I have no knowledge 
 of being reinstated in any position by General Hill, 
 nor am I conscious of having received any personal 
 kindness or unkindness. We were fed like brutes for 
 more than fourteen months, kept in chains over three 
 months, and up to the time I left, under close guard 
 day and night, and allowed no conversation with any 
 one outside the room. We were informed that the 
 orders for this treatment emanated from the War De- 
 partment. He did promise to send any application 
 we should make, with a favorable recommendation to 
 the headquarters of his department. So far as I am 
 acquainted, all grievances which came under his per- 
 sonal observation were redressed, but owing to the 
 difficulty of seeing him, much suffering and dissatis- 
 faction ensued. 
 
 We made application through his adjutant, Captain 
 Van Reed, on two different occasions a short time 
 after he assumed command, without meeting with any 
 response from the Government, so we concluded to 
 bother him no more, and never, to my knowledge, was 
 the application renewed until he was ordered to report 
 to the Government in person, in answer to a note I 
 had addressed. Had we been ordered out and shot, 
 it would have been much kinder than the treatment we 
 received. We were treated in every respect as the 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 245 
 
 most ferocious wild beasts, for which I blame no one 
 personally. 
 
 Your fond and devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 23, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I see by the papers that Surratt's trial has actually 
 commenced, the prosecution endeavoring to obtain a 
 verdict consistent with public opinion, apparently re- 
 gardless of justice. Public opinion is pretty apt to 
 be right, if not misinformed or prejudiced. If the 
 prosecution will let the truth be known there would be 
 no objection to a verdict consistent with the enlight- 
 ened public mind; but this seems remote to their in- 
 tention ; "they have given the dog his bad name, and 
 he must suffer, right or wrong." Individual charac- 
 ter and honor of the nation are at stake, and it would 
 be a sacrilege for either to suffer by the decision of 
 a petty court and twelve jurymen. I am for the sup- 
 port of both, but not at the expense of justice. Judge 
 Fisher has granted the prayer of the prosecution, and 
 ordered the empaneling of a new jury, which I suppose 
 will be the representatives of the personification of the 
 public opinion, and will have a verdict in accordance. 
 
 It has been raining very hard off and on for three 
 or four days, and our casement, clothing, bedding, and 
 wearing apparel became very wet and damp. My 
 health continues better than could be expected under 
 the circumstances. I am occupied in the quarter- 
 master's carpenter shop. I have more annoyance 
 from conflicting orders than from the work I have to 
 perform. I shall bear patiently until the trial of Sur- 
 ratt is over, then if something is not done toward 
 freeing me from this hell, I shall grow very sad and 
 disheartened. 
 
246 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Write often and acquaint me with the principal 
 features of the Surratt trial. 
 
 Your fond husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 30, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received, on the 226. instant, yours of the 10th, 
 bringing the ever glad news of the continued health of 
 yourself and all the family. I wrote to you on the 
 23d, but owing to some remarks being found objec- 
 tionable, my letter was returned. It was then too late 
 to write another, the mail leaving immediately after. 
 For the future you must excuse brevity. 
 
 Mail arrived here on the 28th bringing New York 
 papers up to the 20th. I have not been able to see 
 them, but understand, with much satisfaction, that 
 the trial of Surratt is progressing, for another ex- 
 cuse for delay will be done away with, and perhaps 
 may shed some light upon the terrible deed for which 
 he is now being tried. 
 
 I sent you a cribbage board in a box containing little 
 presents from my roommates to their friends. Let me 
 know whether it has been received. I am sorry I had 
 nothing more worthy at the time. I had a very nice 
 box, which I intended sending to you, but was induced 
 to give it to the Southern Relief Fair at Key West. 
 
 I wrote to you on the following dates, viz : April 
 5th, 13th and 25th, May 4th, nth, 18th and 25th, 
 June 3d, 10th, 15th (and 23d which did not go) and 
 to-day, 30th. 
 
 Our correspondence is carefully inspected, and letters 
 of yours and others may be withheld without my 
 knowledge. I acknowledge the receipt of all that come 
 to hand. 
 
 The Fort is now commanded by Major Andrews. 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 247 
 
 From the slight acquaintance I have had, he seems 
 quite a good man. Nearly all the older officers have 
 been relieved; the present number seem much kinder 
 and better disposed. 
 
 Hoping this may find you and our dear little chil- 
 dren in the enjoyment of health etc., I bid you a re- 
 luctant adieu. 
 
 Your loving husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, July 8, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Mail arrived yesterday bringing me a letter from 
 Cecie, but no news from you or any one at home. I 
 have seen the New York papers up to the 27th. The 
 trial of Surratt seems to progress slowly. I feel im- 
 patient to see its conclusion, and hope something may 
 be done to effect our union. 
 
 My health and spirit is much improved, likewise the 
 health of the island is excellent — very little sickness 
 and nothing of an epidemic character. I am entirely 
 without news. Write often and give all news correct. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, July 14, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 The mail boat came last night bringing no mail. 
 How disappointed I feel at not hearing from you. I 
 learn that owing to the quarantine regulations and the 
 withdrawal of several steamers from the line, we will 
 have mail twice a month. I shall, however, write every 
 opportunity, hoping you may possess greater postal 
 facilities. 
 
 This Post continues quite healthy, and as far as I 
 
248 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 have been able to ascertain no fatal epidemic prevails 
 anywhere on the Gulf coast. I wrote to you on the 
 30th of June, and to you and Cecie on the 7th of July. 
 If you do not hear from me regularly, you must not 
 attribute the cause to my not writing, but to irregular- 
 ity of the mail and other causes. You must write reg- 
 ularly and acquaint me with all particulars of interest — 
 how affairs are progressing on the farm, in the family, 
 at Pa's, and the immediate neighborhood. I suppose 
 ere this reaches you, the trial of Surratt will have 
 ended, and you will be able to give me some idea of 
 facts in relation, and whether any action is con- 
 templated in regard to what concerns me most — my 
 release. If something is not done immediately, I am 
 afraid my impatience will get the better of me, and 
 I will once more become gloomy and despondent. It 
 has been said there is more law than justice; but as 
 God is above the Devil, I shall ever be inspired with 
 hope. 
 
 I was visited yesterday by a Captain Dove — resident 
 of Washington, and brother, he said, of a Dr. Dove 
 residing there. He was aboard of a light-house 
 steamer, and may be inspector of light-houses on the 
 Gulf Coast. He seemed quite friendly and well dis- 
 posed. He said he was with Lieutenant Thomson dur- 
 ing the war, who married Miss Mudd of Washington. 
 He was well acquainted with John Mudd. I have but 
 little desire to make the acquaintance of any one con- 
 nected with the Government since being visited with 
 such gross wrongs by its unworthy agents. I am 
 entirely without news. My health continues good, and 
 the treatment we receive more humane than formerly. 
 
 We have been entirely without vegetables of every 
 description for a considerable time, and the rations are 
 principally salt pork and indifferent bread; we can't 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 249 
 
 complain, since soldiers get the same. We often use 
 "pusly," which grows around the unfrequented por- 
 tions of the Fort, and think it quite palatable. The 
 weather has not been so hot this summer as last. 
 There are millions of little mosquitoes that are very 
 annoying; bedbugs sometimes get ahead of us. 
 
 Remember me to dear Pa, Ma, and family, and to 
 all inquiring friends. Tell our dear little children that 
 Papa often thinks of them and dreams of them, and 
 they must all pray for him to come home speedily and 
 safely. Write me long letters, and give me news 
 about all. 
 
 Sincerely trusting this may find you all in the enjoy- 
 ment of the blessings of health and free from all want, 
 etc., I am, as ever, true and fondly, 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam Mudd. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, July 27, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received yours of the 30th of June a day or two 
 ago, and was delighted to know you were all well. 
 The mail arrived this morning bringing us the Weekly 
 Sun of the 13th, but no letter. I see mentioned in 
 the papers the box of articles sent by us has safely 
 come to hand. I sent you a cribbage board, the only 
 thing I had on hand at the time. It was quite an 
 extemporaneous getting up ; Colonel Hamilton having 
 kindly offered to take any articles we desired to send 
 North, caused us to bundle up what we had on hand 
 at the time and forward with him. The board I sent 
 was not completed — there was a drawer intended for 
 cards and little pegs. I have been principally engaged 
 in such work ever since I have been in the shop. I am 
 still employed there, and am becoming quite proficient 
 
250 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 in the use of tools, etc. My health continues as usual — 
 good as the majority on the island, which is nothing 
 to brag upon. The climate is very debilitating in 
 itself — the absence of suitable diet makes it more so. 
 The clothing I wear daily is heavier than I wore in 
 extreme cold weather at home. I am thin, but feel no 
 discomfort from it. I had an opportunity some days 
 ago to have my likeness taken, but thought it might 
 occasion some injurious strictures and would not have 
 it done. I am truly in hopes it will not be long before 
 I will be able to present the original, if not the rep- 
 resentative. - 
 
 The subject that action is now made to hinge upon, 
 seems clear, and there is not the least doubt in my 
 mind but that the counsel for the defense of Surratt 
 will be able to establish his innocence beyond the 
 shadow of a doubt, and the wanton butchery of his 
 mother. In case of his acquittal, I cannot see upon 
 what pretext they can hold me; for had Surratt been 
 on the same trial that I was, he would certainly have 
 been hung, though innocent — no amount of evidence 
 in his favor could have saved him. 
 
 It should be the duty of all good citizens to bring 
 those infernal perjurers and suborners to the bar of 
 justice, and have meted out to. them the punishment 
 their crimes deserve — an example should be made of 
 them. Lose no time in taking action. From the late- 
 ness to which the time has been suffered to extend, 
 I am afraid it will be cold weather before I get home, 
 or perhaps never, so long as such damnable influences 
 are made to operate upon those in authority. 
 
 Remember me to dear Ma, Pa, and family, and be- 
 lieve me ever devotedly, 
 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MTJDD 251 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 9, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Mail has just arrived bringing me yours of the 12th 
 and 22nd of July, also a package of intelligence, 
 though of an older date. The boat will return in a 
 few minutes, so I can barely acknowledge the receipt 
 of these kind favors, and let you know I am well. I 
 have not yet perused the papers, so am unable to make 
 comments. I will write again to-morrow and be more 
 lengthy. I am glad to know you were so prudent as 
 to disregard the letters of DeCue. 
 
 Let me be an after consideration. Be economical 
 and provide the best you can with the means at your 
 disposal ; this is all the advice I can give off-hand, and 
 without much consideration. This is the first oppor- 
 tunity I have had to write since the 26th of July. 
 
 Remember me to all, and believe me ever fondly, 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 10, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I wrote you a hasty note yesterday, but agreeable 
 to promise write again to-day, although I must confess 
 I have nothing worthy to communicate. 
 
 You seem desirous to know something about my 
 health, fare, looks, and weight. I thought I had satis- 
 fied your curiosity on these points previously. Having 
 nothing to occupy my pen, I again attempt a descrip- 
 tion. My health is not good, but much better than 
 formerly. Our fare consists principally of salt pork, 
 bread and coffee — fresh beef two or three times in 
 every ten days. We had issued yesterday to us, eight 
 in number, about a peck of Irish potatoes, the first 
 
252 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 vegetables of any kind since last January, with the 
 exception of corn and beans occasionally. 
 
 As regards my looks, being an interested party, [ 
 might be inclined to flatter; but to answer your in- 
 quiry, I must pass a judgment or opinion no matter 
 how incompetent, therefore, agreeable to the best esti- 
 mate I am capable of forming, my appearance is about 
 the same as when I left home, with the exception that 
 my hair is considerably thinner, consequently the bald 
 head more perceptible, and no doubt larger in circum- 
 ference. I have no wrinkles, and wear constantly a 
 mustache and goatee. Owing to the peculiarity of my 
 skin, and not much exposed to the sun, I am paler or 
 fairer than when I left home. I may be a few pounds 
 lighter, perhaps about a hundred and forty-four or 
 five. My manners about the same, impulsive, etc. 
 Generally, have but little to say, but think a great 
 deal. I am very weak, though in appearance strong. 
 This I think is attributable to the climate and the want 
 of free exercise. The rules governing the Fort are 
 very rigid and severe, more barbarous than ages by- 
 gone — refusing to work or obey an order, is punishable 
 with instant death by shooting. 
 
 On the 31st of July, one of the prisoners being crazy 
 drunk, noisy, and a little unruly, was shot and killed 
 by one of the sentries. Instead of meeting with rebuke, 
 the soldier was commended for his conduct. The 
 prisoner's name was Winters, alias Lee, belonging to 
 the 17th Infantry. He was a very orderly disposed 
 man, nothing criminal about him. He was sent here 
 for desertion. I don't think Job had greater mis- 
 fortunes than have been visited upon us. A day of 
 fortune came for him ; the question is, how long shall 
 ours be delayed? 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 253 
 
 Monday Morning, August 12, 1867. 
 My precious Frank : 
 
 The storm which began yesterday still continues, 
 though not quite so furious. A boat is at the wharf 
 and will leave with the mail so soon as it subsides, so 
 I will avail myself to let you hear from me at the latest 
 moment. Exercise a little of that virtue, which has 
 been so often recommended to me, toward Mr. Best 
 and the darkies — patience. Mr. Best is growing quite 
 old, and with bad health it is natural he should be cross 
 and a little childish. Try to bear with him until I get 
 home, should it be my fortune soon. 
 
 I look upon the resolution passed in Congress some 
 days ago, appointing a committee to investigate further 
 the assassination, as having the tendency to prolong 
 my stay here, though I am in hopes the trial of Surratt 
 will shed all the light that may be desired, and will 
 end in my speedy return to you. It is useless for me 
 to make any comments. I hope to see its conclusion 
 the next mail, when I am in hopes I shall be better 
 prepared to express myself. Don't lose any time in 
 pressing the matter before the President and others in 
 authority through your lawyers and friends. Give 
 me all particulars in your next concerning the trial. 
 Write a long letter and tell Henry to write to me, and 
 give me all the news. Above all, try not to deceive 
 me ; let me know positively what bearing the trial will 
 have upon my case, and when I may expect release 
 from this wretched den. My love to all. 
 Your fond husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 18, 1867. 
 My darling Frank: 
 
 A boat arrived this morning from Key West bring- 
 ing no mail. She will return in an hour or two. A man 
 
254 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 came from aboard, who visited us fifteen minutes after 
 he landed, and who represented himself as a "cor- 
 respondent of the Nezv York Herald/' He seemed 
 anxious to obtain news upon many subjects, but our 
 suspicion being aroused, he proved unsuccessful. 
 Should you see any representation coming from this 
 point in the Herald, in which our names figure, be slow 
 to credit. I send you his card. His name is Doyle, 
 and he wears a detective's appearance. We had but 
 little conversation with him. 
 
 Fearing my letter will not have time to pass through 
 the regular channel in time, I must reluctantly bring 
 it to a close by desiring to be remembered to all the 
 loved ones at home, to our darling little children and 
 family. I am in my usual health and in hopes this may 
 find you in the possession of the same. 
 
 Write soon and give all news that may be of inter- 
 est, particularly that which may have a bearing upon 
 my stay or release. Boat is going. 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 25, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received two letters from you, mailed July 31 and 
 August 12, and one from Sissy, July 31, also several 
 papers which have interested me considerably, so far 
 at least as to know that the long and wearisome trial 
 of Surratt is now over (for a time at least), and the 
 change which has been effected and contemplated in 
 the Cabinet. 
 
 The Nezv York Herald, so bitter before in its de- 
 munications of everything Southern or Democratic, 
 has now turned around and advocates their principles 
 and advises action upon the part of the President, 
 which it scorned down a few months ago. By straws 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 255 
 
 we know the direction of the wind, and we can con- 
 clude from these incidents the allaying of strife, and 
 the return to sober reason and justice. The way seems 
 now clear for our early reunion, if those entrusted in 
 the management of my case be sincere and not actuated 
 by sinister motives. Those who may fear prosecution 
 may desire my detention and may hold out some in- 
 ducement to the attorney to be tardy. I do not com- 
 prehend the conduct of Mr. Reverdy Johnson, and 
 his son-in-law may be influenced by him. I have 
 become so that I mistrust everybody, except our im- 
 mediate family and connections, until they prove by 
 conduct worthy of confidence. I am in hopes I will 
 promote no unkind fears toward those in whom you 
 have confided, but avert to the fact that you might 
 take advantage of the least suspicion of unfair play. 
 I will be home in October agreeably to calculations I 
 have formed, yet I have so often been led astray, I can 
 feel no confidence in any conclusion I arrive at. I am 
 very well, though the island is becoming sickly. We 
 have had one case of yellow fever here since I last 
 wrote, which proved fatal. It originated here, and 
 was not imported. A general renovation has ensued, 
 which for the future will prevent its recurrence. I have 
 no fears regarding it, which is its greatest preventa- 
 tive. We have a Dr. Smith attending the Post who 
 says he is related to Mr. Wm. B. Hill's family, and 
 seems acquainted with many in that county and the 
 D. C. He seems quite a nice man, and has manifested 
 a kind feeling toward me. Major Stone, who is also 
 in the immediate command, has displayed much en- 
 ergy, and relieved many grievances. Although the 
 laws are rigidly strict governing the Post, we have 
 been specially favored, and been objects of their kind- 
 ness. We are permitted to purchase from Key West, 
 potatoes etc., which before we were denied. 
 
256 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Remember me as ever to all the dear ones at home, 
 and believe me, Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 August 26, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 The mail boat having remained up to the present, 
 and my letter of yesterday not handed in, I take ad- 
 vantage to add a postcript. Since I wrote yesterday, 
 another case of fever has been admitted to the hos- 
 pital, which from present symptoms, will likely prove 
 fatal. 
 
 The weather has been very calm for several days 
 and very warm, causing no doubt the generation of 
 the peculiar poison which gives rise to the disease. 
 Water and everything in the shape of vegetation rap- 
 idly undergoes decomposition here. The sea water 
 suffered to stand in a bucket two or three hours be- 
 comes very offensive to the smell. 
 
 I have read the speeches of Messrs. Brady and Mer- 
 rick, and am much pleased at their able, learned, and 
 providential success. Reflecting upon the situation of 
 affairs, I know no more auspicious moment to press 
 the matter of my release than the present. The argu- 
 ment of Merrick being sustained by such substantial 
 proof carried conviction to the hearts of those hitherto 
 most prejudiced, and made them familiar, with the 
 foulest murder and crimes, under the cover of law, 
 that ever defaced the pages of history. Well may 
 those seek to cover their flight from the scene of their 
 bloody tragedy, by attempting to visit their displeasure 
 on the President. The spectre of ghosts ever haunts 
 their guilty visions, and they gladly seek to find some 
 place of repose. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 PRISON LIFE IN 1867, CONTINUED — RAVAGES OF YEL- 
 LOW FEVER — MY FATHER ASSUMES CHARGE OF THE 
 HOSPITAL AT PORT JEFFERSON. 
 
 New Orleans, September 1, 1867. 
 Dear Frank : 
 
 I received a letter from Jere last week containing 
 note from Merrick stating Governor Black of Penn- 
 sylvania and himself would attend to Sam's case, but 
 he would need one thousand dollars for Governor 
 Black. I wrote to Jere and told him I had five hun- 
 dred dollars which was at his disposal, and to call on 
 his father for the balance. Let me know if they are 
 doing anything for Sam, or if his "praying friends" 
 can raise five hundred dollars. 
 
 We are having a deal of yellow fever. I will write 
 to you soon, and answer questions asked in your letter. 
 Your brother, 
 
 T. O. Dyer. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, September 3, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I wrote you last on the 28th of August. , Since then 
 three more cases of yellow fever have proved fatal, and 
 a number of new cases have been admitted to the hos- 
 pital. To prevent the spread of the disease, one of the 
 companies has been removed to one of the adjacent 
 islands, and a hospital erected on another, where the 
 patients are carried as soon as taken. One of the 
 officers is now sick with the disease and not expected 
 to recover; quite a panic exists among soldiers and 
 17 
 
258 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 officers. The prisoners, as a rule, seem to feel no 
 alarm. The outbreak of fever ought to furnish a 
 reasonable cause for our removal to a more healthy 
 locality. As it has made its appearance here and in so 
 malignant a form, it will most likely become epidemic 
 or confined here for an indefinite period, for we have 
 no frost here, and the climate does not vary much 
 with the season ; besides every soldier and prisoner 
 is provided with a blanket or two, and as his clothes 
 are all woolen, will serve as retentatives of the poison 
 or miasma. It is likely a report will be made by the 
 commanding officer to the War Department concern- 
 ing the true condition of affairs, and the extent of the 
 epidemic. You can advise with friends, and act as 
 seems most fit. Humanity, apart from every other 
 reason, ought to prompt our removal. 
 
 Let me know whether a petition signed by the offi- 
 cers of the Post would be of any avail. I have thought 
 over the matter, and think that under present circum- 
 stances, the public mind might justify some ameliorat- 
 ing action upon the part of the President. Write 
 immediately in answer and give all news. 
 Your fond husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, September 8, 1867. 
 My dear Jere : 
 
 I wrote to you on the 6th and acquainted you with 
 the true condition of affairs at that time. I spoke of 
 the illness of Dr. Smith and wife. He died last night. 
 Mrs. Smith will likely recover ; they leave two nice lit- 
 tle children. Nearly every man now on the island is 
 infected with the disease. The hospitals are all full, 
 and the greatest consternation prevails. Dr. White- 
 hurst arrived last night from Key West. He will re- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 259 
 
 lieve me. The two days I have had the management 
 of the hospital no deaths have occurred, and all have 
 improved that were taken in time. The mail is leaving. 
 Good-by, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, September 13, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 It is now nearly eleven o'clock at night, and though 
 tired and worn from constant attention upon the sick 
 and dying, having buried two to-day, I cannot refrain 
 from letting you share the gloom which surrounds this 
 seeming God-forsaken isle. Although three-fourths 
 of the garrison have been removed, the epidemic seems 
 to increase with unabated fury. The first three or four 
 days of my attendance in the hospital we were not 
 visited with a single death. Since then the number has 
 largely increased, the most experienced nurses have 
 been seized with the disease. It is impossible to obtain 
 suitable nurses to bestow the attention required, and 
 seven unfortunate beings have been ushered into 
 eternity, without a kind word or ministering angel of 
 religion. Our hospital being insufficient to hold the 
 numbers, a second, then a third, and yesterday a 
 fourth, were provided, and they are all filled. We have 
 scarcely well ones enough to attend the sick and bury 
 the dead. They are not suffered to grow cold before 
 they are hurried off to the grave. 
 
 Dr. Whitehurst, who was expelled from the island 
 in the beginning of the war, on account of the 
 sympathies of his wife, is now an incessant laborer 
 from Key West. He is quite an old man, but has 
 endeared himself to all by his Christian, constant, and 
 unremitting attention at all hours, even when duty 
 seemed not to require. I remain up every night until 
 
260 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 eleven or twelve, and sometimes later. He is up the 
 balance of the night, and there never was greater ac- 
 cord of medical opinion. He did not arrive here for 
 several days after the duties of physician of the Post 
 had devolved upon me by the illness and lamented 
 death of Dr. Smith, and I assure you I felt much grati- 
 fied when my conduct had met with his approval, being 
 almost without any experience in the treatment of the 
 disease, and having nothing to govern me other than 
 the symptoms which the dread malady presented. By 
 this accident I am once more restored to liberty of the 
 island at all hours, day or night. Every officer of the 
 Post is down with the disease, and but one remains to 
 perform all the duties. He is a newcomer from Balti- 
 more, and recently married. His name is Lieutenant 
 Gordon. Little or no guard duty is performed, and 
 but little difficulty presented to those who might be 
 disposed to escape. I have resigned myself to the fates, 
 and shall no more act upon my own impulse. Not one 
 of the prisoners has as yet died, and those that take 
 the disease pass through it without any apparent suf- 
 fering. 
 
 Mrs. Stone, the wife of the Commandant, is quite 
 sick with the fever. She is a patient of Dr. White- 
 hurst. He manifests some anxiety in her regard, and 
 I fear the disease will overcome her and she be num- 
 bered among its victims. I am well acquainted with 
 her. No deaths have occurred since yesterday morn- 
 ing. There are three very low, and their cases present 
 a doubtful issue at this time. I am very well, and have 
 no fears of the disease. My manner gives confidence 
 to all around, and has a tendency to revive the flagging 
 spirit. I am bravest in danger. I fear the boat may 
 leave, so shall post right away. Good-by. 
 
 Sam. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 261 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, September 16, 1867. 
 My precious Frank : 
 
 The mail has not yet left since the date of the 13th. 
 We have lost only two, both of whom died this morn- 
 ing, one being an officer, Lieutenant Orr. The infec- 
 tion is subsiding, only for the want of victims. I am 
 not very well, though; feel badly, which I attribute 
 to the loss of rest and constant attention to the sick, 
 etc. I received yours of August 23d, day before yes- 
 terday, and Fannie's of the 28th. Judging from these 
 letters, matters look less favorable now than before the 
 trial of Surratt. In the name of the Almighty, what 
 can the American idea of law and justice be? I am 
 sick of the words — law, justice. I feel almost like 
 insulting any one who would advise recourse to it. If 
 I am to wait here until the affair is settled by the Court, 
 it may be unnecessary for the want of a subject. 
 
 The disease now prevailing here will not likely stop 
 with the change of season, it will no doubt be confined 
 here for an indefinite period, and when I am worn 
 down with exhaustion and fatigue, I will be an easy 
 prey to the infection. Thus far it seems to be the curse 
 of the Almighty. No more honor is shown the de- 
 ceased, be he officer or soldier, than to the putrid re- 
 mains of a horse. They are buried to get rid of the 
 stench and infection. We have no commander of the 
 Post now, everything is in the hands of the physician. 
 
 Dr. Smith's child, a boy about three years old, has 
 the fever. He is a very intelligent child, and has 
 amused me on several occasions. I fear he will not 
 get over it. Mrs. Smith has recovered from the fever. 
 A little daughter about seven years old remains ex- 
 empt, having been sent to a different portion of the 
 Fort. The little boy was very fond of me, and used 
 to turn somersaults for me. I will write again to- 
 morrow. Good-by, 
 
 Sam. 
 
262 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 September 17, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 The boat left this morning early for Key West for 
 medicine, etc., consequently I could not get this off 0/ 
 the hasty scrawl previously written. Although many 
 deaths have occurred, and no abatement up to the 
 present hour, I feel no alarm, and you must not suffer 
 any uneasiness. 
 
 I visited my little pet to-day, and found him, to my 
 great sorrow, almost in the agonies of death. He had 
 the black vomit, and not expected to live many hours. 
 We have also a man in the hospital with the same fatal 
 precursor, and he will not live to see morning. We 
 have saved only one thus far after the appearance of 
 the black vomit. The little boy is a patient of Dr. 
 Whitehurst. I visited him to-day, at his request, in 
 consultation. We have now over a hundred cases of 
 fever in hospital, and the percentage of deaths is un- 
 precedentedly small, taking the average mortality in 
 other places where the disease has prevailed as an 
 epidemic. 
 
 Arnold had it, and is now well. I kept him in our 
 room. O'Loughlin has it now, and getting along very 
 well. Should I get it, I will not have any one to at- 
 tend my case other than Dr. W., who is very old, and 
 is a little slow in his actions and treatment. The dis- 
 ease being quick, has to be treated vigorously from 
 the start. Should I have time, I will endeavor to give 
 to the world my theory and experiences of the disease, 
 as confined to this island. The disease ends its course 
 quick, and has to be taken in time and treated vigor- 
 ously to get the patient through the first stage in order 
 that a successful termination may be promised. You 
 see I have, for the want of a subject, expended these 
 three small sheets with matter which will likely never 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 263 
 
 be of any concern to you, except so far as relieving 
 your mind of further anxiety and concern on my ac- 
 count. Were our separation to be much longer pro- 
 longed, or no hopes of a speedy release, I could will- 
 ingly resign now to the fate which we must all one 
 day inevitably suffer. The future is unknown, and 
 should I be carried away with this scourge, I have 
 nothing to will you and our dear little children but 
 my undying love and affection. The mail is expected 
 in on the 19th so I will postpone until to-morrow 
 further remarks. It is now twelve o'clock at night, 
 and I have to visit all the patients before retiring, so 
 good night. 
 
 September 18, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I have been so engaged to-day that I did not think 
 of getting a pen. It is now 10 o'clock. I am in the 
 dispensary and everything quiet as death, except now 
 and then a new case is brought in for treatment. Two 
 cases have come in since 9 o'clock. They are generally 
 taken sudden and most frequently at night. We have 
 had three deaths to-day. The little son of Mrs. Smith 
 died at 3 o'clock this morning; poor woman, she has 
 lost her husband and son — not being here more than 
 six weeks. A little girl only survives; she will leave 
 by the first boat for the North. Mrs. Smith was telling 
 me yesterday that all her family reside in Montgomery 
 County, Md. A Rev. Mr. Prout is an uncle of hers in 
 Nanjemoy, Charles County, Md. The other two 
 deaths were soldiers. An indescribable gloom per- 
 vades the garrison — many are conjecturing who will 
 be the next. Only one officer still reports for duty, and 
 he now shows evident symptoms of the disease; per- 
 haps to-morrow I will chronicle him among the sick. 
 
264 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 September 19, 1867, 10 a. m. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 The boat arrived this morning as anticipated, bring- 
 ing me yours of September 4. I see nothing encour- 
 aging. I see that we are still styled the "assassination 
 conspirators" in the President's amnesty. If it go 
 upon fact, it has no reference, but the name is suf- 
 ficient — "Give a dog a bad name and you may as well 
 kill him." 
 
 We had one death this morning; we will not likely 
 have any more to-day. All the patients now in hos- 
 pital are doing well. OXoughlin is improving. I 
 attend him in our room. 
 
 September 19, 1867. 
 My precious Frank : 
 
 My letters come to hand now unopened, and you 
 need have no fear to make known what action is con- 
 templated. If it is not immediate and bids fair for my 
 release, I would have nothing to do with it, because it 
 will be only loss of time and money, a source of aggra- 
 vation and mutual anxiety. I would much prefer 
 nothing to be done so long as such infernal scoundrels 
 have the control of the courts and access to the public 
 treasure to suborn perjury. The best thing you can 
 do is to cause our removal to some Northern bastile, 
 where the laws are in force. A sufficient excuse now 
 offers itself — the presence of the epidemic of yellow 
 fever, etc. The mail is being made up by the post- 
 master, so I must conclude. My undying love to all. 
 
 Many of the deaths reported have not occurred here, 
 but on an adjacent island where we have erected a 
 hospital ; more than half sent there have died. I claim 
 the credit of having broken up this establishment, and 
 having inaugurated an entirely different system of 
 treatment. Dr. Smith admitted, before his death, that 
 
THE LIFE OF J)Il. SAMUEL A. MUDD 265 
 
 he had never seen a case of it before, and acknowledged 
 his incompetency to treat the malady. He never con- 
 sulted with me upon the subject, and the fate he suf- 
 fered may be the consequence. We had several cases 
 in the Baltimore Infirmary during the epidemic that 
 prevailed at Norfolk in 1855. 1 became acquainted 
 then with the pathology of the disease, but have acted 
 here entirely upon my own theory, and with unprece- 
 dented success. I can say with truth that none have 
 died that have been seen in time and had proper at- 
 tention and nursing. I am universally respected by all 
 the soldiers, and they seem ever ready to shower com- 
 pliments and favors. 
 
 Major Stone has kindly promised to make known 
 my services to the authorities at Washington, but un- 
 less they have the magnanimity to release me, their 
 word of praise will be of no consequence. I am very 
 well and feel much better to-day than yesterday. I 
 truly grieve to hear of the unfortunate death of Billy 
 Bowling. 
 
 Kiss our dear little children, and as ever, 
 Your fond and devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, September 21, 1867. 
 My dear Jere : 
 
 I wrote yesterday to Frank. The mail will leave at 
 10 o'clock; it is now eight. 
 
 I wrote to you a few days ago, and gave all particu- 
 lars of the fever then raging here. Since then several 
 have died, among them the little son of Mrs. Dr. 
 Smith; Lieutenant Orr and Mrs. Stone, wife of the 
 Commandant. Arnold had it and is now well. 
 O'Loughlin was taken day before yesterday, and was 
 getting along very well up to late yesterday evening, 
 when, owing to the imprudence of some visitor giving 
 
266 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 account of the recent deaths, he became excited, sank 
 into a collapse, and with difficulty we could save his 
 life up to the present. He has revived considerably, 
 but is yet in a critical condition. Our attention is 
 unremitted ; and assure his friends he shall suffer for 
 nothing. We have now by his side all the delicacies 
 the island can afford. 
 
 Mrs. Stone died last night, and was buried this 
 morning. Major Stone will leave at ten for the North 
 to take his little son, an only child. I had a talk with 
 him this morning, and gave my views of the situation. 
 I told him plainly there was no abatement in the dis- 
 ease; that, instead of becoming milder, it was evi- 
 dently more malignant. I told him in a short time the 
 garrison would be without officers, and it would be 
 death to any unacclimated officer who would be sent 
 here; also that in this climate the disease was likely 
 to continue an indefinite period, owing to the fact that 
 there is not much change of temperature with the 
 season. He promised to see General Grant in person 
 and represent the matter. You can form no idea of 
 the gloom that pervades this God-forsaken place. I 
 have just been called to O'Loughlin; will finish when 
 I return. 
 
 O'Loughlin had a convulsion a few minutes ago. 
 My heart almost fails me, but I must say he is dying. 
 God only knows who will be the next. There will be 
 likely two or three more deaths during the day. 
 
 Arnold received the box sent by his friends. Why 
 don't you write sometimes ? Good-by. 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, September 23, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I wrote to you day before yesterday. The mail came 
 this morning and will return immediately, so I have 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 267 
 
 to hurry. I received no tidings from any one to-day. 
 I have written to Jere, and have sent some trifling 
 articles to him to be distributed among you all. 
 
 O'Loughlin died this morning. We did all that was 
 possible, but our efforts were in vain. We prolonged 
 his suffering life for two days by constant nursing and 
 attention. 
 
 I am not feeling so well to-day, my head aches. It 
 may be from sitting up so much, but fear it is the 
 premonitory symptoms of the prevailing epidemic. 
 Five were buried this morning, including O'Loughlin. 
 The hospital is full, and scarcely nurses enough to at- 
 tend the sick. I have been acting physician and nurse 
 for a considerable time, until I am nearly exhausted. 
 My heart sickens at the prospect which is before me. 
 Were an enemy throwing shot and shell in here a more 
 horrible picture could not be presented — a useless ex- 
 penditure of life and money. Thousands of dollars 
 worth of property has been destroyed as infected, 
 clothing, etc. 
 
 Give my love to all, and believe me, ever fond and 
 devotedly, Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, September 26, 1867. 
 My dear Jere: 
 
 I send to-day, through the kindness of Captain Ham- 
 ilton, as a present to you one crabwood cane and an 
 unfinished cribbage board. I have sent a package or 
 two of moss-cards, and some common shells. Tell 
 M. C. to select what may please her fancy, and to send 
 the balance, together with the box, to Frank to be 
 divided between Fannie, Cecie and Em. There are 
 five crabwood crosses — four were made by poor 
 O'Loughlin, at the request of his sister, for Cousin 
 Ann. Since his death it would be best to send them to 
 
268 THE LIFE OF 1)11. SAMUEL A. MUDI) 
 
 his sister. The other I made myself. I intended mak- 
 ing several more, but was taken from the shop. I am 
 sorry I have nothing more worthy to send. The fever 
 continues unabated. Lieutenant Gordon, of Baltimore, 
 and Zulinski, a Polander, are now dangerously ill with 
 the fever. There is but one other officer at the Post 
 who is convalescent, and he unfit for duty. My health 
 continues good. 
 
 I wrote your name on the stick for you. Should it 
 be removed by any means, you can know it by its being 
 much the largest stick of the bundle. It is very heavy 
 and intended more to look at than for use. I am sorry 
 I have nothing suitable to send to Pa or Ma. When 
 you write give me some idea wdiat you think would 
 please them. 
 
 The schooner Matchless has just arrived from Key 
 West. Major Stone, on his way North, was taken sick 
 and died there on the 25th. He promised to make 
 known the services I have rendered to the Post. His 
 death will prevent likely any mention of my name in 
 connection with the present epidemic. Unless the 
 patient is attended to immediately, it is almost in- 
 variably fatal. Thirty deaths in all from fever have 
 taken place since the middle of August up to the 
 present date. Two companies have been sent to an 
 adjacent island, which thus far has remained quite ex- 
 empt from the disease; a case now and then occurs 
 among them. 
 
 Remember me to all. Write soon and give news of 
 all that is going on. Yours, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, September 25, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 When I wrote last I mentioned the death of little 
 Harry Smith, son of Dr. Smith, and spoke of the ill- 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 269 
 
 ness of Mrs. Stone. With much sorrow I announce 
 her death; she died on the morning of the 21st. 
 Major Stone, her husband, became so alarmed (al- 
 though he idolized her) he did not go to see her buried, 
 but bundled up immediately and started with the in- 
 tention of going North, taking his little son, an only 
 child, about two years. Before reaching Key West he 
 was seized with the fever, and died there on the morn- 
 ing of the 25th instant. He was very kind toward 
 us, and had promised to make known to the authorities 
 at Washington the service I had rendered the garrison 
 during the recent epidemic, which he thought would 
 have considerable weight in restoring me to liberty, and 
 to my family. Now that he is dead there is no one here 
 whom I can expect to take any interest in my behalf, 
 and the future may not be so propitious with me. 
 
 In my last I mentioned the name and good health 
 of Lieutenant Gordon of Baltimore. He has since been 
 swept away by the disease; he was buried yesterday, 
 twelve o'clock noon. He leaves a young wife to be- 
 moan his loss. He was kind and courteous always. 
 I am not acquainted with his wife. They have no chil- 
 dren. The disease thus far has destroyed one family, 
 Major Stone and wife, and made desolate three young 
 wives, Mrs. Orr, the wife of Lieutenant Orr; Mrs. 
 Smith, the wife of Dr. Smith; and Mrs. Gordon, the 
 wife of Lieutenant Gordon. I attended Mrs. Smith 
 through the active stage of her disease, and a nobler 
 woman I never met. She left here the evening of the 
 27th for home, which is in Montgomery County, Md. 
 The child of Major Stone was well when last heard 
 from. Mrs. Orr was a missionary, and luckily left in 
 May last on a visit home (Jefferson Barracks) to spend 
 the summer. 
 
 When Dr. Whitehurst arrived, I yielded to his age 
 and experience, and was relieved from further atten- 
 
270 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 tion upon the officers and their wives, at my own re- 
 quest. My duties were then principally directed' in the 
 hospital. All those that have died in the official circle 
 were patients of his and had all the advantages of his 
 experience and knowledge. I feel much relieved that 
 they did not die upon my hands, for likely another 
 charge of murder, etc., would be brought upon my 
 unsuspecting shoulders. 
 
 Since you last heard from me twelve deaths have 
 occurred, eight only in hospital, which is a small per- 
 centage considering numbers and the facilities of treat- 
 ment. I believe I understand the disease now thor- 
 oughly, and can treat it as successfully as any other 
 disease, if taken in time. 
 
 I wrote to Dr. Dent a few days ago, and gave him 
 the mode of treatment pursued with such happy effect, 
 when in time and practicable. Sometimes the poor 
 creatures are struck with delirium from the beginning, 
 and are perfectly wild and unmanageable; some die 
 the same day they are taken, but most live to the third 
 clay. More die for the want of proper nursing and 
 care than lack of medical attention. I am up all day 
 until twelve o'clock at night. Dr. Whitehurst comes 
 around between that time and day. I sleep until five 
 or six o'clock in the morning and return at seven. The 
 number in hospital has diminished somewhat recently, 
 but only for the want of victims. Nearly every one 
 in the garrison has had the disease, many a second 
 time. The cases that come in now are of the most 
 malignant form, which shows that the principle of the 
 disease is still active. Colonel Grenfel is quite sick 
 with the disease ; he was taken yesterday. I will do 
 all that is possible to save him. He has been acting as 
 nurse upon many of the officers recently. 
 
 The mail boat came in late yesterday evening, bring- 
 ing some medical supplies, but no mail. 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 271 
 
 A Dr. Thomas has been assigned to this Post as 
 medical director, and will be here to-morrow. Dr. 
 Whitehnrst will leave immediately after his arrival, 
 and will take Mrs. Gordon in charge on her way home. 
 She will stop with the Doctor at Key West until a 
 steamer passes northward bound. I shall vacate my 
 position as soon as he leaves. I shall miss him a great 
 deal. He makes no charge for any service rendered, 
 which shows his unselfish spirit, and the motive which 
 actuated him to come to us in our greatest need. There 
 are but two officers left ; one is convalescent, and the 
 other is lying at the point of death, but may survive 
 with good nursing. You can't imagine the gloom and 
 indifference which pervades the whole garrison. No 
 more respect is shown the dead, be he officer or soldier, 
 than the putrid remains of a dead dog. The burial 
 party are allowed a drink of whiskey both before and 
 after the burying, which infuses a little more life in 
 them. They move quickly, and in half an hour after 
 a man dies, he is put in a coffin, nailed down, carried 
 to a boat, rowed a mile to an adjacent island, the grave 
 dug, covered up, and the party returned, in the best 
 of humor, for their drinks. Such are life and scenes 
 in Tortugas. But ten men appear at roll-call, and not 
 more than twenty fit for duty in garrison. Two com- 
 panies have been sent away, which thus far have 
 escaped the disease. They will not return until the 
 infection is declared at an end, which will be some 
 time yet. 
 
 My health has been very good up to the present. 
 I sometimes feel a little indisposed, but attribute it to 
 sitting up late and loss of usual rest. You will no 
 doubt see full accounts of the disease here in the papers, 
 so I shall defer until my next, further comments. Try 
 and give me some satisfactory news when you write. 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
272 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 10 o'clock at night, September 29, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Lately I have been holding on to the letters I write 
 you until I know definitely when the mail leaves in 
 order that you may hear from me at the latest period. 
 I concluded this hasty scrawl early this morning, fear- 
 ing the boat would return immediately to Key West. 
 Learning she would not, delayed until to-morrow. I 
 now proceed to give a detail of the day's occurrence. 
 We lost one man to-day about noon. He had the fever, 
 which ended fatally to-day. Lieutenant Zulinski (a 
 Polander), the officer I mentioned in the foregoing as 
 being very ill with the fever, is rapidly sinking. I 
 have not seen him to-day. His nurses represent him 
 in a critical condition. Should he die, it will make five 
 out of six officers, a remarkable fatality. We have ad- 
 mitted six new cases to-day. This is a decline of less 
 than one-half the usual number for many days past, 
 being generally fifteen or sixteen. I am in hopes the 
 boat, which is expected in to-morrow, may bring a 
 mail, and that I may hear you are all equally well as 
 myself, and may disclose something definite and re- 
 liable as to my stay here. I do not like to act upon 
 conclusions of my own, but would do so, if matters bid 
 fair to be protracted, and an easy mode of escape 
 offered. I will likely conclude this sheet to-morrow 
 should I have time before the mail goes out; if not, I 
 bid you a reluctant good night and pleasant dreams. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 September 30, 1867, 9 o'clock p. m. 
 The mail boat did not leave to-day owing to the non- 
 arrival of the one expected from Key West. No 
 deaths have occurred to-day, although there is one not 
 likely to live until morning. T was interrupted a few 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 273 
 
 minutes ago, and told that he was breathing his last, 
 by his nurse. I went to him, and with the application 
 of a pitcher or two of cold water to the head he was 
 relieved of the convulsion, and is now doing as well 
 as can be expected. With good and proper attention 
 he would get over it, but that is impossible here. The 
 nurses are ignorant and careless, and I can't act both 
 the physician and nurse. Lieutenant Zulinski is in 
 statu quo, no appreciable change for the better yet ob- 
 served. Colonel Grenfel is quite sick ; his case is 
 doubtful. More were admitted in hospital to-day. 
 The reason is, there are not more than a dozen on the 
 island yet to have it. We will call them up to-morrow, 
 and learn the reason why they did not have the disease. 
 I suggested the idea to the Doctor this evening. I will 
 write again to-morrow. Good-by. 
 
 Sam. 
 
 1 8 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 PRISON LIFE IN 1867, CONTINUED GARRISON REDUCED 
 
 BY DEATHS FROM FEVER MY FATHER FREE TO ES- 
 CAPE, BUT CHOOSES TO REMAIN AND GIVE "ALL THE 
 HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT POSSIBLE TO THE 
 
 DEATH-STRICKEN VICTIMS" IS FINALLY HIMSELF 
 
 ' STRICKEN DOWN. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, October 1, 1867. 
 My dear Jere : 
 
 To yon and the uninformed public this Post may ap- 
 pear very important to be held by our country as a 
 strategic position, offensive and defensive ; but to us 
 nothing seems more ridiculous, and the only object for 
 the full garrison is to hold us, now four prisoners, 
 Grenfel, Arnold, Spangler, and Mudd. We conclude 
 therefore, since they do not remove the entire garrison 
 from this infected spot, that they would prefer to sac- 
 rifice us with the garrison, sooner than cause our re- 
 moval to a more salubrious locality. Thus far four 
 valuable officers have yielded up their lives, and misery 
 untold has been entailed upon their distressed fam- 
 ilies, — not saying anything of the brave men in the 
 ranks who have perished, — to carry out what can only 
 be termed a complimentary sentence in atonement for 
 the life of the Chief Executive of the people, though 
 such sentence is contrary to law and every principle 
 of justice. 
 
 By the hand of Providence my fetters have been 
 broken, yet I run not, preferring to share the fate of 
 those around me and to lend what aid in my power to 
 breaking down the burning fever, overcoming the ag- 
 onizing delirium, and giving all the hope and encour- 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 275 
 
 agement possible to the death-stricken victims of the 
 pestilence. 
 
 Dr. Whitehurst from Key West, an old man sixty 
 odd years of age, is attending here night and day, 
 doing all that human judgment and skill can effect, 
 without the hope of any other reward than that prom- 
 ised to those who do unto others as they wish to be 
 done by. I have done all that lay in my power, and 
 feel encouraged by the gratitude expressed by those I 
 have relieved. It is high time that the public was 
 made acquainted with the fact, and those in power 
 made to yield to a proper sense of duty and regard for 
 justice, instead of visiting upon helpless victims an 
 unjust and tyrannical punishment. A million and more 
 dollars have already been thrown away to debauch the 
 public morals in the vain hope that they might fix, with 
 some plausible degree of justice, the stigma of the 
 crime of the assassination on innocent victims. 
 
 We have, up to the present, lost by the fever at this 
 Post thirty-three in all, counting men, women, and 
 children, which is a small mortality, considering the 
 number attacked with the disease and the inadequate 
 facilities for treatment. I suppose ere this reaches you 
 you will have heard of the death of Lieutenant Gordon 
 of Baltimore. He had been here but a short time, and 
 had been married but two months. Lieutenant Zulinski 
 is lying dangerously ill with the fever. There is but 
 one officer here to perform all the duties, and he only 
 a second lieutenant ; all the rest have died. Two com- 
 panies have been sent to an adjacent island, and thus 
 far have remained quite healthy and free from the 
 fever. The whole garrison could have been removed 
 as well and the epidemic at once cut short ; but this did 
 not appear a part of the program, and the pestilential 
 vapors have spread death and destruction. O'Lough- 
 lin dead — stain upon the country. I and all labored 
 
276 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 day and night to save him, but in vain. The vital spark 
 was too weak, and he yielded in quiet submission to 
 the omnipotent hand of Providence. 
 Your brother, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 October 14, 1867. 
 My precious Frank: 
 
 I received yours and Fannie's of the 23d of Septem- 
 ber, on October 11, to which I replied in a very few 
 lines on that day. I sat up in bed to write them, but 
 now I have fully recovered from the fever, with the 
 exception of strength and flesh, which will take some 
 time to restore in this climate under the circumstances 
 we are placed. 
 
 Since I have been sick I have had the greatest desire 
 for fruits, apples, peaches, etc. These we barely meet 
 with, except in the very imperfect state of hermetically 
 sealed cans. Although the State abounds in fruits at 
 all seasons, we seldom meet with any. Occasionally 
 a few oranges, bananas, and pineapples come on the 
 boats, but the price is so enormous we can't afford to 
 indulge in a plentiful supply. 
 
 We have pretty constantly on hand Irish potatoes, 
 yams, or sweet potatoes, onions, ham and butter, for 
 which we pay the following prices, viz : ham, thirty 
 cents ; butter, seventy cents ; Irish potatoes, seven dol- 
 lars per barrel ; yams, seven dollars per barrel ; onions, 
 eleven dollars per barrel. We have received lately a 
 very fine barrel of potatoes from Mr. Ford, also one 
 from an unknown party, with a splendid ham. I have 
 but little appetite for such things, and indeed doubt 
 very much whether I would enjoy fruits, which I have 
 mentioned, were they brought here. I feel, with the 
 returning seasons, the inclination for the sports and 
 pursuits I have been accustomed to since childhood, 
 
THE LIFE OF DK. SAMUEL A. MUDD 277 
 
 and without the same degree of liberty, freedom of 
 speech, etc., but little enjoyment realized. 
 
 You mentioned in your letter that J ere said Mr. 
 Black had undertaken my case, and that he felt con- 
 fident of success. You forgot to name when it would 
 take place, and how it would be accomplished. If the 
 Government refuses the writ of habeas corpus to be 
 served or be of any force here, how is he then to pro- 
 ceed? I have already written to you plainly on the 
 subject in anticipation of the next dodge of the political 
 tricksters. It is all done to consume time and rob you 
 and friends of every farthing they can. When the 
 apples are ripe they will fall without human interven- 
 tion — so with my release. When I am released from 
 here, I shall thank no mortal man for it, but shall look 
 upon it only in the light of every other thing in nature, 
 that it was ordained, could not be otherwise. Jere has 
 given you this to satisfy you. It would have been bet- 
 ter had he imparted this information himself than en- 
 trusted you with it. 
 
 Could I believe the Government would be influenced 
 by my good conduct, I could send to you, signed by 
 every officer and soldier of the Post, the most praise- 
 worthy testimonial in regard to the services recently 
 rendered the garrison during epidemic of yellow fever 
 here. Many have come forward and pressed me to 
 permit them to make some public manifestation of the 
 esteem they hold toward me, but thus far I consider it 
 only a superfluous idea, and of no practical value. It 
 could only serve to excite my vanity, which I am in no 
 mood at this time to gratify. You know I was never 
 ambitious of much preferment, and I have grown less 
 so of late years. One of the officers came to me yester- 
 day in person, and desired me to make known my ser- 
 vices to the Government through the men of the gar- 
 rison. I told him I would await a reply from my 
 
278 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 friends on the subject. Let me know if anything of 
 the sort will be of service when you write. 
 
 Give my love to all and believe me most fondly, 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, October 18, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Sissy spoke of your intended trip to Washington. 
 I can't see what you expect to accomplish, when mil- 
 lions of dollars have been expended and a number of 
 officers' and soldiers' lives sacrificed to hold us here. 
 I can see nothing but the most determined spirit, in 
 spite of every principle of law and justice, to restrain 
 us of our liberty, and the comfort we might be able to 
 afford our distressed families. 
 
 I can have no sentiments of good feeling toward 
 those in power, no matter what their politics. Pilate 
 believed in the innocence of Christ, but was he justi- 
 fied in giving him up to the executioners at their cry 
 for his blood? Such is the position, such is the light 
 in which I hold those now in authority. A formal 
 petition to the Government, with preamble enumerat- 
 ing the services I rendered the garrison, has been 
 drawn up and signed by every non-commissioned offi- 
 cer of the Post. The privates will also sign it, but it 
 will require some time to get all their names. This has 
 been done without my knowledge. The officers, two 
 in number, expressed themselves favorable toward the 
 idea, and are confident it will be attended with success. 
 Influenced by their opinion, I have consented. The 
 appeal could be made more through curiosity to know 
 what action the Government will pursue. I will, if I 
 can find time before the boat goes out, send you a copy 
 of what is intended to be forwarded to Washington. 
 If you think proper you can present the copy in person 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 279 
 
 to any one of influence, and see what effect or tendency 
 it may have. Knowing the great prejudice pervading 
 all classes of society toward all the so-called "con- 
 spirators," I have but little hope of a favorable result. 
 How anxious I feel concerning your welfare and our 
 dear little children ; it is the only pain I suffer. I have 
 grown used to my present confinement, and it no 
 longer occasions me dissatisfaction. I have now all the 
 liberty I could desire here. I have plenty of books, 
 papers, and pen and ink, at my command. I have 
 access to a very choice library of over five hundred 
 volumes. My fare is as good as the island can afford, 
 and I am pressed often to accept presents in the shape 
 of little luxuries from the soldiers, so you see, so far as 
 bodily comforts consist, I am in want of nothing; yet 
 so long as I am separated from you, I shall feel mis- 
 erable and unhappy. 
 
 Sissy mentioned that two of the most able lawyers 
 have been engaged in my case. She did not state when 
 or how things would be proceeded with. This serves 
 only to increase my curiosity and anxiety, and I would 
 much prefer no allusion made, if all can't be told. 
 
 We have lost no cases of yellow fever since the 6th 
 inst. We have now only two cases in hospital. There 
 are not over five in the garrison who have escaped the 
 disease, with the exception of negroes. The negroes 
 have been remarkably exempt. They sleep all the time 
 and wake up well. I am as well now as I ever was with 
 the exception of weakness. I am still doing duty in 
 the hospital. I am relieving the post physician of most 
 of the duty. Good-by. 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, 1867. 
 My dear Jere: 
 
 The mail will leave in a few minutes, so I must be 
 short. I have just finished a few lines to Frank. 
 
280 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 There are but three cases of fever now in hospital 
 under active treatment. Dr. Thomas, physician of the 
 post, is down with the fever. He is in a fair way to 
 get well. All the duties of physician of the post are 
 again upon me, which I am beginning to find unpleas- 
 ant. The soldiers are never tired of lavishing upon 
 me compliments and sentiments of their good-will. 
 They have voluntarily drawn up a preamble and peti- 
 tion, which they wish forwarded through the proper 
 channel, reciting my services during the epidemic of 
 fever here. If you think such an instrument will be 
 of benefit, let me know, and I will forward you imme- 
 diately the original or a copy, which you and friends 
 can present in person. I have written to you several 
 times within the past month or two, without receiving 
 any reply. I am at a loss to account for your silence. 
 For God's sake try and give me some truthful idea of 
 the situation that I can look to some period in the fu- 
 ture with some degree of hope. I have lost all energy 
 and disposition to live under present circumstances. 
 I have preferred not acting under my own impulses, 
 fearing I might frustrate measures you had in con- 
 templation for my relief; therefore, I desire to know 
 the whole truth, so that some action of my own can be 
 devised. Give my love to M. C., and remember me to 
 all kind and inquiring friends. 
 
 Hoping to hear from you soon, I am, 
 Very truly, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, October 22, 1867. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Dr. Thomas, our new post physician, is now quite 
 sick with the fever. The whole duties, as I have al- 
 ready stated, have again devolved upon me, which I 
 am beginning to find unpleasant. The epidemic in- 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 281 
 
 fluence of the fever still continues, but from the fact 
 that all having had an attack of the disease, they are 
 less liable to a second; and abatement is the conse- 
 quence. We have but one fresh case since I wrote, 
 viz : the Doctor. We have only one in hospital that is 
 dangerously ill; all the rest are convalescent. There 
 are two companies over on an adjacent island, which 
 I believe the commanding officer intends bringing over 
 the first of next month. These have remained exempt 
 from the disease and otherwise healthy. The whole 
 garrison could have been removed as well, but Provi- 
 dence decreed otherwise, and those entrusted with the 
 command at that time have been swept away by the 
 rude hand of the pestilence, in consequence of this 
 necessary precaution being omitted. 
 
 I am still possessing my usual health with the ex- 
 ception of strength, which I find very slow in return- 
 ing after an attack of this fever. My duties, however, 
 are light, and I am able to get along as well as I might 
 expect. There is no news stirring upon this desolate 
 island — everything is lifeless and inactive. The dull 
 spirit of the soldiers, etc., seems to add desolation to 
 the appearance. You can imagine better than I can 
 describe the condition and haggard walk of those who 
 have recently been visited with the fever, and are on 
 the slow march to health. 
 
 I send you enclosed the petition gotten up by the of- 
 ficers and soldiers. This is signed only by the non- 
 commissioned officers ; the other which is designed to 
 be sent to the President is signed by every officer and 
 soldier in the garrison. I shall await with some curios- 
 ity to know what effect it will have. I was in hopes 
 that, long ere this, some measure of relief would have 
 been devised by my very knowing and sympathetic 
 friends, and that 1 would be happily in your midst. 
 
 From all quarters I hear that there is considerable 
 
282 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDL 
 
 good feeling manifested, and that a pressure is being 
 made by the public for my unconditional and imme- 
 diate release. I am inclined to doubt, since nothing 
 practical is resorted to. You will please give me all 
 the information on the subject of my release that you 
 deem expedient, in your next. I want to know the 
 time when I may expect the benefits of the action at 
 law contemplated. I look upon law nowadays as 
 equivalent to injustice, something that aggravates and 
 adds insult to injury. I hope times have changed, and 
 the result be otherwise. 
 
 The enclosed petition you can make use of in any 
 manner thought advisable by friends. The weather 
 continues very warm, the thermometer standing be- 
 tween 80 and 90 degrees in the shade. We can't ex- 
 pect any abatement in the fever until a change takes 
 place in the atmosphere; it will not be much lower 
 even during the winter. Agreeable to writers on the 
 subject, the disease is capable of extension in all lati- 
 tudes above forty degrees, so it may continue here in- 
 definitely. 
 
 Hoping the time of our unhappy separation is grow- 
 ing short, I am as ever, 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Following is a copy of the petition gotten up 
 by the garrison at the Tortugas for the release 
 of my father. All names of signers omitted : 
 
 It is with sincere pleasure that we acknowledge the 
 great services rendered by Dr. S. A. Mudd (prisoner) 
 during the prevalence of yellow fever at the Fort. 
 When the very worthy surgeon of the Post, Dr. J. 
 Sim Smith, fell one of the first victims of the fatal 
 epidemic, and the greatest dismay and alarm naturally 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 283 
 
 prevailed on all sides, deprived as the garrison was of 
 the assistance of any medical officer, Dr. Mudd, in- 
 fluenced by the most praiseworthy and humane mo- 
 tives, spontaneously and unsolicited came forward to 
 devote all his energies and professional knowledge to 
 the aid of the sick and dying. He inspired the hope- 
 less with courage, and by his constant presence in the 
 midst of danger and infection, regardless of his own 
 life, tranquillized the fearful and desponding. By his 
 prudence and foresight, the hospital upon an adjacent 
 island, to which at first the sick were removed in an 
 open boat, was discontinued. Those attacked with the 
 malady were on the spot put under vigorous treatment. 
 A protracted exposure on the open sea was avoided, 
 and many now strong doubtless owe their lives to the 
 care and treatment they received at his hands. He 
 properly considered the nature and character of the 
 infection and concluded that it could not be eradicated 
 by the mere removal of the sick, entailing, as it did, 
 the loss of valuable time necessary for the ap'plication 
 of the proper remedies, exposure of those attacked and 
 adding to the general fear and despondency. The en- 
 tire different system of treatment and hospital arrange- 
 ment was resorted to with the happiest effect. Dr. 
 Mudd's treatment and the change which he recom- 
 mended met with the hearty approval and warm com- 
 mendation of the regularly appointed surgeons, with 
 whom, in a later stage of the epidemic, he was asso- 
 ciated. Many here who have experienced his kind and 
 judicious treatment, can never repay him the debt of 
 obligation they owe him. We do, therefore, in consid- 
 eration of the invaluable services rendered by him dur- 
 ing this calamitous and fatal epidemic, earnestly rec- 
 ommend him to the well-merited clemency of the Gov- 
 ernment, and solicit his immediate release from here, 
 and restoration to liberty and the bosom of his family. 
 
284 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 The original of this petition, it appears, 
 never came into the hands of President John- 
 son, although mailed to him. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, October 26, 1867. 
 My dearest Frank : 
 
 Mail came clay before yesterday, and will leave to- 
 day. I received yours of October 7, complaining of the 
 non-reception of my letters, when I have let no oppor- 
 tunity escape without writing. I used to feel pleasure 
 when writing to you, but now I am feeling an indis- 
 position and want of motive to actuate me to anything, 
 since I know or feel that improper surveillance is ex- 
 ercised without my knowledge. 
 
 I wrote to you a few days ago and sent a copy of a 
 petition gotten up by the soldiers for my release. I 
 have not as yet, for reasons best known to myself, pre- 
 sented the instrument to the officers of the Post. The 
 whole garrison have an unbounded confidence in my 
 opinion, and prefer me to the regularly appointed 
 physicians. There seems an idea among some, how- 
 ever, that by signing the instrument they might detract 
 from the knowledge and intelligence of my associates 
 in medicine, and thereby cause displeasure. 
 
 Dr. Thomas, whom I mentioned as being sick with 
 the fever in my last, is still confined to his room, 
 though in a fair way to recover. One fresh case has 
 been admitted to the hospital since last writing. There 
 are now three cases under active treatment, one of 
 whom had the black vomit yesterday, and will most 
 likely die, though his countenance and other symptoms 
 present no such indication. 
 
 Your letters up to the present fail to give me the 
 least satisfaction in regard to what is contemplated. 
 Such letters serve only to keep me here longer, for I 
 might devise some measure mvself but fear to act lest 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 285 
 
 I might frustrate the actions of my friends. I want 
 the whole truth and nothing but the truth, or not a 
 word on the subject, because it seems only to aggravate 
 me. I sometimes feel like swearing out against ever 
 writing again on account of not getting proper answers 
 to my letters, or answers to the questions I ask. 
 
 You said in your letter you have had a large number 
 of masses and prayers said for me. Perhaps they have 
 served to keep me alive and in suffering. I think if 
 my stay is to be much longer, you better direct their 
 attention to my speedy and happy death. I have lost 
 all hope in prayer so far as the accomplishment of any 
 worldly good. The good seem only to suffer in this 
 world as a general rule. I must count myself out of 
 this category, but my endeavors are to conform as near 
 as I can to every injunction of the Christian. My 
 health continues good, though weak and emaciated 
 from my recent sickness. I am still performing all the 
 duties of post physician. 
 
 I am sorry I have nothing new to impart ; the same 
 desolation, isolation and monotony prevail. Remem- 
 ber me to all. 
 
 Your fond and devoted husband, 
 
 Samuel Mudd. 
 
 October 27, 1867. 
 Boat detained on account of night wind. 
 Since writing the above, I have had an interview 
 with the commanding officer, who informed me he had 
 already made mention of my services to the Depart- 
 ment at Washington. He has also the original docu- 
 ment gotten up by the soldiers with all their signatures. 
 I don't know what action will be taken in regard to it. 
 He is evidently favorable and will do all he can, con- 
 sistent with his position, toward my release. 
 
286 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 In this connection I give a short extract 
 taken from my father's notes on yellow fever: 
 
 I will now, as near as I can, by a pen description, 
 give you an idea of the embarrassment I labored under 
 upon assuming the duties as surgeon of the post, that 
 were unexpectedly thrust upon me, and the track fol- 
 lowed by the germs or poison, as evidenced by the ap- 
 pearance of disease. 
 
 Thus on the 4th of September, seventeen days after 
 the epidemic of yellow fever had broken out, the sur- 
 geon, Dr. J. Sim Smith, a gentleman much respected 
 and beloved by the garrison, was himself attacked with 
 the fever, and by his illness, the Post was left without 
 a physician in the midst of a fearful pestilence. The 
 thought had never before entered my mind that this 
 contingency might arise, and consequently I found my- 
 self unprepared to decide between the contending emo- 
 tions of fear and duty that now pressed to gain as- 
 cendency. Memory was still alive, for it seemed as 
 yesterday, the dread ordeal through which I had 
 passed. Tried by a court not ordained by the laws of 
 the land, confronted by suborned and most barefaced 
 perjured testimony, deprived of liberty, banished from 
 home, family and friends, bound in chains as the brute 
 and forced at the point of the bayonet to do the most 
 menial service, and withal denied for a time every 
 luxury, and even healthy subsistence, for having exer- 
 cised a simple act of common humanity in setting the 
 leg of a man for whose insane act I had no sympathy, 
 but which was in the line of my professional calling. 
 It was but natural that resentment and fear should 
 rankle in my heart, and that I should stop to discuss 
 mentally the contending emotions that now rested upon 
 a horrid recollection of the past. Can I be a passive 
 beholder? Shall I withhold the little service I might 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 287 
 
 be capable of rendering the unfortunate soldier who 
 was but a tool in the hands of his exacting officer? Or 
 shall I again subject myself to renewed imputations of 
 assassination? Who can read the motives of men? 
 My motive might be ever so pure and praiseworthy, 
 yet one victim of the disease might be sufficient to start 
 up the cry of poison and murder. 
 
 Whilst these disagreeable thoughts were revolving, 
 a fellow-prisoner remarked, saying: "Doctor, the yel- 
 low fever is the fairest and squarest thing that I have 
 seen the past four or five years. It makes no distinc- 
 tion in regard to rank, color, or previous condition — 
 every man has his chance, and I would advise you as a 
 friend not to interfere." Another said it was only a 
 little Southern opposition to reconstruction, and 
 thought the matter ought to be reported to Congress in 
 order that a law might be passed lowering the tempera- 
 ture below zero, which would most effectually put an 
 end to its disloyalty. 
 
 But I must be more serious ; and you will perceive 
 that the time had now arrived in which I could occupy 
 no middle ground. I felt that I had to make a decision, 
 and although the rule of conduct upon which I had de- 
 termined was not in accord with my natural feelings, 
 yet I had the sanction of my professional and religious 
 teachings and the consciousness of conforming to that 
 holy precept, "Do ye good for evil," which alone dis- 
 tinguishes the man from the brute. 
 
 It being our breakfast hour on the morning of the 
 5th, and thinking it required some condescension on 
 the part of the commanding officer to call upon an 
 humble prisoner to serve in the honorable position of 
 surgeon of the post, I concluded to spare him this dis- 
 agreeable duty, and instructed Mr. Arnold, a fellow- 
 prisoner and roommate, who was acting clerk at head- 
 quarters, to inform Major Stone, then commanding, 
 
288 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MITDD 
 
 that should my services be required, I had no fear of, 
 nor objection to, performing whatever aid was in my 
 power toward the relief of the sick. On approaching 
 headquarters, Mr. Arnold met Major Stone coming to 
 my quarters to inquire whether I would consent to at- 
 tend the sick of the Post until the arrival of a regular 
 surgeon. 
 
 When informed that I had offered my services, the 
 Major seemed much pleased and had me forthwith de- 
 tailed. Fortune favored me, and it so happened that 
 during the intervals, amounting to nearly three weeks, 
 that I had the exclusive care of the sick, not one died. 
 
 Time will not permit me further digression. I shall 
 pass over many incidents of interest connected with 
 hospital management, difficulties I had to overcome in 
 breaking up the prior arrangement of sending away the 
 sick in open boats over a rough sea two miles and a 
 half distant, and also in obtaining an opposite order 
 from the commander to send to one of the islands near 
 by as many of the well soldiers as could be spared from 
 the garrison. This latter measure, though I had ad- 
 vised it on the day I took charge of the hospital, was 
 not carried out until the arrival of Dr. D. W. White- 
 hurst of Key West, Florida; a noble, kind-hearted 
 gentleman, who superseded me on the 9th of Septem- 
 ber. 
 
 The first case of yellow fever at the Dry Tortugas, 
 in the epidemic of which I now speak, occurred on the 
 1 8th of August, 1867, in Company K, which was lo- 
 cated in the casemates on the south side of the Fort im- 
 mediately over the unfinished moat, which at low tide 
 gave rise to quite offensive odors. To this circumstance 
 the surgeon of the Post attributed the cause of the 
 disease, and at his request the company was removed 
 and the port holes ordered to be closed, to prevent the 
 supposed deadly miasma from entering the Fort. 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 289 
 
 Having the honor at this time of being a member of 
 the carpenter's shop, it fell to my lot to aid in the 
 work of barricading against the unseen foe, and it was 
 during this patriotic service the 22d of August, that 
 I made my first note of the epidemic. The places occu- 
 pied by the beds of the four men, one on the i8th ; one 
 on the 20th, and two on the 21st, that had gone to the 
 hospital sick with yellow fever, were all contiguous. 
 The Fort was hexagonal in shape with a bastion at each 
 corner, and the company, after its removal, was placed 
 on the east side, the bastion forming the center with 
 several casemates above and below boarded up separat- 
 ing it from Company L on the north and the prisoners 
 on the south, and in the most eligible position for the 
 spread of the poison, owing to the prevalence of the 
 wind, which from early in April up to this period had 
 blown continuously from the southeast, varying only 
 a few degrees. 
 
 There was a lull or temporary suspension of the 
 activity of the poison on the 22d and 23d. For two 
 days the company remained without any new cases, 
 but on the 24th day one man was taken from the same 
 company on stretchers, being unable to walk. The 
 fever then rapidly extended right and left until it 
 reached Company L, which was nearest the point where 
 it arose this second time, and later the prisoners' quar- 
 ters, which were more remote, were attacked. To 
 show and to prove to you that the germs, or cause, 
 spreads by continuity of matter, and not with the dis- 
 ease, the first two cases that occurred in Company L, 
 and the first two cases among the prisoners, were im- 
 mediately next the boarded partition that separated 
 them from Company K, where the fever was raging, 
 having followed along the rows of beds, up to this line 
 19 
 
290 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 of division, and then passed through the open spaces 
 between the plank, which were loosely nailed. 
 
 There were at this time two hospitals, the Post Hos- 
 pital within the Fort, and Sand Key Hospital on an 
 adjacent island about two miles and a half distant, 
 which latter was fitted up as soon as the fever began to 
 assume an epidemical form. The sick that occurred 
 during the night and following day were immediately 
 taken to the Post Hospital, and from thence at 4 
 o'clock p. m. they were carried in boats by the surgeon, 
 on his accustomed visit, to Sandy Key Hospital. Not- 
 withstanding the fact that most of the sick walked from 
 their beds to the Post Hospital, and no effort or pains 
 on the part of the surgeon to isolate the disease were 
 taken, owing to the belief in its miasmatic character, 
 the germs or cause had not up to this time, September 
 12, viz : 25 days, reached either of the hospitals, if 
 we may judge from the circumstance that not one of 
 the many nurses, who waited upon the sick day and 
 night and even slept in the same room, were stricken 
 down with the fever. 
 
 The disease after extending into Company L, and to 
 the prisoners' quarters, next made its appearance into 
 Company I, located in the inner barracks, a building 
 about three hundred feet long, thirty feet wide, and 
 four stories high on the east side, running north and 
 parallel with the Fort, and immediately in front of 
 Company K and Company I, and distant about sixty 
 feet. 
 
 I was called into this company on the morning of 
 September 8, and found Sergeant Sheridan and a pri- 
 vate that slept in the next bed ill with the fever. Ser- 
 geant Sheridan and the first sergeant of Company K 
 were great friends, and when off duty were constantly 
 in each other's quarters. Sheridan generally wore a 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 291 
 
 heavy cloak during the showers of rain that were fre- 
 quent at this period, and I feel satisfied that the poison 
 was carried by the ferment set up in the cloak, or me- 
 chanically, by adhering formites, though it is possible 
 for it to have been wafted across from Company K, 
 the two beds in Company I being near the window 
 facing that company. Then the fever gradually worked 
 its way along through the whole company without a 
 skip in regular succession as they slept. 
 
 At the northern extremity of the barracks two rooms 
 were set apart, thirty feet square, as the Post Hospital. 
 On the 7th we were necessitated by the increasing num- 
 ber of sick to provide other hospital quarters, and for 
 convenience four casemates opposite on the ground 
 tier, under Company L, were boarded up as a tempo- 
 rary hospital, with our kitchen and dispensary inter- 
 mediate. On the 8th our hospital supply of beds and 
 bedding gave out, and on the 9th we were compelled 
 to bring the bed along with the patient into the hospital. 
 Two days after the admission of the infected beds, our 
 nurses began falling sick, three being attacked during 
 the day and night of the nth of September. Then the 
 three laundresses, families who did the washing for the 
 hospitals and separate quarters on the west side of the 
 Fort, sixty or seventy yards apart, were all simultane- 
 ously attacked upon the first issue of soiled clothing 
 after our hospital became infected. 
 
 Then again, upon the breaking up of the Sand Key 
 Hospital, and the return of the nurses to the Fort, they 
 were all speedily stricken down with the fever upon 
 their being placed on similar duty. These nurses had 
 remained free from all disease up to their return to the 
 Fort, although the majority of the cases whom they 
 nursed at Sand Key died with the fever. 
 
 But the most remarkable spread of the disease oc- 
 
292 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 curred on the night of the 16th of September in Com- 
 pany M, which was quartered in the casemates imme- 
 diately above the hospital and Company L, and not- 
 withstanding the proximity up to this date, twenty-nine 
 days since the epidemic began, had remained entirely 
 exempt from the fever, owing no doubt to the fact that 
 it laid behind the bastion, which, with the prevailing 
 southeast wind, produced a downward or opposing cur- 
 rent. However, on the morning of the above date, 
 about nine o'clock, a small rain cloud, common to that 
 locality, arose to the south of the fort, which came up 
 rapidly with a heavy wind, lasting about twenty 
 minutes, and which blew directly from the hospital and 
 Company L, toward Company M, and' the night fol- 
 lowing every man went to bed in his usual health, yet 
 between eleven and one o'clock nearly one-half of the 
 company, or thirty men, were attacked with the most 
 malignant form of the disease — beginning at the point 
 nearest the hospitals and extending thirty beds without 
 missing or skipping a single occupant. 
 
 It had been my custom to remain at the hospitals 
 every night until eleven o'clock to see that every patient 
 received the medicine prescribed and was quiet. On 
 this occasion I had not retired more than fifteen minutes 
 before T was sent for by the sergeant of Company M 
 to come to his quarters, that several of his men were 
 sick. Feeling much fatigued, T did not attend the sum- 
 mons, but referred the messenger to Dr. Whitehurst 
 and the steward of the hospital. At one o'clock the 
 sergeant himself came down to my room and begged 
 me for God's sake to get up, that one-half of his com- 
 pany were attacked with the fever, and that he did not 
 know what to do with them, as the hospitals were al- 
 ready full. I went along with the sergeant, and found 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 293 
 
 his statement fully correct, and the wildest alarm and 
 confusion prevailing. 
 
 As the hospitals were already crowded, we con- 
 cluded, for convenience, to enclose the six casemates 
 nearest the regular hospitals, which was speedily exe- 
 cuted with canvas, and in less than two hours all moved 
 back and were quiet under comfortable treatment. The 
 next night or two after, the balance of the company, in 
 the order of their beds, were attacked with the disease 
 without an exception. 
 
 The disease did not extend among the officers at 
 headquarters until it had at first reached the negro 
 prisoners, several of whom were employed by the offi- 
 cers as servants, and who were in the daily habit of car- 
 rying to and fro their blankets. The humble individual 
 wdio now addresses you was not attacked until the 4th 
 of October, forty-seven days after the beginning of the 
 epidemic, though constantly at the bedside of the sick, 
 and in the midst of the infected hospitals and quarters. 
 
 One evening, at our usual supper hour, feeling much 
 depressed and exhausted from the unaccustomed duties 
 I went over to my mess, where I was besieged with 
 many questions concerning the sick, and notwithstand- 
 ing the solemnity of the occasion, a hearty laugh was 
 frequently indulged at the expense of our ready wit, 
 Edward Spangler. 
 
 The debilitating effects of the climate, added to the 
 condition consequent upon the excitement, very much 
 depressed me, and after finishing my bowl of coffee 
 and slice of bread, I fell upon my rude cot to spend a 
 few minutes of repose. The customary sea breeze at 
 this hour had sprung up, and I was shortly lulled into 
 sweet sleep. My faithful and ever solicitous roommate, 
 Edward Spangler, who on former occasions had mani- 
 fested so much concern when the least indisposition 
 
294 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 was complained of, seemed to anticipate my every 
 want, was not unguarded at this time. As soon as he 
 found me quiet, he closed the door and turned back 
 several intruders, stating that the Doctor was feeling 
 unwell, and had laid down to rest himself. In the 
 course of an hour, he said, he will be through his nap, 
 when he will return to the hospital, where all who de- 
 sire can see him. Spangler made money by trafficking 
 with the soldiers, and we are mainly indebted to him 
 for something extra to the crude, unwholesome, and 
 sometimes condemned Government ration that was 
 issued to us. He was not generally select in his epi- 
 thets toward those whom he disliked, yet if he saw 
 them in suffering, it excited the liveliest sympathy, 
 and he would do anything that laid in his power for 
 their relief. At a later period he, in conjunction with 
 Mr. Arnold, watched over me in my illness as atten- 
 tively as if their own brother, and I owe my life to the 
 unremitting care which they bestowed. The reader, I 
 am in hopes, will excuse this little degression from the 
 subject — a tribute of thanks is due, and I know no 
 more fitting place to give it expression. I may perhaps 
 be doing injustice by omitting another name equally 
 deserving of my esteem, Michael O'Loughlin. He, 
 unfortunate young man, away from his family and 
 friends, by whom he was most tenderly loved, fell a 
 victim to the pestilence in spite of every effort on our 
 part to save him. He had passed the first stage of the 
 disease and was apparently convalescent, but, contrary 
 to my earnest advice, he got out of bed a short time 
 after I left in the morning, and was walking about the 
 room looking over some periodicals the greater part of 
 the day. In the evening, about five o'clock, a sudden 
 collapse of the vital powers took place, which in thirty- 
 six hours after terminated his life. He seemed all at 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 295 
 
 once conscious of his impending fate, and the first 
 warning I had of his condition was his exclamation, 
 "Doctor, Doctor, you must tell my mother all!" He 
 called then Edward Spangler, who was present, and 
 extending his hand he said, "Good-by, Ned." These 
 were his last words of consciousness. He fell back 
 instantly into a profound stupor and for several 
 minutes seemed lifeless; but by gently changing his 
 position from side to side, and the use of stimulating 
 and cold applications, we succeeded in restoring him to 
 partial strength and recollection. I never met with 
 one more kind and forbearing, possessing a warm 
 friendly disposition and a fine comprehensive intellect. 
 I enjoyed greater ease in conversational intercourse 
 with him than any of my prison associates. He was 
 taken sick whilst my kind friend, Dr. D. W. White- 
 hurst of Key West, Florida, had charge of the Post; 
 from him he received prompt medical attention from 
 the beginning of his illness to his death. 
 
 The news had spread around through the garrison of 
 the neat and comfortable appearance of the hospital 
 and the improved condition of the sick, which had the 
 effect to gain for me a reputation, and the confidence 
 of the soldiers — all I could desire to insure success. It 
 was not long before I discovered I could do more with 
 nine cases out of ten by a few consoling and inspiring 
 words, than with all the medicine known to me in the 
 materia medica. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 PRISON LIFE IN 1867, CONTINUED — THE SCOURGE OF 
 YElvIvOW FEVER BEING ENDED, MY FATHER IS AGAIN 
 PUT IN CHAINS. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, December 6, 1867. 
 My dear Frank : 
 
 I wrote to you on the 24th and mailed the same on 
 the 29th. I wrote to you and Jere on the 4th of De- 
 cember and addressed the letter to Jere, and requested 
 him to forward to you as soon as read. I did this in 
 order "to kill two birds with one stone"; that is, I 
 wished to acquaint both with what has transpired here, 
 and desire advice in relation. 
 
 I mentioned in those letters the arrival of a gentle- 
 man here sent by the Butler Congressional Committee 
 to obtain statements in regard to the assassination. I 
 gave him a declaration under oath, which in substance 
 amounted to the fact that I did not know anything 
 about the matter, or parties concerned, previous to the 
 assassination. I sent you a copy in the letter addressed 
 to Jere. If you think it worth the trouble, you can 
 inquire from knowing ones whether I ought to make a 
 statement of any kind in my present condition. I have 
 doubts about the matter, and concluded that it was 
 better to seek information from those who are better 
 informed, before so doing. 
 
 When you write inform me plainly what is the 
 opinion of the public in regard to the course I should 
 pursue. Congress, in my opinion, has acknowledged 
 the illegality of our imprisonment and trial by asking 
 and receiving an oath from us. Mention this idea to 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 297 
 
 counsel and to members of Congress who may be fa- 
 vorably disposed. He informed me that he did not 
 wish his visit here known to the public, lest it might 
 frustrate the purpose which the committee have in 
 view. I shall leave the matter, entirely to your own 
 good judgment. Owing to my not making such a 
 statement as he required, he or some one will be sent 
 again in a short time ; therefore, I wish you to acquaint 
 me at the earliest opportunity, so I may be prepared. 
 
 I have no news. Arnold has been quite sick with 
 the dysentery. He is now out of danger, but very 
 thin and weak. He was sick when he gave his state- 
 ment, and the labor and excitement aggravated the 
 symptoms. He and Spangler made full and detailed 
 statements, which in my opinion does not shed much 
 light upon the subject of the assassination; nothing 
 more than was known and acknowledged on our trial. 
 They seem to regret having given statements, but I can 
 see no objection other than an impropriety. 
 
 My health continues very good, and I have increased 
 several pounds in weight the past two or three weeks. 
 I am now taking things as easy as possible, after find- 
 ing all my endeavors fruitless and your promises of 
 an early release mere speculation. You must not un- 
 derstand from this that I cease to regard you and all 
 as formerly, but having been satisfied that I have been 
 laboring under a delusion, I have concluded to act on 
 the principle, that what can't be helped it is useless to 
 grieve about. 
 
 A few nights ago, I dreamed I was with Tommy 
 and Sammy. The emotion which it produced soon 
 broke my slumber, and away fled all my happiness ; 
 such has been and continues to be my life, until I 
 almost fear to hope. Try for the future, my good 
 Frank, not to unsettle my mind with mere speculations, 
 
298 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 but tell me frankly and plainly the whole truth. Let 
 me know all the correct news, and if anything new has 
 developed in regard to the assassination. 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, December 7, 1867. 
 My dearest Frank: 
 
 I received your last, dated November 7, which gave 
 me much comfort. God grant your anticipation may 
 prove correct. Judging from the tone of the papers, 
 I fear there will be great difficulty to contend against. 
 Our country seems now not to be governed by the Con- 
 stitution, or by law, but by unbridled popular or public 
 opinion, of which I have no doubt many others, as in 
 my case, have been made victims. 
 
 I am very well, but yet in chains, with four others, 
 under guard ; and our duty now is to wash down the 
 bastions of the Fort every day. I have gotten used to 
 my present life, and do not feel much incommoded. 
 God grant that I may soon be in the fond embrace of 
 you and our dear little ones. Good-by. 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, December — , 1867. 
 Major G. B. Andrews : 
 
 I learn through my wife, by yesterday's mail, that 
 the petition gotten up by the soldiers, with a view to my 
 release, because of services rendered during the recent 
 visitation of fever at this post, has not been received 
 in Washington. 
 
 She was made acquainted with the fact through the 
 Honorable Montgomery Blair, who stands high in the 
 confidence of the present Administration. Mr. Blair 
 informed her that such an instrument would have great 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 299 
 
 weight in influencing a favorable action of the Presi- 
 dent. 
 
 Major, I can claim no exception to the general rule 
 of nature. The drowning man catches at straws, the 
 oppressed and exiled seek liberty, reunion, repose, etc. 
 
 Were I in other circumstances, modesty would com- 
 pel me to refrain from the least notoriety, but in my 
 present situation, not only my personal ease and com- 
 fort, but the anguish and distress of a wife and four 
 helpless little children, cause me to throw off" this 
 humility, and solicit your kind office in my behalf. 
 
 I refer you to the hospital report to draw conclu- 
 sions as to the services rendered. With the exception 
 of the first one or two cases (who died here) all were 
 carried to Sand Key Hospital, over a hundred per cent, 
 of whom died. 
 
 Upon the sickness and death of Doctor Smith, our 
 lamented surgeon, I was placed in charge of the hos- 
 pital by Major Stone, who vested me with discretionary 
 power in all that pertains to the duties of a physician. 
 Immediately I discontinued the Sand Key Hospital, I 
 used blankets instead of sheets, and had the windows 
 of the hospital differently arranged. 
 
 There were in the hospital at the time some fifteen or 
 twenty cases under active treatment, many of whom 
 were delirious, and burning with the most intense 
 fever. In less than six hours after, under my man- 
 agement, all were free from delirium, and perspiring 
 freely, and seemed comfortable. All of these recov- 
 ered. One afterward was taken with relapse and died. 
 I considered all but one out of danger. This latter 
 recovered sufficiently to walk about, but owing to negli- 
 gence of the nurses, he was suffered to go out without 
 my knowledge, in consequence of which he was taken 
 with relapse and died. I refer you to Colonel Hamil- 
 
300 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 ton, who was here at the time, and to the non-com- 
 missioned officers of the companies. In proof of what 
 I state, I was strenuously opposed by Major Stone in 
 breaking up the Sand Key Hospital. Perhaps Colonel 
 Hamilton is cognizant of the matter. I succeeded 
 finally with Major Stone by telling him that if he left 
 the disposition of the sick to my judgment, I would 
 faithfully consult the greatest good to the greatest 
 number, to which he consented. 
 
 Dr. Samuel A. Mudd. 
 
 The above letter, written by my father to 
 the Commandant of Fort Jefferson, was not re- 
 plied to. My father fully believed that Major 
 Andrews destroyed the petition referred to. 
 
 Key West, December 13, 1867. 
 Dr. S. A. Mudd, 
 
 Fort Jefferson. 
 
 Dear Sir : You will oblige me by replying to the fol- 
 lowing questions : 
 
 1st. At what time did you enter duty during the 
 last epidemic at Fort Jefferson? Did you attend Dr. 
 Smith and Mrs. Smith, and what others previous to 
 my arrival? 
 
 2d. What was the first case, and what time, whether 
 from Havana, Key West, or regular at the Fort, and 
 any other views which you may have bearing upon the 
 origin, sanitary condition of the Fort, etc.? 
 
 The Surgeon-General desires a report upon the sub- 
 ject, and I desire and wish to do you every justice 
 for the patient and noble conduct evinced by you dur- 
 ing my stay at Fort Jefferson. 
 
 I would have written you at an early date, but my 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 301 
 
 time has been much occupied, which I hope you will 
 accept as my apology. 
 
 Very truly your friend, 
 
 D. W. White;hurst. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, December 15, 1867. 
 Dear Doctor Whitehurst: 
 
 I received yours of the 13th asking- a response to 
 certain questions pertaining to the recent visitation of 
 yellow fever at this Post. The boat leaving in a short 
 time after, I had not time to write by the outgoing 
 mail. Between now and the outgoing mail will permit 
 me only to answer briefly your queries, viz : 
 
 1st. I was detailed on duty in the hospital, Septem- 
 ber 6. Dr. Smith was attacked suddenly the evening 
 of the 5th. I saw him on the morning of the 7th. He 
 was then delirious and unmanageable. He died on the 
 morning of the 8th. Not having kept a record, have 
 to refer you to the hospital report from the 6th of Sep- 
 tember to the 8th, when relieved by yourself. 
 
 2d. I am sorry to state my inability to determine 
 positively the first case, or the manner of its inception. 
 The first case of true yellow fever reported occurred 
 on the 1 8th, and died the 22d of August. He belonged 
 to Company K, and was taken sick in the quarters of 
 his company, which were in the casemates on the south- 
 west side of the Fort. Some two or three others, be- 
 longing to the same company, soon after were taken 
 with the disease, which caused the surgeon of the Fort 
 to believe that it arose from some local cause. He, 
 therefore, removed the company on the eastern side of 
 the Fort, immediately next Company L, and in front of 
 Company I. After this change, several fresh cases 
 took place, and the disease spread to the adjacent com- 
 panies and prisoners. Company M was located on the 
 
302 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 south side of the Fort and adjoining Company L, and 
 several days intervened before any cases occurred in 
 that company. Most of the cases came in at night. I 
 am of the opinion had Company K been removed im- 
 mediately to one of the adjacent keys instead of the east 
 side of the Fort, it would have prevented the spread 
 of the disease. The poison being confined to that com- 
 pany, the winds being continually easterly, favored the 
 propagation instead of cutting short the fatal malady. 
 
 So far as I am capable of judging, the first case 
 originated here, but the poison may have been im- 
 ported. Removal of the company not having checked 
 the infection, on the contrary increasing, showed that 
 they carried the poison with them. Captain Crabb is 
 of the opinion he had the disease on his arrival here 
 from Havana the last of July or first of August. Again 
 about the middle of August the schooner Matchless 
 from Tampa landed with two sick men aboard. I can't 
 state whether it was before or after the 18th instant, 
 or whether they had yellow fever. The two men were 
 carried to the hospital. 
 
 In regard to the pathology of the disease as it ex- 
 isted here, although it answered minutely to the de- 
 scription given by learned men, I will now proceed to 
 answer your kind note, viz : I was placed in charge of 
 the hospital two or three days before your arrival (not 
 having kept a record, I can't state the time with cer- 
 tainty). There were in the hospital at that time fif- 
 een or twenty cases requiring active treatment. I 
 attended these in hospital, and Dr. Smith and Mrs. 
 Smith and Lieutenant Roemer until relieved by you. 
 Dr. Smith was delirious and unmanageable from the 
 beginning. I could by no means induce him to take 
 medicine. Very truly yours, 
 
 Dr. Samuel A. Mudd. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 PRISON LIFE IN 1868 — THE WITHHOLDING OF BOOTH'S 
 DIARY SURRATT'S RELEASE 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, January 15, 1868. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 We have received papers as late as January 7, but 
 fail to see any indication of my speedy release. 
 
 I read a recent message of the President defending 
 his course in turning out Stanton, and was astonished. 
 He goes back to the period when he assumed the func- 
 tions of a President, and omitted to charge the culprit 
 or delinquent with wilfully withholding the diary of 
 Booth. This seems more criminal than withholding 
 the dispatch from New Orleans. His silence upon this 
 point leads me to suspicion that he had a knowledge of 
 all that was going on, and lent his approval to the 
 cruel and barbarous wrong. It was a point which he 
 should not have omitted to speak about, since every 
 effort has been made to identify him with the horrible 
 deed. Those who have done us a knowing wrong are 
 the slowest to repair the injury or make suitable satis- 
 faction ; therefore, I look with no degree of confidence 
 to those who hold the ship of state to redress the 
 grievances under which we suffer. 
 
 I wrote to Mr. Stone some time ago, but have not 
 received an answer. I have heard no report from the 
 Butler Committee. When you write let me hear all 
 that is going on, and what this committee will do with 
 the statements they received from us. Would that it 
 were in my power to promise you when I would be at 
 home, definitely, it yet being in the unknown future. I 
 
304 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 fear to contemplate with any degree of happiness the 
 time when we shall he again united in second bonds 
 of wedlock, lest I should be visited by disappointment. 
 Be assured, however, that time has produced no change 
 in the affection which I have always manifested toward 
 you and the children. Hoping to hear from you every 
 opportunity, I am, darling Frank, 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, March 22, ii 
 My dearest Frank : 
 
 I received yours of the 26th of February and March 
 7 yesterday. I was much pained to hear of the acci- 
 dent to McColgan Mudd, and the sickness of our dear 
 little children and servants. I can well imagine the 
 distress, the loneliness of your situation, and the many 
 difficulties you have to contend with. It is this appre- 
 ciation of your many privations, helplessness, and in- 
 security that cause my principal suffering — mental 
 anxiety. 
 
 I wrote to you on February 28 and March 13. I 
 wrote to Jere on the 4th, and sent him some letters 
 which perhaps he might use to my advantage. Faith 
 and opinions are formed from known facts or certain 
 evidences of the mind, and whichever way our honest 
 convictions are led — be they good or evil — other vir- 
 tues or vices will grow out of them. For example, if 
 we are conscious of some meritorious act performed by 
 a fellow-creature, our sense of love, honor, and esteem 
 is immediately aroused; on the contrary, if insincerity, 
 gross deception, etc., be practiced, sentiments of anger, 
 hatred, and revenge arise. We are not always cor- 
 rectly informed, or we may draw erroneous conclu- 
 sions ; in either case it is the same. The surest pre- 
 ventative is to guard ourselves against such possibili- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 305 
 
 ties of misrepresentation. Take my advice, never in- 
 cur a debt of gratitude — they are the hardest to pay. 
 To avoid which, accept neither presents nor favors. 
 If you have debts or bills to collect, after due notice, 
 give them to a constable ; the parties, knowing your 
 situation, will not be offended. 
 
 Andrew ought by this time to be of some assistance 
 to you. The innocent are not more exempt from a bad 
 name and its consequences that the guilty. The most 
 virtuous in the community are liable at any moment to 
 be slandered, and they may go down to their graves 
 with reproach. This is my experience and observation. 
 Try and profit by it. 
 
 With a change of commander, new regulations are 
 in force, among them : all letters written and received 
 are to be examined. The two last were handed to me 
 open. I am restrained, in consequence of this, from 
 saying many things that I wish to say. My health con- 
 tinues as good as usual. 
 
 With fondest love for you and our dear little chil- 
 dren, I am, Yours, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, April 3, 1868. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 I received yours of March 16 with Fannie's enclosed. 
 Owing to the censorship that now prevails, I can't 
 reply. 
 
 My health continues good. The weather is quite 
 pleasant in the shade. There are a great quantity of 
 ripe tomatoes, peas, beans and "collards" in the garden, 
 now suitable for table use. The corn is in silk, and 
 soon there will be roasting ears. This does not con- 
 trast with the season with you. In the interior of the 
 State it must be delightful. 
 
 I am in hopes Andrew's sickness will not assume 
 20 
 
306 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 anything grave. I am growing more impatient daily 
 to see you all. I have been thinking for a long time 
 that the difficulties existing between the President and 
 Congress are more pretended than real. In other 
 words— a mutual understanding that such filibustering 
 is to prevent a too sudden reaction, and perhaps dis- 
 closures deemed prejudicial to the welfare of the coun- 
 try at this time. 
 
 Remember me to dear Pa, and tell him my not writ- 
 ing is through no fault of mine. Thank him and all 
 the family for the parental and brotherly sympathy and 
 affection, and for the interest they have so kindly and 
 generously manifested. 
 
 Hoping, dearest Frank, our unhappy separation will 
 soon end, and with it nothing to prevent the happiness 
 we anticipate, I am, as ever, 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, April 14, 1868. 
 My precious Frank : 
 
 We have received papers up to the 31st of March. 
 The impeachment seems only a farce. The part which 
 each is to perform is likely well understood. In the 
 New York Herald of March 21 you will see a favorable 
 allusion to myself in a letter dated from Fernandina, 
 Florida. I have seen the party who wrote it on two 
 occasions here, but had very little to say to him, not 
 knowing his disposition toward me. 
 
 I received at the same time a short letter, notifying 
 me of this correspondence, to which I replied in a short 
 note, and gave a few views of mine in relation to the 
 recent visit of the yellow fever. He will likely publish 
 the same ; if so, it may cause some surprise among the 
 medical fraternities, as I differ widely from most of the 
 authors as to many of its most essential characteristics. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 307 
 
 I make a distinction between the poison and the dis- 
 ease, the one being contagious, the other being harm- 
 less. This will revolutionize the system of quarantine 
 should my views be adopted. I can bring undoubted 
 facts in proof of the conclusions I have arrived at. 
 
 We have heard nothing from Grenfel since he 
 escaped on the 6th of last month. All hands may have 
 perished, it being quite stormy at the time. 
 
 If you do not receive letters as often now as 
 formerly you must not complain, as the rule which pre- 
 vails now is far more rigid than heretofore. I have 
 written whenever it was in my power, and shall so 
 continue. I think those to whom you showed my 
 last letters misunderstood my meaning. I asked the 
 question, What has been done? I could never see or 
 hear that the President was ever approached on the 
 subject, consequently concluded nothing had been done. 
 I should have said nothing had been accomplished. 
 
 Affectionately, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, May n, 1868. 
 My precious Frank : 
 
 Ere this reaches you the impeachment trial will have 
 ended. I wonder what will next turn up to serve as 
 an excuse on the part of my friends for not taking 
 action in my behalf. With the change of commanders 
 things have not resulted to our advantage. Since 
 Major Andrews left there have been two commanders ; 
 each effected changes which have finally deprived us 
 of even former privileges, and increased our degrada- 
 tion. The only privilege I possess now is the license 
 to write to you, without knowing whether my letters 
 leave the Post. 
 
 Your letters are read by Provost Marshal, then 
 given to a corporal to be handed to us. He can in turn 
 
308 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 read them to the garrison if disposed before giving 
 them into our possession. The post-office at this place 
 is broken up. The military have everything in their 
 hands. Our mail is brought from Key West. 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, May 30, 1868. 
 My precious Frank : 
 
 I have delayed writing several days. I have made 
 up my mind to pass no more letters through the Pro- 
 vost Marshal's hands. From his manner toward us 
 he has considerable prejudice. Such men I have met 
 with before, being vengeful and unscrupulous; if 
 therefore my letters don't come to hand as often as 
 formerly, know that there is some good reason. He 
 is expecting a furlough to go North by the next mail 
 boat ; should the furlough arrive we will have a respite. 
 
 We have seven more citizen prisoners from Alabama. 
 Their offense hardly amounted to a breach of the peace. 
 Their terms are one and two years. General Hill will, 
 T learn, take command of this Post again in a few days. 
 He is expected on the next boat. We suffered worse 
 treatment under his command than any time previous 
 or since; therefore, can't look with satisfaction to his 
 coming. 
 
 I can't see the good reason for my friends holding- 
 back on account of the election. Mr. Johnson is a war 
 Democrat, or was in favor of coercion. We were 
 opposed to it. I am of the opinion, though, that he is 
 already pledged to the support of the Republicans. 
 The impeachment will end as it was intended. There 
 can now be nothing reasonable to prevent bringing the 
 question of my unjust imprisonment fairly and 
 squarely before his Excellency, and learn his pleasure. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 309 
 
 I don't see that anything can be lost, and we can have 
 the gratification of knowing his mind. 
 
 Affectionately, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 The impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson, 
 President of the United States, referred to by 
 my father, took place in 1868, before the 
 United States Senate, Chief Justice Chase pre- 
 siding. Eleven articles were exhibited by the 
 House of Representatives, charging the Presi- 
 dent with divers high crimes and misde- 
 meanors. Thirty-five Senators pronounced 
 him guilty; nineteen pronounced him not 
 guilty. Two-thirds ot the Senators not having 
 pronounced him guilty, Chief Justice Chase 
 proclaimed that the President of the United 
 States stood acquitted upon the articles of im- 
 peachment. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, May 30, 1868. 
 My clearest Frank : 
 
 No doubt your mind has been subject to many con- 
 jectures owing to my long silence. To be candid, I 
 have become disgusted and embittered because of the 
 rule that now governs this Post. We have now acting 
 as Provost Marshal an inquisitive and officious Yankee, 
 from away down in Maine. He is one of those offi- 
 cious individuals fond of ruling, considering himself 
 one of the elect, and adds daily new rules for the gov- 
 ernment of the prisoners, which tend to be more des- 
 potic than the laws of the ancient barbarians. All 
 letters are carefully perused by him, not as a duty of 
 his office, but because of his prying spirit and disposi- 
 tion to meddle with matters that do not pertain to his 
 
310 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 office. I have therefore concluded never to pass 
 another letter through his hands. I correspond with 
 you only, and I would sooner forego this satisfaction 
 than again permit him to pry into another letter, to 
 gratify his mischievous curiosity. 
 
 Surratt's trial it appears is again put off. This will 
 continue to be done until he is released. The menda- 
 cious scoundrels who trumped up such a mighty con- 
 spiracy against him and us are too cowardly to 
 acknowledge their error, and are seeking to screen 
 themselves from responsibility and odium by availing 
 themselves of delay, which unfortunately the law per- 
 mits. I would like to know positively whether any 
 action is contemplated in my case between now and the 
 fall election. I am growing daily more bitter against 
 tyranny and oppression. Life often feels a burden to 
 me, but for the sake of you and the family I am re- 
 strained. Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June n, 1868. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 We are in the midst of another warm and distressing 
 summer. The atmosphere around the Fort, owing to 
 the filthy condition of the moat outside, is terribly 
 offensive at times and bids fair to breed another pesti- 
 lence. This letter goes out by one of the seven men 
 recently sent here from Alabama. They have been 
 released, and leave to-day for their homes. 
 
 General Hill has assumed command of the Fort 
 again. I have made up my mind that I will not pass 
 another letter through the Provost Marshal's hands, so 
 if you should not receive letters so often be not disap- 
 pointed. The impeachment is over. What is to pre- 
 vent action in my case? Try and give me some idea. 
 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 311 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, June 16, 1868. 
 My precious Frank : 
 
 I wrote to you last on the nth. The Provost 
 Marshal will leave on the next steamer from this place 
 on a furlough. When he is gone I am in hopes I will 
 be able to write you more regularly. The weather is 
 growing quite warm and unpleasant. The engineers 
 are digging out the breakwater, which gives rise at 
 times to a most intolerable stench, often so offensive 
 as to prevent sleep and our remaining in our quarters 
 with any degree of comfort. 
 
 I wish when you write you would let me know what 
 is the intention of those who have my case in charge. 
 Congress is still in session; they may frame this as 
 an excuse for non-action. Then the election takes 
 place in November — this may be another excuse, and 
 so on ; but on my account I am in hopes you will urge 
 the matter on immediately, and let me know the will of 
 the President. It will give me but little concern either 
 way, whether I meet with favor or otherwise. 
 
 Your husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, July 5, 1868. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Suffering again with a terrible cold and wearied 
 with the apathy and indifference of those who call 
 themselves my friends, I cannot expect to impart com- 
 fort or detail matter of interest; yet duty and the 
 small instinct of humanity permitted to remain prompt 
 me to write, and at the same time to protest against this 
 outrage upon the laws and every principle of justice, in 
 my incarceration — robbing you and the family of the 
 solace and feeble support I might be capable of afford- 
 ing. I hate to reflect upon the manner I have been ac- 
 cused and brought here — the falsehoods of suborned 
 
312 THE LIFE OF J)lt. SAMUEL A. MLDD 
 
 perjurers, and testimony of 1 lie most infamous charac- 
 ters, suffered to outweigh the evidenee of men of un- 
 doubted veracity. 
 
 The last mail brought us news of the release of Sur- 
 ratt upon bail, and the abandonment of the prosecution 
 of the first indictment. Had this been done long ago 
 it would have been more creditable to the Government 
 and the parties immediately concerned. Surratt hav- 
 ing been virtually released finally, I can't perceive the 
 slightest justification for holding me and others. Had 
 Surratt been tried when we were he would undoubtedly 
 have suffered the fate of his innocent and unfortunate 
 mother. Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 6, 1868. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 Knowing the great trouble and expense of sending a 
 lawyer down from Alary land to take legal action in our 
 case, we concluded to engage one at Key West, who 
 offers to undertake all the cases of civilians here for 
 one hundred dollars in hand, and one hundred dollars 
 each upon release. 
 
 I am in daily expectation of seeing the executive 
 officer of the civil authority from Key West, although 
 I have not the least idea how it will terminate. I have 
 had no talk with any of the officers upon the subject, 
 deeming it impolitic. Should I be released, I know 
 not yet whether I will come home directly by sea, or by 
 land by way of New Orleans. 
 
 Your devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, August 19, 1868. 
 My precious Frank : 
 
 The mail boat came in this morning bringing yours 
 of August 3. Having to pass through the Provost 
 
THE LIFE OF Dli. SAMUEL A. MUD1) 313 
 
 Marshal's hands, I did not receive your letter until a 
 few minutes ago. The boat will return again in an 
 hour, so I have not time to tell you much. I am still 
 in ignorance of what is going- on. The lawyer to 
 whom 1 wrote at Key West came here this morning- on 
 the boat, but 1 have had no chance yet to speak to him. 
 He has made no attempt to my knowledge to call upon 
 me, so I can't divine his object. I am sorry it is not 
 in my power to make known some intelligence from 
 him. The mail is gone abroad, and my hope is to send 
 this per hand to Key West. The lawyer will return by 
 the boat, but should I have a chance to speak to him 
 before his leaving", I will endeavor to give him your 
 address, so that he can inform you the course things 
 are pursuing. 
 
 Your devoted and fond husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, September j, 1868. 
 Dear Jere : 
 
 Fearing you may not be acquainted with what has 
 been done at Key West in our behalf, 1 send you a 
 small clipping from the Key West Dispatch published 
 at that place. We interpret the delay of the opinion of 
 the judge as unfriendly, and that he only requires time 
 to study out from the legislation of the past Congress 
 a justification for his adverse decision. 
 
 General Mill told one of our number that the writ 
 would not be granted, if so, it seems that he was in Key 
 West at the time action was taken by counsel — he 
 either made himself acquainted with the views of those 
 in the interest of the Government, or he made known 
 the wish of the War Department at Washington and 
 exacted observance of the same. Time has elapsed 
 sufficiently for us to have heard the ruling of the judge. 
 We have very little hope of a favorable decision. 
 
314 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 I would like to know, in case the judge refuses to 
 grant the writ, whether an appeal will be taken, and if 
 those representing the Government will suffer it to go 
 before the Supreme Court. If they do, will it be done 
 only to run me beyond the means of obtaining defense, 
 or robbing me and family of every dime I might expect 
 to make this side of the grave? 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, October 10, 1868. 
 My darling : 
 
 The papers received the last mail make short men- 
 tion of the proceedings in Surratt's case. It is clearly 
 no interest of the Government to prosecute the man; 
 and no reason therefor can be assigned, except to serve 
 as an apology for the individuals who murdered his 
 innocent mother. This is apparent and can not be dis- 
 guised. They are like the horse in the mire — the more 
 they struggle to hide their bloody deed the deeper they 
 become involved. They tried him for murder and 
 proved, without doubt, the innocence of his unfortu- 
 nate mother. They will try him now, if they try him 
 at all, for conspiracy and will prove no crime on the 
 part of the son. It is a wonder the papers don't take 
 up the subject of the legality of our imprisonment, 
 especially since the developments made in the trial of 
 Surratt. The judge at Key West was evidently in- 
 structed not to grant the writ in our favor. He gave 
 no law nor good reason for sustaining his refusal. 
 
 My health is good, but I am far from being strong. 
 Our fare is tolerable with what we are able to buy. 
 Our sleeping quarters are the same miserable, damp 
 casemates. My bed is made of moss gathered from 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 315 
 
 the trees in Florida. It is very hard from long usage. 
 I have shaved off my mustache and trimmed my goatee 
 quite short, which has altered my appearance so much 
 that I scarcely knew myself when I looked in the glass. 
 I can perceive no wrinkles or gray hairs, although I 
 believe my hair is much thinner than when I left home. 
 Give my love to all and believe me, 
 
 Your fond and devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Baltimore, November 15, 1868. 
 My darling Sam : 
 
 I heard from you about the 28th of October. How 
 sad it makes me to know you are so gloomy. Have 
 courage a while linger; the darkest hour is just before 
 day, and our lives surely will not be a continual night. 
 
 I truly believe Johnson will release you before he 
 goes out of office ; and if he does not, I have assurance 
 Grant will, so for my sake bear up a while longer, and 
 God will send you safely home to me and our dear little 
 children. 
 
 I have been in Baltimore nearly two weeks, and will 
 remain a week longer. I went to Barnum's Hotel on 
 last Thursday to see a Mr. Kerr, who was on his way 
 to the Tortugas as commander. We mistook the 
 name, and failed to see him. I was very sorry, I think 
 I might have influenced him in his treatment to you. 
 Jere saw his father. He says he found him a fine old 
 gentleman. He told him his son was a good boy. I 
 hope he will show his goodness in his treatment of you. 
 Don't let an opportunity pass without writing, I am 
 now uneasy about you. 
 
 Your devoted wife, 
 
 Frank. 
 
316 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, December 4, 1868. 
 General B. H. Hill, 
 
 Commanding Post. 
 Sir : The boarding up in front of our quarters and 
 otherwise rendering our imprisonment more painful 
 and odious, leads us to believe was the result of secret 
 information which you deemed reliable. We very re- 
 spectfully ask an investigation in order that the truth 
 be made known. If we are to be held responsible for 
 every rumor or falsehood that may be trumped up by 
 the evil disposed, we are liable at any moment to be 
 called out and shot. I have the honor to be, 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 Samuel A. Mudd. 
 
 No answer was made by General Hill to the 
 above note. 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida, January 24, 1869. 
 My darling Frank : 
 
 To-day I received yours of January 1st, announcing 
 the death of our mother, and a greater mother to our 
 little children, thereby bringing us under a double debt 
 of parental affection and love. Can I forgive those 
 who have so inhumanly and maliciously caused our 
 separation, and deprived me of affording all the conso- 
 lation in my power — a debt of love and gratitude I 
 owe — to the kindest and most loving of mothers? 
 May the chastisement of Heaven fall upon and crush 
 them to a sense of their wrong. 
 
 I am well, but feel low and dejected in spirit. Tears 
 trickle at every thought of the death of my mother. 
 Her holy and precious life is my only consolation; for 
 I know she is now reaping the reward of her many 
 
THE LIFE OV 1>K. SAMUEL A. MIDD 317 
 
 virtues, freed from the pains and anxieties of tin's mis- 
 erable world. God grant we may terminate life with 
 such hopes of the promises of eternal reward. Do not 
 doubt the love I bear you and the children. It is all 
 that has kept me alive. Hoping' to see you soon, I am, 
 Your fond and devoted husband, 
 
 Sam. 
 
 Charles County, Md., January 30, 1869. 
 My darling Sam : 
 
 Your letter of January 8th I received on last 
 Wednesday, the first for a long time. When I last 
 wrote I was hoping that it would be the last letter I 
 would write to you on that miserable island, but T now 
 feel very, very hopeful that this will be my last. Every 
 body seems to think that Johnson will release you, 
 beyond a doubt, before his term of office expires; and 
 for myself I can't see how he can possibly get out of it, 
 after all the petitions and appeals which have been made 
 in your behalf. I feel very sanguine of seeing you 
 before the last of March. Should you be released, of 
 which there is but little doubt, you must hurry home, 
 for I assure you you are sadly needed. 
 
 I will send you a paper with the last petition from 
 the Maryland members of Congress, and Mr. Merrick's 
 and Mr. Stone's appeals in your behalf. You can 
 judge for yourself your chance, but I hope, before this 
 and the paper reach you, Mr. Johnson will have issued 
 an order for your release. May our Lord protect us 
 from another disappointment, for I am really in no 
 disposition to bear it. I put you under the protection 
 of our blessed Lord. I think He will bring you home 
 to me. Your devoted wife, 
 
 Frank. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 THE PARDON — HOME COMING SPANGIvER'S STATE- 
 MENT — THE CLOSING SCENE 
 
 War Department, Adjutant-General's office, 
 
 Washington, February 13, 1869. 
 Commanding Officer, 
 Fort Jefferson, 
 
 Dry Tortugas, Fla. 
 Sir : The Secretary of War directs that immediately 
 on receipt of the official pardon, just issued by the 
 President of the United States, in favor of Dr. Samuel 
 A. Mudd, a prisoner now confined at Dry Tortugas, 
 you release the said prisoner from confinement and 
 permit him to go at large where he will. 
 
 You will please report the execution of this order 
 and the date of departure of Dr. Mudd from the Dry 
 Tortugas. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully your obdt. servant, 
 
 E. D. Townsend, 
 Assistant Adjutant-General. 
 
 Headquarters, Fort Jefferson, Fla., 
 
 March 8, 1869. 
 Special Order No. 42 : 
 
 In obedience to communication from War Depart- 
 ment A. G. Office, Washington, D. C., dated February 
 13, 1869, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd (a prisoner) is hereby 
 released from confinement and permitted to go at large 
 where he will. 
 
 By order Brevt. Major General Hunt. 
 
 J. M. Lancaster, 
 Brevt. Capt. U. S. A., 1st Lieut. 3d Artillery, Adjutant. 
 
THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 319 
 
 In pursuance of the above orders my father 
 regained his liberty on the 8th day of March, 
 1869, having endured imprisonment for a 
 period of four years, lacking about six weeks. 
 Two days prior to the issue of the above order 
 from the War Department, on the 13th of 
 February, President Johnson wrote a note to 
 my mother and sent it to her home by a special 
 messenger, requesting her to come to Wash- 
 ington and receive my father's pardon. She 
 left for Washington immediately, but being 
 detained on the way, did not reach the city till 
 the following morning. Once there, she re- 
 paired, in company with Dr. J. H. Blandford, 
 my father's brother-in-law, to the White 
 House. In a few moments President Johnson 
 sent for my mother to come into the executive 
 office. There he delivered to her the papers 
 for the release of my father. My mother asked 
 him if the papers would go safely through the 
 mails. His reply, before he had signed the 
 papers, was: "Mrs. Mudd, I will put the Presi- 
 dent's seal on them. I have complied with my 
 promise to release your husband before I left 
 the White House. I no longer hold myself re- 
 sponsible. Should these papers go amiss you 
 may never hear from them again, as they may 
 be put away in some pigeon-hole or corner. I 
 guess, Mrs. Mudd, you think this is tardy jus- 
 tice in carrying out my promise made to you 
 two years ago. The situation was such, how- 
 ever, that I could not act as I wanted to do." 
 After he had signed and sealed the papers, 
 
320 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 he handed them to my mother, who took them, 
 thanked him and left. She had intended going 
 to the Dry Tortugas and delivering in person 
 the release to her long-afflicted husband. 
 This, however, she was not permitted to do, as 
 when she reached Baltimore, intending to take 
 the steamer from that port for the Dry Tor- 
 tugas, she found that the boat had departed a 
 few hours before her arrival, and that another 
 would not sail for two or three weeks. She 
 therefore sent the papers by express to her 
 brother in New Orleans, Thomas O. Dyer, 
 who paid a Mr. Loutrel three hundred dollars 
 to deliver them to my father at Fort Jeffer- 
 son. 
 
 On the 20th day of March, 1869, sixteen days 
 after President Johnson's term of office had ex- 
 pired, my father arrived home, frail, weak and 
 sick, never again to be strong during the thir- 
 teen years he survived. It is needless for me 
 to try to picture the feelings and incidents of 
 his home-coming. Pleasure and pain were 
 intermingled — pleasure to him to be once more 
 in his old home surrounded by his loved ones, 
 and pleasure to them to have him back once 
 more; pain to them to see him so broken in 
 health and strength, and pain to him to find his 
 savings all gone and his family almost desti- 
 tute. 
 
 Again we find him, after a brief period for 
 rest, engaged in the struggle to regain in a 
 measure his lost means and position. This he 
 never accomplished. He found himself sur- 
 
THE LIFE OE DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 321 
 
 rounded by exacting duties, yet handicapped 
 by innumerable disadvantages. There were 
 no laborers to cultivate the farm ; the fences 
 had fallen down or been destroyed by the Fed- 
 eral soldiery, and the fields were unprotected 
 against intrusive cattle; buildings were out 
 of repair, and money almost unobtainable. 
 His hardships in prison, however, had in a 
 measure taught him to be patient. Gradually 
 things became brighter. When the warm 
 glow of summer passed into harvest time, he 
 was encouraged by the fact that a generous 
 yield of earth's products rewarded him for his 
 labor. He only partially regained his practice. 
 While he was confined in prison many of the 
 families he had attended employed other phy- 
 sicians. Many of these families sought my 
 father's services on his return, but some did 
 not. Apart from this, the people of the neigh- 
 borhood had become comparatively poor by 
 reason of their losses occasioned by the war. 
 A great deal of his attention and skill was 
 therefore given gratuitously. 
 
 During the four years they were together 
 in prison Edward Spangler became very 
 much attached to my father. As a con- 
 sequence, a short time after Spangler's release, 
 he came to our home early one morning, and 
 his greeting to my mother, after my father had 
 introduced him, was: "Mrs. Mudd, I came 
 down last night, and asked some one to tell me 
 the way here. I followed the road, but when I 
 
 21 
 
322 THE LIFE OP DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 arrived I was afraid of your dogs, and I roosted 
 in a tree." He had come to stay. 
 
 He occupied himself chiefly in helping our 
 old gardener, Mr. Best, and in doing small 
 jobs of carpenter's work in the neighborhood. 
 My father gave him five acres of land in a wood 
 containing a bubbling spring, about five hun- 
 dred yards from our dwelling. Here Spangler 
 contemplated erecting a building and estab- 
 lishing for himself a home. This purpose, 
 however, was never to be realized. About 
 eighteen months after he came he contracted 
 a severe illness, the result of having been 
 caught in a heavy rain, which thoroughly 
 saturated his clothing. His sickness resulted 
 in his death — rheumatism of the heart being 
 the immediate cause. 
 
 He was a quiet, genial man, greatly re- 
 spected by the members of our family and the 
 people of the neighborhood. His greatest 
 pleasure seemed to be found in extending kind- 
 nesses to others, and particularly to children, 
 of whom he was very fond. Not long after his 
 death my father, in searching for a tool in 
 Spangler's tool chest, found a manuscript, in 
 Spangler's own handwriting, and presumably 
 written while he was in prison. This manu- 
 script contained Spangler's statement of his 
 connection with the great "conspiracy." 
 
 SPANGIvER'S statement. 
 
 I was born in York County, Pennsylvania, and am 
 about forty-three years of age, I am a house car- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 323 
 
 penter by trade, and became acquainted with J. Wilkes 
 Booth when a boy. I worked for his father in building 
 a cottage in Harford County, Maryland, in 1854. 
 Since A. D. 1853, I nave done carpenter work for the 4 
 different theaters in the cities of Baltimore and Wash- 
 ington, to wit: The Holiday Street Theater and the 
 Front Street Theater of Baltimore, and Ford's Theater 
 in the City of Washington. I have acted also as scene 
 shifter in all the above named theaters, and had a 
 favorable opportunity to become acquainted with the 
 different actors. I have acted as scene shifter in 
 Ford's Theater, ever since it was first opened up, to the 
 night of the assassination of President Lincoln. Dur- 
 ing the winter of A. D. 1862 and 1863, J. Wilkes 
 Booth played a star engagement at Ford's Theater for 
 two weeks. At that time I saw him and conversed 
 with him quite frequently. After completing his en- 
 gagement he left Washington and I did not see him 
 again until the winters of A. D. 1864 and 1865. I then 
 saw him at various times in and about Ford's Theater. 
 Booth had free access to the theater at all times, and 
 made himself very familiar with all persons connected 
 with it. He had a stable in the rear of the theater 
 where he kept his horses. A boy, Joseph Burroughs, 
 commonly called "Peanut John," took care of them 
 whenever Booth was absent from the city. I looked 
 after his horses, which I did at his request, and saw that 
 they were properly cared for. Booth promised to pay 
 me for my trouble, but he never did. I frequently had 
 the horses exercised, during Booth's absence from the 
 city, by "Peanut John," walking them up and down 
 the alley. "Peanut John" kept the key to the stable in 
 the theater,, hanging upon a nail behind the small door, 
 which opened into the alley at the rear of the theater. 
 Booth usually rode out on horseback every afternoon 
 and evening, but seldom remained out later than eight 
 
324 THE LIFE OF DK. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 or nine o'clock. He always went and returned alone. 
 I never knew of his riding out on horseback and stay- 
 ing out all night, or of any person coming to the stable 
 with him, or calling there for him. He had two horses 
 at the stable, only a short time. He brought them 
 there some time in the month of December. A man 
 called George and myself repaired and fixed the stable 
 for him. I usually saddled the horse for him when 
 "Peanut John" was absent. About the first of March 
 Booth brought another horse and a buggy and harness 
 to the stable, but in what manner I do not know ; after 
 that he used to ride out with his horse and buggy, and 
 I frequently harnessed them up for him. I never saw 
 any person ride out with him or return with him from 
 these rides. 
 
 On the Monday evening previous to the assassina- 
 tion, Booth requested me to sell the hprse, harness, and 
 buggy, as he said he should leave the city soon. I 
 took them the next morning to the horse market, and 
 had them put up at auction, with the instruction not to 
 sell unless they would net two hundred and sixty dol- 
 lars ; this was in accordance with Booth's orders to 
 me. As no person bid sufficient to make them net that 
 amount, they were not sold, and I took them back to 
 the stable. I informed Booth of the result that same 
 evening in front of the theater. He replied that he 
 must then try and have them sold at private sale, and 
 asked me if I would help him. I replied, "Yes." This 
 was about six o'clock in the evening, and the conversa- 
 tion took place in the presence of John F. Sleichman 
 and others. The next day I sold them for two hun- 
 dred and sixty dollars. The purchaser accompanied 
 me to the theater. Booth was not in, and the money 
 was paid to James J. Gifford, who receipted for it. I 
 did not see Booth to speak to him, after the sale, until 
 the evening of the assassination. 
 
THE LIFE OF 1>K. SAMUEL A. MUDD 325 
 
 Upon the afternoon of April 14 I was told by 
 "Peanut John" that the President and General Grant 
 were coming to the theater that night, and that I must 
 take out the partition in the President's box. It was 
 my business to do all such work, i w r as assisted in 
 doing it by Rittespaugh and "Peanut John." 
 
 In the evening, between five and six o'clock, Booth 
 came into the theater and asked me for a halter. I was 
 very busy at work at the time on the stage preparatory 
 to the evening performance, and Rittespaugh went up- 
 stairs and brought one down. I went out to the stable 
 with Booth and put the halter upon the horse. I com- 
 menced to take off the saddle when Booth said. 
 "Never mind, I do not want it off, but let it and the 
 bridle remain." He afterward took the saddle off 
 himself, locked the stable, and went back to the 
 theater. 
 
 Booth, Maddox, "Peanut John," and myself imme- 
 diately went out of the theater to the adjoining restau- 
 rant next door, and took a drink at Booth's expense. 
 I then went immediately back to the theatre, and Ritte- 
 spaugh and myself went to supper. I did not see 
 Booth again until between nine and ten o'clock. 
 About that time Deboney called to me, and said Booth 
 wanted me to hold his horse as soon as I could be 
 spared. I went to the back door and Booth was stand- 
 ing in the alley holding a horse by the bridle rein, and 
 requested me to hold it. I took the rein, but told him 
 I could not remain, as Gifford was gone, and that all of 
 the responsibility rested on me. Booth then passed 
 into the theater. I called to Deboney to send "Peanut 
 John" to hold the horse. He came, and took the 
 horse, and I went back to my proper place. 
 
 In about a half hour afterward I heard a shot fired, 
 and immediately saw a man run across the stage. I 
 saw him as he passed by the center door of the scenery. 
 
326 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 behind which I then stood ; this door is usually termed 
 the center chamber door. I did not recognize the man 
 as he crossed the stage as being Booth. I then heard 
 some one say that the President was shot. Immedi- 
 ately all was confusion. I shoved the scenes back as 
 quickly as possible in order to clear the stage, as many 
 were rushing upon it. I was very much frightened, 
 as I heard persons halloo, "Burn the theater!" I did 
 not see Booth pass out; my situation was such that I 
 could not see any person pass out of the back door. 
 The back door has a spring attached to it, and would 
 not shut of its own accord. I usually slept in the 
 theater, but I did not upon the night of the assassina- 
 tion; I was fearful the theater would be burned, and 
 I slept in a carpenter's shop adjoining. 
 
 I never heard Booth express himself in favor of the 
 rebellion, or opposed to the Government, or converse 
 upon political subjects; and I have no recollection of 
 his mentioning the name of President Lincoln in any 
 connection whatever. I know nothing of the mortise 
 hole said to be in the wall behind the door of the Presi- 
 dent's box, or of any wooden bar to fasten or hold the 
 door being there, or of the lock being out of order. I 
 did not notice any hole in the door. Gifford usually 
 attended to the carpentering in the front part of the 
 theater, while I did the work about the stage. Mr. 
 Gifford was the boss carpenter, and I was under him. 
 
 My father died from pneumonia, January 10, 
 1883, after an illness of nine days. He con- 
 tracted the disease while visiting the sick in 
 the neighborhood in the nighttime and in in- 
 clement weather. He was buried in Saint 
 Mary's cemetery, attached to the Bryantown 
 church, where he had first met Booth. He 
 was in the fiftieth year of his age at the time 
 of his death. 
 
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CHAPTER XX 
 
 DESCENDANTS OF DR. SAMUEL ALEXANDER MUDD 
 
 Prepared by Richard Dyer Mudd, M. D., 
 
 1001 Hoyt St., Saginaw, Michigan 
 
 DR. SAMUEL ALEXANDER MUDD b. nr. Bryan- 
 town, Md., 12-20-1833. d. nr. Waldorf, Md., 1-10- 
 1883. Son of Henry Lowe Mudd and Sarah Ann 
 Reeves. (For ancestry of Dr. Samuel Alexander 
 Mudd see the MUDD FAMILY OF THE UNITED 
 STATES, by Richard D. Mudd, M. D.) m. nr. 
 Bryantown, Md., 11-26-1857, Sarah Frances 
 ("Frank") Dyer (b. 3-15-1835; d. at home of her 
 daughter, Ernie Gardiner, 12-29-1911), dau. of 
 Thomas Benjamin Dyer and Elizabeth Reeder, both 
 of St. Mary's County, Md. 
 Issue '. 
 
 1. ANDREW JEROME b. abt. ll-x-1858. d. 11-25- 
 1882. Unmarried. 
 
 2. LILLIAN AUGUSTA b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 6-2- 
 1860; d. ibid, 1-16-1940. m. St. Ann 'Church, 
 Balto., Md., 1-24-1882, Frances Xavier Gardiner 
 (d. 2-28-1918), son of George Henry Gardiner 
 and Sophia Gardiner. 
 
 Issue '. 
 2.1 MARY MELITA ("LITA") b. nr. Waldorf, 
 Md., 11-1-1882; d. Wash., D.C., 2-22-1942, m. 
 Wash., D.C., 10-18-1913, William Joseph Neale, 
 (d. Wash., D.C., 3-23-1947), son of Augustine 
 Wills Neale and Jane Rose Matthews. 
 Issue ' 
 2.1.1 ELEANOR BROOKE b. Wash., D. C, 10-6- 
 1915. Res. Wash., D.C. m. Wash., D.C., 1-15- 
 1945, Bernard Frederick Auth, son of Frances 
 John Auth and Katherine Cecelia Kraus. 
 Issue i 
 2.1.1.1 BERNARD JOSEPH b. Wash., D.C, 11-30- 
 1945. 2.1.1.2 THOMAS NEALE b. ibid, 
 
328 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 12-28-1946. 2.1.1.3 MARY ELEANOR b. 
 ibid, 6-13-1949. 
 2.2. HENRY ELMER b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 2-13- 
 1884; d. Los Angeles, Calif., 7-19-1945. m. 
 Rochester. N. Y., 2-14-1920, Mary Elizabeth 
 Walp (res. Whittier, Calif.), dau. of James 
 Walp and Mary Elizabeth Sneed. 
 Issue : 
 
 2.2.1 ELIZABETH DOLORES b. Det., Mich., 2-18- 
 1921. Res. Whittier, Calif., m. Las Vegas, 
 Nevada, 3-26-1941, Harold Joseph Jacobs, son 
 of Adolph Jesse Jacobs and Mildred Simon. 
 Issue i 
 
 2.2.1.1 PATRICIA ELIZABETH b. Los Angeles, 
 Calif., 4-1-1945. 
 
 2.2.1.2 ALLEN JOSEPH b. Whittier, Calif., 2-11- 
 1950. 
 
 2.2.2 MARY JEAN b. Phila., Pa., 1-16-1924. Res. 
 Temple City, Calif, m. Yuma, Ariz., 12-9-1951, 
 Samuel Lowrey Robinson, son of William 
 Arthur Robinson and Dollie Katheryn Cham- 
 berlin. No issue. 
 
 2.3 JOSEPH MERTON ("MERT") b. nr. Waldorf, 
 Md., 10-11-1885. Res. Baltimore, Md. Un- 
 married. 
 
 2.4 (JOSEPH) CLEMENT ("CLEM") b. nr. Wal- 
 dorf, Md., 6-25-1887. Res. Baltimore, Md. Un- 
 married. 
 
 2.5 CHARLES LEROY ("ROY") b. Balto., Md., 
 2-18-1889. Disappeared while a Merchant 
 Marine, in 1929, and was never heard of again. 
 Unmarried. 
 
 2.6 STANISLAUS KOSTKA DAVID b. Balto., 
 Md., 3-8-1891. Res. Balto., Md. m. (1st) Bal- 
 timore, Md. 3-5-1913, Annie Virginia Gosling, 
 dau. of Walter George Gosling and Harriet 
 Louise Deemer. 
 
 Issue : 
 2.6.1 GEORGE STANLEY b. Balto., Md., 11-2- 
 1914. Res. Balto., Md. Unmarried. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 329 
 
 2.6.2 RUSSELL LEROY b. ibid, 8-24-1917. Res. 
 Balto., Md., m. Balto., Md., 12-2-1950, Marian 
 Josephine Amato, dau. of Joseph Amato and 
 Mary Antoinette Volo. 
 
 Issue '. 
 2.6.2.1 LINDA JEANNE b. Balto., Md., 5-22-1952. 
 
 2.6.3 HARRIETT LOUISE b. Balto., Md., 2-9-1920. 
 Res. Balto., Md. m. Balto., Md., 9-9-1946, 
 Henry Mullaney, son of John Joseph Mullaney 
 and Mary Magdelene Lindner. 
 
 Issue * 
 2.6.3.1 GREGORY COLE b. Balto., Md., 9-25-1947. 
 2.6.3.2. GARY EDMUND b. ibid, 12-5-1950. 
 m. (2nd) Balto., Md., 9-24-1935, Sadie Crezen- 
 tia Mullaney, dau. of John Joseph Mullaney 
 and Mary Magdelene Lindner. 
 Issue ! 
 
 2.6.4 ANITA LILLIAN b. Balto., Md., 11-18-1936. 
 2.6.5 DAVID KOSTKA b. ibid, 2-3-1940. 
 
 2.7 SOPHIA ALTHEA (PATSY) b. Balto., Md., 
 3-17-1893. Res. Balto., Md. Unmarried. 
 
 2.8 WILLIAM LEO b. Balto., Md., 9-10-1895. Res. 
 Balto., Md., m. Balto., Md., 9-10-1917, Mary 
 Etta Travnor, dau. of Francis Traynor and Ella 
 Kelly. 
 
 Issue ' 
 2.8.1 WILLIAM LEO JR. b. Balto., 11-29-1925. 
 Res. Balto., Md. m. Balto., Md., 5-30-1947, 
 Anna Marie Logan, dau. of William Bernard 
 Logan and Anna Hedwig Tippman. 
 Issue i 
 2.8.1.1 CATHERINE ANN b. Charlotte, N.C., 11- 
 7-1949. 2.8.1.2 WILLIAM LEO III b. ibid, 
 6-17-1952. 
 
 2.9 WILLIAM RUSSELL b. Balto., Md., 4-15-1898. 
 Res. Balto., Md. m. Balto., Md., 4-15-1925, Mar- 
 garet Eugenia Cecil, dau. of John Francis Cecil 
 and Margaret Delia Stone. 
 
 Issue i 
 2.9.1 JANE FRANCES b. Balto., Md., 8-9-1926. 
 
330 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Res. Balto., Md. m. Balto., Md., 12-27-1947, 
 Daniel Michael Hipsley, son of Daniel Henry 
 Hipsley, and Sophia Josephine Zimmerman, 
 both of Balto., Md. 
 Issue i 
 2.9.1.1 MARY MICHAEL b. Balto., Md., 11-13- 
 1949. 2.9.1.2 LINDA JANE b. ibid 7-13- 
 1951. 2.9.1.3 DANIEL PATRICK b. ibid 
 6-3-1953. 2.9.1.4 MICHAEL DENNIS b. 
 ibid, 6-15-1954. 
 2.9.2 JAMES RUSSELL ("JIM") b. Balto., Md., 
 4-14-1928. Res. Balto., Md. m. Balto., Md., 
 4-14-1951, Ann Margaret Vitek, dau. of 
 Joseph Francis Vitek and Margaret Emma- 
 Louise Robinson. No issue. 
 2.10 LILLIAN AUGUSTA ("LILLIE") b. Balto., 
 Md., 3-23-1901. Res. officer in U.S. Public 
 Health Service, awaiting assignment, in 
 Wash., D.C. Unmarried. 
 3. THOMAS DYER b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 6-6-1861. 
 d. Wash., D.C, 2-11-1929. m. (1st) Wash., D.C, 
 12-29-1898, Mary Elizabeth Hartigan, (b. Brook- 
 lyn, N.Y. 1871; d. Wash., D.C, 4-9-1917), dau. 
 of Patrick Joseph Hartigan and Mary Ann Cava- 
 naugh (d. Wash., D.C, 8-8-1916). m. (2nd) 
 Wash., D.C, 7-11-1922, Amelia Baker (b. Win- 
 fall, N.C, 4-29-1888), dau. of Andrew Jackson 
 Baker and Mary Frances Spence. No issue by 
 second marriage. 
 Issue i (1st) 
 3.1 STELLA MARIE b. Wash., D.C, 12-6-1899. 
 Res. Sacra., Calif., m. Wash., D.C, 12-29-1924, 
 Lawrence Anderson Kelley, son of Wilson 
 Kelley and Daisy Burgess. 
 Issue i 
 
 3.1.1 WILLIAM THOMAS b. Sacra., Calif., 10-29- 
 1925. Res. at home. Unmarried. 
 
 3.1.2 MARY EMMA b. ibid, 6-13.-1927. Res. State 
 Dept. teacher in West Germany. Unmarried. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 331 
 
 3.1.3 RICHARD LAWRENCE b. ibid, 1-31-33. 
 Res. at home. Unmarried. 
 
 3.2 RICHARD DYER b. Wash., D.C., 1-24-1901. 
 Res. Saginaw, Mich. m. Ravenna, Nebr., 6-20- 
 1928, Rose Marie Krummack, (b. Ravenna, 
 Nebr., 6-16-1903), dau. of Joseph Francis 
 Krummack, (b. Altoona, Pa., 9-15-1867; d. 
 Saginaw, Mich., 8-6-1949), and Johanna Mae 
 Siebert, (b. Austria-Hungary, 6-16-1877; res. 
 Saginaw, Mich.) . 
 Issue '. 
 
 3.2.1 MARY MARGARET b. Det., Mich., 3-12- 
 
 1929. Res. Mill Valley, Calif, m. Saginaw, 
 Mich., 1-3-1951, John Edward McHale. Jr., 
 (b. Houston, Texas, 9-11-1925), son of John 
 Edward McHale and Robbie Scoggins. 
 Issue : 
 
 3.2.1.1 MARY KATHLEEN b. Los Angeles, Calif., 
 10-30-1951. 3.2.1.2 MICHAEL JOSEPH 
 b. San Rafael, Calif., 1-14-1953. 3.2.1.3 
 MARY THERESE b. ibid, 3-14-1954. 3.2.1.4 
 JOHN EDWARD b. ibid, 5-25-1955. 
 
 3.2.2 RICHARD DYER JR. b. Det, Mich., 6-5- 
 
 1930. Res. U. S. Air Force, in Okinawa, m. 
 St. Louis, Mo., 2-7-1953, Marilyn Lou Eales, 
 (b. 2-14-1934), dau. of Feran Kavar Eales 
 and Florence Louise Schmitt. 
 
 Issue i 
 3.2.2.1 LINDA KAY b. Greenville, Miss., 12-4- 
 1953. 
 
 3.2.3 JOSEPH FRANCIS b. Det, Mich., 1-30-1932. 
 Res. U.S. Air Force, Stallings AFB, Kinston, 
 N.C. m. Bellmore, L.I., N.Y., 6-5-1954, Rose- 
 mary McPadden, (b. Brooklyn, N.Y., 2-6- 
 1931) dau. of William Vincent McPadden and 
 Grace Agatha Foeller. 
 
 3.2.4 JOHANNA MAE b. Det, Mich., 3-26-1933. 
 Res. at home, Saginaw, Mich. Unmarried. 
 
 3.2.5. ROSE MARIE b. Det, Mich., 10-31-1938. 
 3.2.6.THOMAS BOARMAN b. Det, Mich., 
 
332 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 9-29-1940. 3.2.7 STELLA KELLY b. San 
 Antonio, Texas, 1-20-1946. 
 
 3.3 THOMAS PAUL b. Wash., D.C., 10-24-1902. 
 Res. Wash., D.C., m. Wash., D.C., 6-27-1929, 
 Frances Mary Finotti, dau. of Francis Mary 
 ("Frank") Finotti and Ellen Dunn Harleston. 
 Issue i 
 
 3.3.1 THOMAS PAUL JR. b. Wash., D.C., 5-13- 
 1930. Res. Student for Priesthood, Balto., Md. 
 
 3.3.2 FRANCIS FINOTTI ("FRANK") b. ibid, 
 5-13-1930. Res. Wash., D.C. Unmarried. 
 
 3.3.3 JOHN PHILIP b. Wash., D.C, 8-22-1932. 
 Res. Wash., D.C. Unmarried. 
 
 3.3.4 MARY CATHERINE b. Dallas, Texas, 5-18- 
 1935. Res. Wash., D.C. Unmarried. 
 
 3.3.5 RICHARD JOSEPH ALOYSIUS b. Wash., 
 D.C, 4-4-1941. 
 
 3.3.6 JOSEPH VALENTINE b. ibid, 1-6-1947. 
 
 3.4 ROBERT LEO b. Wash., D.C, 5-4-1905. d. 
 Wash., D.C, 6-15-1955. m. Wash., D.C, 6-8- 
 1931, Evelyn Mary Scharnikow, dau. of Harry 
 Joseph Scharnikow and Honora Fitzgerald. 
 Issue • 
 
 3.4.1 RITA MARIE b. Wash., D.C, 3-30-1932. Res. 
 Wash., D.C. Unmarried. 
 
 3.4.2 MARY EILEEN b. Wash., D.C, 12-19-1934. 
 Res. Arlington, Va. m. Wash., D.C, 10-30- 
 1952, Franklin Albert Joyce, son of Charles 
 DeCou Joyce and Marguerite Eleanor Stans- 
 bury. 
 
 Issue i 
 3.4.2.1 PATRICIA ANN b. Arlington, Va., 10-12- 
 1953. 3.4.2.2 SUSAN MARIE b. Wash., 
 D.C, 10-2-1954. 
 
 3.4.3 ROBERT LEO JR., b.Wash., D.C, 7-22-1939. 
 3.4.4 ROSEMARY b. ibid, 11-25-1941. 
 
 4. SAMUEL ALEXANDER II b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 
 1-30-1864. d. nr. Waldorf, Md., 6-21-1930. m. 
 St. Martin's Church, Balto., Md., 11-17-1897, 
 Claudine Louise Burch (b. Bryantown, Md., 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 333 
 
 5-25-1875), dau. of John Marine Burch and 
 
 Emily Teresa Boone. 
 
 Issue * 
 4.1 MARY PHYLLIS b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 9-16- 
 1898. Res. Tompkinsville, Md. m. St. Peter's 
 Church, Waldorf, Md., 11-22-1919, John Ed- 
 ward Frere (d. 2-27-39), son of William Joseph 
 Frere and Josephine Phillips. 
 Issue \ 
 
 4.1.1 JOHN EDWARD JR. b. Tompkinsville, Md., 
 10-5-1920. Res. Bel Alton, Md., m. St. Igna- 
 tius Church, Chapel Point, Md., 1-17-1942, 
 Mary Jane Jarboe, dau. of Joseph Benjamin 
 Jarboe and Jessie Darg, of Bel Alton, Md. 
 Issue i 
 
 4.1.1.1 JOHN EDWARD III b. Wash., D.C., 5-13- 
 
 1947. 4.1.1.2 JUDITH ANNE b. ibid, 5-3- 
 1949. 
 
 4.1.2 WILLIAM JOSEPH b. Tompkinsville, Md., 
 4-12-1922. Res. Tompkinsville, Md. m. St. 
 Peter's Church, Wash., D.C., 6-21-1947, Mary 
 Louise Carmel Simpson, dau. of George 
 Roland Simpson and Angela Tippett, of New- 
 port, Md. 
 
 Issue i 
 4.1.2.1 THERESA ANNE b. LaPlata, Md., 7-10- 
 
 1948. 4.1.2.2 WILLIAM JOSEPH JR. b. 
 ibid, 7-3-1950. 4.1.2.3 GEORGE EDWARD 
 b. ibid, 4-1-1952. 4.1.2.4 MARY ANGELA 
 b. ibid, 4-3-1954. 
 
 4.1.3 SAMUEL PHILLIPS b. Tompkinsville, Md., 
 8-6-1923. Res. Bel Alton, Md., m. Holy Trinity 
 Church, Wash., D.C., 3-5-1945, Doris Anna 
 Hatch, dau. of Beacham Montague Hatch and 
 Marian Leona Mason, of Alexandria, Va. 
 Issue '. 
 
 4.1.3.1 PHYLLIS ELAINE b. LaPlata, Md., 8-19- 
 1951. 
 
 4.1.4 CHARLES RICHARD b. Tompkinsville, Md. 
 12-10-1924. Res. Bel Alton, Md., m. Holy 
 
334 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Ghost Church, Issue, Md., 12-16-1946, Clara 
 Charlotte Spalding, dau. of Charles Harry 
 Spalding and Mary Violet Tippett, of Leon- 
 ardtown, Md. 
 Issue * 
 4.1.4.1 CHARLES RICHARD JR. b. LaPlata, Md., 
 9-25-1948. 4.1.4.2 MARY KAY b. ibid, 1-9- 
 1950. 4.1.4.3 JOSEPH LARRY b. ibid, 
 8-5-1951. 4.1.4.4 THOMAS KEITH b. ibid 
 10-6-1953. 
 
 4.1.5 MARIE CARMELITE b. Tompkinsville, Md., 
 11-10-1927. Res. Tompkinsville, Md., m. Holy 
 Ghost Church, Issue, Md., 10-28-1950, Ferdi- 
 nand Cash Cooksey (d. 10-23-1952), son of 
 William Elmer Cooksey and Amy Lee Cook- 
 sey. 
 
 Issue ' 
 4.1.5.1 FERDINAND CASH JR. b. LaPlata, Md., 
 12-5-1951. 4.1.5.2 JEAN MARIE b. ibid, 
 1-7-1953. 
 
 4.1.6 MARION* LOUISE b. Tompkinsville, Md., 
 11-10-1927. Unmarried. Res. Tompkinsville, 
 Md. 
 
 4.1.7 JAMES ROBERT b. Tompkinsville, Md., 
 1-30-1929. d. ibid, 6-30-1930. 
 
 4.1.8 JAMES MERRICK b. Wash., D.C., 11-19- 
 1931. Res. Wayside, Md. m. Holy Ghost 
 Church, Issue, Md., 2-7-1952, Muriel Jean 
 Dye, dau. of John Dye and Elizabeth Parks, 
 both of Anawalt, W. Va. 
 
 Issue i 
 4.1.8.1 JAMES MERRICK JR. b. LaPlata, Md., 
 3-6-1954. 
 
 4.1.9 FRANCIS BARROW ("BARRY") b. Wash., 
 D.C., 6-24-1937. Res. at home. 
 
 4.1.10 EDWARD MUDD b. LaPlata, Md., 4-18- 
 1939. 
 
 4.2 LUCILLE AUGUSTA b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 8-1- 
 1900. d. LaPlata, Md., 2-13-1946. m. St. Peter's 
 Church, Waldorf, Md., 11-29-1924, John Fran- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 335 
 
 cis Summers, son of Edwin Gwynn Summers 
 and Annie Mace, Res. of widower, Baden, Md. 
 Issue i 
 
 4.2.1 JOHN FRANCIS JR. b. nr. Baden, Md., 4-1- 
 1926. Unmarried. Res. at home. 
 
 4.2.2 EDWIN GWYNN b. ibid, 6-8-1928. Res. 
 Hyattsville, Md., m. St. Joseph's Church, 
 Wash., D. C 8-8-1947, Marjorie Eleanor 
 Edelen (b. Gaithersburg, Md., 5-31-1927), 
 dau. of E. Richard Edelen, of Surrattsville, 
 Md., and Georgie H. Wilkerson, of Aquasco, 
 Md. 
 
 Issue ! 
 4.2.2.1 SHARON LUCILLE b. Wash., D.C., 7-31- 
 1949. 4-2-2-2 DEBORAH MARIE b. Hyatts- 
 ville, Md., 9-4-1952. 
 
 4.2.3 MARIE LUCILLE b. nr. Baden, Md., 5-21- 
 
 1930. Is. Sr. Carmelita Marie. Res. Bon 
 Secour Convent, Balto., Md. 
 
 4.2.4 EVELYN ANNE ("NANCY") b. ibid, 11-15- 
 
 1931. Unmarried. 
 
 4.2.5 SAMUEL JOSEPH b. ibid, 5-12-1934. Un- 
 married. 
 
 4.2.6 LAWRENCE JOSEPH ("LARRY") b. 
 Balto., Md., 3-23-1936. Res. in U.S. Marines, 
 Paris Is S C 
 
 4.3 CHRISTINE* EVELINE b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 
 12-24-1902. Res. Newport, Md. m. St. Mary's 
 Church, Newport, Md., 4-16-1922, William 
 Noble Clements, (b. 6-17-1893), son of Robert 
 Lee Clements and Mary Florence Thompson. 
 Issue '. 
 4.3.1 EVELYN DORIS b. Newport, Md., 4-5-1923. 
 Res. Indianhead, Md. m. St. Mary's Church, 
 Newport, Md., 5-29-1943, Thomas Albert 
 Brooks (b. Liverpool, Eng., 8-11-1915), son 
 of George Brooks and Florrie Woodhouse. 
 Issue : 
 4.3.1.1 EVELYN ALICE b. LaPlata, Md., 10-1- 
 
336 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 1944. 4.3.1.2 SANDRA JEAN b. ibid, 11- 
 28-1948. 
 
 4.3.2 WILLIAM NOBLE JR. b. Newport, Md., 
 10-5-1927. Res. Newport, Md. m. St. Peter's 
 Church, Waldorf, Md., 6-24-1950, Gretchen 
 Lamar Perrie, (b. Aquasco, Md., 5-19-1920), 
 dau. of Joseph Summerfield Perrie and Gret- 
 chen Summers, both of Aquasco, Md. 
 
 Issue ! 
 4.3.2.1 WILLIAM NOBLE III b. LaPlata, Md., 
 6-1-1951. 
 
 4.3.3 JOSEPH ALLISON b. Newport, Md., 5-9- 
 1932. Res. U. S. Army, Fort Riley, Kansas. 
 Unmarried. 
 
 4.3.4 EDWARD VIANNEY b. ibid, 7-24-1934. Res. 
 at home. 
 
 4.3.5 THOMAS CARROLL b. ibid, 1-9-1938. 4-3- 
 6 LEONARD JEROME b. ibid, 1-16-1940. 
 
 4.4 SAMUEL ALEXANDER III b. nr. Waldorf, 
 Md., 3-8-1905. d. Balto., Md., 12-29-1929. Un- 
 married. 
 
 4.5 EMILY TERESA b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 12-25- 
 1906. Res. Richmond, Va. m. St. Peter's Church, 
 Waldorf, Md., 6-21-1936, William Emery 
 Rogerson, son of William Rogerson and Julia 
 Elizabeth Poole, of Wash., D.C. (both dec.) 
 Issue i 
 
 4.5.1 WILLIAM EMERY JR. b. Richmond, Va., 
 4-3-1937. d. ibid, 8-4-1937. 
 
 4.5.2 WILLIAM DONALD b. ibid, 12-20-1938. 
 
 4.6 JOSEPH BURCH b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 4-7- 
 1909. Res. Waldorf, Md. m. St. Peter's Church, 
 Waldorf, Md., 11-28-1931, Helen Louise Simp- 
 son, dau. of Thomas Albert Simpson and Mary 
 Ida Bowman. 
 
 Issue : 
 
 4.6.1 JOSEPH ALLEN b. Wash., D.C, 10-28-1932. 
 
 Res. U. S. Army, Camp Irwin, Calif, m. St. 
 
 Francis DeSales Church, Rock Point, Md., 
 
 11-23-1952, Barbara Marie Wise (res. Wash., 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 337 
 
 D.C.), dau. of Herbert Francis Wise and 
 Grace Marie Stine, of Rock Point, Md. 
 No issue. 
 
 4.6.2 PATRICIA ANN b. Wash., D.C., 4-9-1935. 
 Res. Wash., D.C., m. St. Peter's Church, Wal- 
 dorf, Md., 9-25-1954, Julian Blacklock Wills. 
 
 4.6.3 SAMUEL ALEXANDER b. Wash., D.C., 
 8-22-1936. 
 
 4.6.4 HELEN ELIZABETH b. ibid, 9-23-1938. 
 
 4.6.5 MARY NACY LEE b. LaPlata, Md., 12-12- 
 1940. 
 
 4.6.6 DAVID BRIAN b. LaPlata, Md., 10-17-1944. 
 
 4.7 MARIE CARMELITE b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 
 9-28-1911. m. St. Peter's Church, Waldorf, Md., 
 7-3-1934, George Mace Summers, (b. 11-29- 
 1901), son of Edwin Gwynn Summers and 
 Annie Mace. Res. Wash., D.C 
 
 Issue i 
 4.7.1 GEORGE MACE JR. b. Wash., D.C, 10-9- 
 1936. 4.7.2 ROBERT KENNETH b. ibid, 
 11-12-1938. 4.7.3 ALLAN KING b. ibid, 
 11-3-1942. 4.7.4 PATRICK MUDD b. ibid, 
 7-13-1948. 4.7.5 ANITA MARIE b. ibid, 
 2-6-1950. 
 
 4.8 CECILIA DYER (SR. MARY SAMUELA) b. 
 nr. Waldorf, Md., 4-6-1914. Res. Sisters of the 
 Holy Cross, Balto., Md., 
 
 4.9 CLAUDINE LOUISE b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 
 6-9-1917. Res. Waldorf, Md. m. St. Peter's 
 Church, Waldorf, Md., 11-24-1934, Bernard 
 Hampton Cox, son of Robert Hampton Cox and 
 Kathryn Josephine Mudd. 
 
 Issue * 
 
 4.9.1 SHIRLEY MARIE b. Wash., D.C, 6-25-1935. 
 m. St. Peter's Church, Waldorf, Md., 5-22- 
 1954, John Francis Hardesty Jr., son of John 
 Francis Hardesty and Ester Lena Mayer. 
 
 4.9.2 MARGARET ANN b. Wash., D.C, 10-11- 
 1936. d. Wash., D.C. 2-20-1937. 
 
 4.9.3 BERNARD HAMPTON JR. b. ibid, 6-12- 
 1939. 
 
338 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 5. HENRY b. nr. Waldorf, Md., abt. 1869-70. d. 
 at age of 8 months. 
 
 6. STELLA MARIE b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 7-4-1871. 
 Sr. Rosamunda, of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, 
 died, Ogden, Utah, 12-13-1952. 
 
 7. EDWARD JOSEPH b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 7-28- 
 1873. d. Annapolis, Md., 12-22-1946. m. Wash., 
 D.C., 6-6-1900, Gertrude Veronica Casey, dau. of 
 James Francis Casey and Catherine Elizabeth 
 McCarthy. 
 
 No issue. 
 
 8. ROSE DE LIMA b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 10-8- 
 1875, d. at home, nr. Waldorf, Md., 3-15-1943. m. 
 Balto., Md., 2-13-1901, Albert J. Gardiner (b. 
 9-29-1847; d. 5-13-1934), son of Thomas Syl- 
 vester Gardiner and Mary Eliza Mudd. 
 
 Issue * 
 
 8.1 SAMUEL JEROME b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 11-9- 
 1901. Res. Waldorf, Md., m. St. John's Church, 
 Clinton, Md., 1-4-1926, Elizabeth Ann Virginia 
 Mudd (b. Clinton, Md., 10-18-1903), dau. of 
 Bernard Albert Mudd, (b. 5-26-1869), and 
 Frances Edith Middleton, (b. 5-8-1870), both 
 of Clinton, Md. 
 
 Issue i 
 8.1.1. ELIZABETH ANN VIRGINIA b. nr. Wal- 
 dorf, Md., 12-9-1927. Res. Waldorf, Md. m. 
 Wash., D.C. 2-11-1949, Roy Franklin Daugh- 
 erty, (b. 4-11-1928) son of Leonard Clay 
 Daughtrey (b. Caneyville, Ky.) and Edna 
 Wells, (b. Falls of Rough, Ky.). 
 Issue '. 
 8.1.1.1 ROY FRANKLIN JR. b. Wash., D.C, 9-21- 
 1950. 8.1.1.2 ELIZABETH ANN b. La- 
 Plata, Md., 2-11-54. 
 
 8.1.2 FRANCES EDITH b. Waldorf, Md., 4-22- 
 1929. Unmarried. 
 
 8.1.3 PAUL ROBERT b. ibid, 1-11-1931. Un- 
 married. 
 
 8.2 ALBERT JOSEPH b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 9-10- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 339 
 
 1903. Res. Waldorf, Md. m. Medley's Neck, St. 
 Mary's Co., Md., 9-13-1941, Mrs. Thelma Kath- 
 leen Fowler Lippold (2 children by 1st marri- 
 age). 
 Issue : 
 8.2.1 DELORES ROSE b. Waldorf, Md., 6-8-1943. 
 8.2.2 FRANCIS JOSEPH b. ibid, 8-14-1945. 
 
 8.3 (SARAH) FRANCES b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 
 5-2-1907. Res. Wash., D.C. Unmarried. 
 
 8.4 JAMES RUDOLPH b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 8-9- 
 1911. Res. Waldorf, Md. m. St. Mary's Church, 
 Piscataway, Md., 1-22-1938, Mary Edith Mudd 
 (b. Piscataway, Md., 7-4-1918) dau. of Ernest 
 Irving Mudd and Dorothy Eleanor Cooke, of 
 Clinton, Md. 
 
 Issue i 
 
 8.4.1 JAMES CHRISTOPHER b. Wash., D.C, 10- 
 12-1949. 
 
 8.4.2 CATHARINE ANITA b. ibid, 10-14-1950. 
 
 8.4.3 STEVEN RUDOLPH b. ibid, 6-18-1952. 
 
 8.5 MARY MARJORIE b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 5-7- 
 1914. Res. Wash., D.C. Unmarried. 
 
 8.6 JOSEPH BERNARD b. nr. Waldorf, Md., 8-12- 
 1916. Res. Waldorf, Md., m. St. John's Church, 
 Clinton, Md., 8-12-1942, Dorothy Eleanor Mudd 
 (b. 12-20-1922) dau. of Ernest Irving Mudd 
 and Dorothy Eleanor Cooke, of Clinton, Md. 
 Issue i 
 
 8.6.1 DOROTHY ELEANOR b. LaPlata, Md., 8-30- 
 
 1945. 8.6.2. MARIE BERNICE b. ibid, 9-11- 
 
 1946. 8.6.3 JOSEPH BERNARD JR. b. ibid, 
 8-6-1947. 8.6.4 ERNEST PATRICK b. ibid, 
 3-18-1949. 8.6.5 ROGER LEE b. ibid, 11-16- 
 
 1950. 8.6.6 SANDRA JEAN b. ibid, 11-9- 
 
 1951. 8.6.7 STELLA ROSE b. Wash., D.C, 
 11-13-1952. 
 
 9. MARY ELEANOR ("NETTIE") b. nr. Wal- 
 dorf, Md., 1-10-1878. d. Balto., Md., 12-31-1943. 
 m. Balto., Md., 12-8-1906, Daniel Eldridge Mon- 
 roe (d. 9-14-1914). 
 
340 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Issue * 
 
 9.1 WILLIAM ELDRIDGE JR. b. Balto., Md., 
 9-27-1907. d. 1907. 
 
 9.2 SARAH FRANCES b. ibid, 9-27-1907. d. 1907. 
 
 9.3 JAMES VICTOR b. ibid, 11-7-1908. Res. Balto., 
 Md. Unmarried. 
 
 9.4 FRANCES DYER b. ibid, 10-12-1910. Res. 
 Balto., Md. m. St. Gregory Church, Balto., Md., 
 6-27-1943, Albert Clinton Welling. No issue. 
 
 (NOTE: When the expression "near Waldorf, Md." 
 is used, reference is made to the home of Dr. Samuel 
 Alexander Mudd, which was, and still is, located on 
 the 'Gallant Green Road, 9 running East and West 
 between Beantown and Malcolm, Md., and lies ap- 
 proximately % miles North of that portion of Zekiah 
 Swamp known as 'Devil's Nest/ #*4 niiles West of 
 Malcolm. 
 
 The St. Peter's Church, Waldorf, Md., referred to 
 many times, is also on Gallant Green Road, being 
 approximately l 1 /^ miles East of Beantown, Md.) 
 
*,W¥ 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 LETTERS NOT IN ORIGINAL EDITION 
 DR. MUDD'S PARDON 
 
 Bryantown, Chas. Co., Md. Jan. 13th, 1862 
 0. A. Brownson 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 I sometimes since received a bill from your pub- 
 lisher in New York — whom I wrote stating my 
 reasons for withdrawing my subscription to your 
 once able review for non payment of the present 
 account. I now repeat in substance what I then 
 wrote to the publisher — viz. that I had not been a 
 subscriber since 1859— the Rev. Father Vizinanzi 
 was then agent — The Review continued to be rec'd 
 in 1860. I inquired of Father Vizinanzi whether he 
 had erased my name from his list of subscribers? 
 He told me he had. When the first Vol. 1860 was 
 rec'd I considered it a mistake or negligence on the 
 part of the Agent — but learning to the contrary I 
 considered it a gratuity or inducement for further 
 subscription — so I did not trouble myself until the 
 reception of a bill from the Publisher in New York 
 — to which I replied immediately that I was no sub- 
 scriber and ordered it to be discontinued. It was 
 sent again in 1861 until receiving a bill, which I 
 again a second time responded to, and stated that 
 many of the Vols. I had refused to take from the 
 office — and at his request and expense, those that 
 I had and those in the Post Office would be return- 
 ed. This is the third time I have been troubled 
 on your account, and I am in hopes you will not 
 bother me again, unless you can show clearly- that 
 I am truly indebted to you. 
 
 "It is hard to kiss the hand that smites." Through 
 you our country beloved by its people and the won- 
 der of the world, lias rec'd. an irreparable injury. 
 
342 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Your encouragement to the Revolutionist and men 
 of no religion of Europe — Your condemnation of the 
 National party or parties, and influence given to 
 Sectionalism and the fear of rendering yourself 
 unpopular in the North — has had a great weight 
 in bringing about the present deplorable state of 
 our Country — You have even advocated revolution 
 here, in order to be consistent with your language 
 upon European affairs, forgetting that there is no 
 rule without an exception, and the principles of the 
 Constitution. 
 
 The present Civil War now raging, was not 
 brought about entirely by fear on the part of the 
 South, that their property in Slaves was endangered, 
 but more by an unwillingneess to yield up rights 
 guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States 
 — the privilege of framing laws and enjoying all 
 immunities not reserved by the General Constitu- 
 tion. The South could not give up State rights — 
 The North found Slavery unprofitable, therefore, 
 abolished it, without any interference by the South 
 — and all we have asked is the exercise of the same 
 power and right. Under the system of State Rights, 
 under the Constitution of the United States— Every 
 Abolitionist is a disunionist. Republicanism we view 
 in the same light on account of its exclusiveness and 
 Sectionalism. We do not object to Republicanism 
 or Abolitionism being a State organization or party, 
 (provided they are passive) because the right 
 the power is accorded under the Constitution. But 
 we are bitterly opposed to its being brought into 
 National Politics or its principles rendering fit, an 
 officer to execute or legislate for our Common 
 Country. A majority of the people of the North — 
 believe Slavery to be Sinful, thereby they attempt 
 to force down our throats, their religious Convic- 
 tion, which is Anti-Catholic and uncharitable. 
 
 The North on account of its pride, shortsighted- 
 ness, hypocricy and much phylanthropy — has caused 
 the destruction of one of the most glorious nations 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 343 
 
 upon the face of the earth. The South even those 
 termed Seceders and leaders of Secession — desire 
 union ! Yes Union ! — It is the longing of my heart, 
 that the same old Star Spangled should continue to 
 wave over the land of the free and the home of the 
 Brave. But Alas! we know not in what manner 
 it can be brought about. One thing seems certain 
 to us all, the Union can never be restored by war, 
 and the North must be very blind not to know and 
 see it. The Success of the Federal arms does not 
 justify a further prosecution of the war, thus far 
 they have not gained a single victory; they have 
 not gained one foot of territory, other than the 
 enemy by his prudence and defensive attitude 
 granted — with exception of a few batteries on the 
 barren sea coast. The South has already mani- 
 fested more energy, industry, prudence and Yankee- 
 ism than the North — They have erected foundries, 
 manufactories of various sorts, and in a few months 
 will be enabled to live well, with sealed ports. 
 
 She is possessed of every ingredient to make 
 her self-sustaining and powerful — all she wants is 
 a little more time, and if the war should be pro- 
 tracted, all the better for her future, because her 
 resources will be brought out. Her iron, lead and 
 other mines, which she is rich in will be worked 
 and cause her not to look abroad for supplies. 
 
 The people of the South are differently consti- 
 tuted from those of the North — attributable to edu- 
 cation and climate. As an example they are more 
 sensitive — their sense of honor is much more keen 
 and they would sooner run the risk of death, than 
 live with an injured reputation. It is seldom you 
 hear of a duel in the North, where parties are 
 challenged to mortal combat to settle their griev- 
 ances, but you find instead a recourse to law — a few 
 dollars satisfying the dishonored. I say this in no 
 disparagment, but merely to show the dissimi- 
 larity of the two people. The South also possess 
 in a high degree — the virtues of forbearance, en- 
 
344 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 durance and magnanimity. The war as it has pro- 
 gressed goes to prove and you will find these char- 
 acteristics still more noticeable as it advances. The 
 people of the North are Puritanical, long faced or 
 Methodistic and hypocritical — they deal in Sympa- 
 thetic language to hide their deception — their actions 
 are Pharisaical, covert, stealthy, and cowardly. They 
 are law abiding so long as it bears them out in 
 their selfish interest, and praisers and scatterers 
 and followers of the Bible so long as it does not 
 conflict with their passions. They make good cow 
 drivers, pickpockets and gamblers. With these traits 
 of character in your leading politicians and preach- 
 ers — it is impossible that confidence can be inspired 
 in the South. Their words and actions for reasons 
 alleged above are all met with mistrust by their 
 Southern brethren. Your people have so degener- 
 ated, that were it not for the foreign element — 
 which you possess — there would be only war on 
 parchment, as it is, there is just enough of true 
 Yankee to make the rest good for nothing, but an 
 expense to the Nation. They light very hard when 
 there is no danger of being hurt and for the want 
 of some visible exemplification of the destruction 
 of shell and shot, they turn their pieces upon each 
 other, resulting in the death of many, which for- 
 tunately is more gain than loss to the Federal Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 The union would be better maintained and re- 
 stored, if the battles could always take place among 
 each of this vast Army of 700,000 and end in its 
 own total destruction, because the cause being re- 
 moved — the patient the Government, would be soon 
 convalescent — unless the system is so much depress- 
 ed, there is not left sufficient vital power to bring 
 about a healthy reaction. 
 
 I regret sincerely to see such a lack of Patriotism 
 in the Present Administration and in the repre- 
 sentatives of the North. They seem to be dreamy 
 and mystified— they rush headlong regardless of law 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 345 
 
 and its consequences and skulk like sheep-stealing 
 dogs, when another nation stands up in open con- 
 travention. I confidently assert, that if there was 
 any other man at the head of the Government of 
 true conservative and constitutional principles, the 
 Revolution would immediately cease so far as the 
 South is concerned. 
 
 It's my opinion that you and Bishop Hughes 
 have put yourselves upon the same footing as 
 the rest of the demagogues and Preachers of your 
 Section such as Beecher, Cheeves, Smith, Phillips 
 and Etc. You have destroyed all the good you have 
 accomplished and the church instead of prospering 
 will lose ground in your midst so soon as the gov- 
 ernment settles down once more into a peace. They 
 will see clearly, the folly of those would be leaders 
 political and religious, and it's not the least improb- 
 able that many will have to seek an asylum in a 
 foreign land. 
 
 You will please excuse this hasty and roughly 
 scribbled epistle — it is not my intention to rob you 
 of that jewel — honesty of intention. You know full 
 well, that slavery being a State institution recog- 
 nized by every administration and confirmed by 
 many acts of Congress, can only be abrogated by 
 State will. The South has stood a high protective 
 tariff for many years, without a murmur, (except- 
 ing S. Carolina) and for what? Namely to support 
 a few manufacturing interests in the North. The 
 North has grown rich by the products of slave labor, 
 pride and self esteem was its consequence; he con- 
 siders himself the most exalted of God's creation, 
 and deigns to establish principles of humanity for 
 the rest of mankind. Christ, our Saviour found 
 slavery at his coming and yet he made no command 
 against its practice. Therefore I think it is a great 
 presumption in man to supply the omissions which 
 God in his infinity thought proper to make. 
 
 My remarks are more directed to the Non- 
 Catholic portion of the North but I fear from your 
 
346 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 leaning and that of Bishop Hughes, you will bring 
 about an unkind feeling between members of our 
 church — especially against their Superiors, North 
 and South. 
 
 I would like, had I the time to give you some 
 practical illustrations of the two systems of labor 
 in a medical, religious and temporal point of view, 
 as it is manifest to me, but I must now conclude by 
 wishing you prosperity in all your undertakings 
 when directed for the honor and glory of God. 
 
 Most respectfully, 
 Samuel A. Mudd, M.D. 
 
 0. A. BROWNSON D. D. LL.D. 
 
 (Original in 0. A. Brownson collection, University 
 of Notre Dame Archives.) 
 
 Bryantown August 7th, 1865 
 Gen'l Hardie. 
 
 When I was up at Washington on last Wednesday 
 I made application through you to Secretary Stanton 
 wishing to know how and under what circumstances 
 I could hold correspondence with my husband Dr. 
 Mudd. Also if Dr. Mudd could have clothing and 
 money from home to make him comfortable. You 
 told me you would attend to the matter and I would 
 receive a reply from you next day. Days have passed 
 and my anxiety to write to and receive a letter from 
 him is getting the better of me. I looked into your 
 face and thought from outward appearances you 
 had a good heart but I believe all who are high in 
 Office have no hearts at all. Could (you) have seen 
 me last night a lone watcher by the dying bed of 
 Doctor's Mother and have known all the agonizing 
 thoughts that passed through this poor weary brain, 
 I think the picture would have moved you to pity. 
 Doctor's mother has fallen under the terrible ordeal 
 under which she has gone through, owing to the 
 persecution of her innocent son. In a few short 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 347 
 
 hours she will be insensible to the misery of this 
 world. But alas poor me left to suffer on, how long, 
 Lord, how long. Gen'l Hardie I ask you as a 
 gentleman and a Christian to attend to the business 
 you told me you would and let me hear from you 
 immediately and you will receive the sincere thanks 
 of a bruised and bleeding heart. 
 Respectfully, 
 
 Sarah F. Mudd 
 Gen'l Hardie 
 
 (From the National Archives, Washington, D. C.) 
 
 War Dept Aug. 11/65 
 Madam : 
 
 In reply to your communication of the 7th inst., 
 addressed to Brig. Genl. Hardie, I have to inform 
 you that the Sec'y of War has been unable as yet 
 to take any action upon your application in refer- 
 ence to holding correspondence with, and sending 
 clothing &c to your husband. You will be promptly 
 notified of any decision made by him in the matter. 
 
 Yr. obdt. Servt. 
 Thos. T. Eckert 
 Act. Asst. Secy. 
 
 Mrs. Sarah F. Mudd 
 Bryantown, Md* 
 
 (From the National Archives, Washington, D. C.) 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, Florida, Sept. 19th. '65 
 Capt. W. R. Prentice 
 My Dear Sir, 
 
 I -did not observe until this morning the token of 
 your friendship and kindness. I accept with pleasure 
 the volume, ("Les Miserables") and often as my 
 eyes shall scan its consoling pages — my mind shall 
 revert with gratitude towards the Donor for the 
 
348 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 kind consideration received. You will please excuse 
 my present poverty for a more suitable reciproca- 
 tion of good feeling, and accept a small medal— 
 usually worn by members of the Catholic Church, 
 as a monitor and in honor of the Blessed Virgin, 
 Mother of Christ. 
 
 With many regrets at your early withdrawal 
 from the Chief Command of the Post and contem- 
 plated departure homeward — a pleasant trip — a 
 happy future — I am very respectfully and truly 
 
 Yours Obedient Ser'vt. 
 Saml. A. Mudd M. D. 
 
 Hdqrs Fort Jefferson Fla. 
 September 25, 1865. 
 Sir: 
 
 I have the honor to report that this morning 
 upon searching the U. S. Transport Thos A Scott 
 before her departure for New York Dr Saml A Mudd 
 was found secreted in the Lower Hold of the vessel 
 under some planks. I immediately placed him in 
 the dungeon in irons. From the position in which 
 he was found I thought that he must have secured 
 aid from some Party or Parties on board the stmr. 
 I went to the dungeon in which Dr Mudd was con- 
 fined, and threatened him with some punishment 
 unless he disclosed the name of the parties who 
 assisted him, he at last stated that a man by the 
 name of Kelly one of the crew of the steamer, assist- 
 ed him. I immediately ordered his arrest and now 
 have him confined in irons. From the evidence of 
 one James Healy Coal Passer on the Steamer Scott 
 whose deposition has been taken, I am of the opinion 
 that Kelly was bribed by Dr. Mudd as I understand 
 that he Mudd has offered money to parties here to 
 get them to do him favors. 
 
 Henry Kelly is a young man. I should think 
 about 18 years old. 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 349 
 
 I would respectfully request that orders be given 
 me in regard to the disposition of this man Kelly. 
 I am Sir 
 
 Very Respectfully 
 Your Obt. Serv't 
 
 George E. Wentworth 
 Major 82d. U.S.C. Infty 
 Commanding 
 To: 
 
 Adjutant Genl U.S.A. 
 Washington 
 D.C. 
 (From the National Archives, Washington, D. C.) 
 
 TO THE MAJOR COMMANDING 
 SIR, 
 
 I Acknowledge to having acted contrary to my 
 own judgment & honor, in my attempted escape. I 
 assure you it was more from the impulse of the 
 moment & with the hope of speedily seeing my dis- 
 consolate wife & four little infants. Mr. Kelly did 
 not secrete me aboard, but, promised to do so only. 
 Before I was detected I had made up my mind to 
 return if I could do so without being observed by 
 the guards. I am truly ashamed of my conduct, & 
 if I am restored again to the freedom of the Fort 
 & former position, no cause shall arise to create 
 your displeasure, & I shall always counsel subordi- 
 nation to the ruling authorities. 
 
 By complying or relieving me from my present 
 humble locality — you will merit the gratitude of 
 your humble servant, a devoted wife & four dear 
 little children. I do not complain of the punish- 
 ment, but I feel that I have abused the kindness & 
 confidence reposed, & would be glad exceedingly 
 to comply with any other honorable acquirement 
 [sic], whereby, I may be able to wash away, the 
 folly of my weakness. 
 
 TRULY & RESPECTFULLY YRS&c 
 SAML. A MUDD 
 
350 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 TO MAJ. COMMANDING 
 
 (Maj. George E. Wentworth) 
 Sept 26th. 1865. 
 (Original in The Illinois State Historical Library.) 
 
 Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas 
 Fla. Oct. 21st 1865 
 My Dear Jere, 
 
 Since I wrote you last, we four & another 
 prisoner under a life sentence, recently arrived, have 
 been locked in a room every night closely guarded 
 & not allowed to leave the door during the day with- 
 out being accompanied by a guard. This is said to 
 be owing to a rumor or information which the Govt. 
 is in possession of, that a plot or plan is originating, 
 either at Havana or New Orleans to rescue us from 
 this place. The Nation certainly is growing mad to 
 believe in such nonsense; & we the victims of its 
 Credulity, feel greatly the Sting caused by the Sen- 
 sationist & Political Intriguers hostile to our well 
 being. 
 
 No man can say naught against the Conduct of 
 either of us up to the present, other than my indi- 
 vidual effort to get away, and I plead my appre- 
 hensions—the insecurity of life, the humiliation of 
 being guarded by an ignorant, irresponsible & pre- 
 judiced negro Soldiery, before an Enlightened People 
 as a justification. We are now guarded entirely by 
 negro soldiers & a few white Officers a skins differ- 
 ence. 
 
 You will please quietly enquire concerning these 
 foolish reports, so injurious to us, & know what 
 orders if any, that have recently eminated [sic] 
 from the War Department regarding our future 
 imprisonment. We are of the opinion that these 
 rumors were gotten up purposely to have an excuse 
 to treat us with more rigor & hardship. The only 
 way such a thing could be possible, would be by 
 capturing the Fort, which could only be effected by 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 351 
 
 a large fleet & land force, and then only by starving 
 it out. I reed, no advice or council until it was to[o] 
 late. Could we have had the White Regiment, the 
 161st N.Y.V. to guard the place no thought of leav- 
 ing should harve have been harbored for a moment. 
 
 I reed, a letter, some letter paper, scapulas, beads, 
 stamps & etc a few days ago, from Cousin Ann. 
 I am truly sorry I did not receive such letters earlier. 
 Should you see her, inform, that I will not be able 
 to answer for some days, owing to the restrictions 
 under which I am at present placed. I also reed, a 
 letter from Frank. I have heard there would be 
 restrictions placed over our correspondence, so be 
 careful what you write. 
 
 Give my love to all; I will not be able to write 
 as often, owing to my altered position. I am very 
 well, hoping the Circumstances that led me to make 
 the foolish attempt to extricate myself from this 
 woeful place, may be ameliorating I am most truly 
 & devotedly Your &c 
 
 Saml A Mudd 
 
 N.B. Write me soon & let me know wheather [sic] 
 my attempted escape will have a tendency to prolong 
 my stay here, or likely to lessen the influence of 
 friends. I have done nothing more than any other 
 man would under similar circumstances. There is 
 no man living, but would free himself from such a 
 place at the present time, had he the power, I am 
 resolved not to leave this place unless released by 
 proper authority. 
 
 (From LINCOLN COLLECTOR by Carl Sandburg. 
 Used by permission o) Harcourt, Brace and Com- 
 pany, Inc.) 
 
352 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 Head Quarters Department of Florida 
 Tallahassee Oct. 21st. 1865 
 Major General P. H. Sheridan 
 Comdg Mil Div of the Gulf 
 New Orleans La 
 General : 
 
 Having this evening re- 
 turned from an inspection of the different posts on 
 the coast of Florida, and finding the telegram from 
 the War Department, with your endorsement, I am 
 prepared, in addition to my report forwarded to 
 you by Major Parsons of your staff, to make the 
 following statement in relation to the attempted 
 escape of Doctor Mudd from Fort Jefferson, Tor- 
 tugas. On the 25th September Doctor Samuel A. 
 Mudd attempted to escape by changing his clothes, 
 and succeeded in getting on board the United States 
 transport "Thomas A. Scott/' and secreting himself 
 under some planks in the lower hold being assisted 
 by one of the crew named Henry Kelly, and probably 
 others. 
 
 The guards searched the ship for him, and prick- 
 ing with their sabres between the joints of the 
 planks, stuck Doctor Mudd in the leg, whereupon 
 he came out. He was placed in irons. 
 
 From all the information and the best evidence 
 obtained I cannot throw the blame or responsibility 
 for that act upon any single individual, besides 
 Henry Kelly one of the crew of the "Scott" but am 
 satisfied that several men in the 161st. New York 
 Volunteers also aided Doctor Mudd in his attempt, 
 and three others in their actual escape. To the 
 energy of Major Wentworth 82nd. U. S. C. I., the 
 present commander at Fort Jefferson, and to his 
 subordinates in that regiment, the recapture of Mudd 
 can be ascribed, and to judge from the vigilance, 
 and discipline of the present garrison, I am satis- 
 fied of the safe custody of the prisoners. 
 
 The 161st. New York Volunteers are on their 
 way to Elmira N.Y. for muster out, by reason of 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 353 
 
 expiration of term of service ; The remaining mem- 
 bers of that Regiment whose term of service does 
 not expire now and who are consolidated into two 
 companies I have withdrawn from Fort Jefferson 
 and ordered for duty to this place. 
 
 I am General 
 
 Very respectfully 
 Your obdt. Servt. 
 (Signed) J. G. Foster 
 
 Maj Genl Comdg 
 Head Quarters Military Division of the Gulf 
 New Orleans La Oct 26th. 1865 
 Official Copy Respectfully furnished for the infor- 
 mation of the Secretary of War. 
 
 Geo. A. Forsyth. 
 Bvt. Brig. Genl 
 Chief of Staff 
 
 (From the National Archives, Washington, D. C.) 
 
 Balto April 12 1867 
 Dear Frank 
 
 To day I've been able to see Ridgely & he says 
 he can do nothing until after he sees Reverdy John- 
 son, & learns from him what bills were passed by 
 congress, that would have a bearing on Sams case. 
 The Senate will adjourn tomorrow, and he will be 
 here the first of next week — he also stated Chase had 
 now been assigned to this Circuit, & would be here 
 the first of next month, & he would see him and again 
 make the application for the writ, as there is now no 
 doubt as to his jurisdiction, under the decision of 
 Chief Justice Lorner & says he thinks he now will 
 have no excuse for not issuing it, I have ; gotten back 
 the letter of Capt Henry which was stolen from 
 Ridgely in Washington — Henrys letter is sworn to — 
 he gives a conversation he had in Washington, with 
 Gen. Hunter in which Hunter states he nor the 
 Court never believed Sam had any thing to do with 
 
354 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 the killing of Lincoln, but was the victim of his own 
 timidity. Iv left the letter with Mr. Carter the 
 Editor of the Boto Gazette, this morning he told me 
 he would examine it & let me know tomorrow if he 
 thought it best to publish it if so he would do it & 
 comment on it. If he advises to do so I will go over 
 to Washington on Tuesday & get the Editor of the 
 Intelligencer to publish it also — it Clearly proves, 
 that Hunter believed — Sam was innocent of any 
 conspiracy. I will urge the matter & do all in my 
 power to procure poor Sams release & when I come 
 down next Satturday, will give you my views of 
 what can be done. 
 
 Mary Clare will go down to Dr Blandford on 
 Tuesday. I will not leave here until Satturday morn- 
 ing. As I will be a widower for three or four days. 
 How is Bess getting on farming, has done any plow- 
 ing & finished stripping Job tell Mr Bess I hope he 
 has his Pig fat for I will certainly call on him for 
 it at Easter I suppose he will be able to give me 
 Beets & beans & peas also. Can you not have a 
 s[t]uffed ham. I am tired of Balto meet, does 
 Andrew & Lilly go to school, tell Andrew if Lilly 
 knows more than he does, I wont give him one thing, 
 but will give Lilly something pretty. Love to Lilly 
 & Children 
 
 Yor Brother 
 
 Jere 
 Mary Clare is very well ) 
 
 but anxious to get down home) 
 
 (From LINCOLN COLLECTOR by Carl Sandburg. 
 Used by permission of Harcourt, Brace and Com- 
 pany, Inc.) 
 
 Ft. Jefferson Fla. Nov 7th 1867 
 My Darling Frank, 
 
 I reed yours of the 22nd Oct. last night. Also a 
 letter from Key West relative to my case, contain- 
 ing the opinion of the Lawyer (in my case) — which 
 is far from being pleasing. I have been so inured to 
 hardships, that this fresh surprise, hardly awakens 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 355 
 
 more than the natural feelings of revenge of wrongs 
 inflicted and suffered. I shall leave Jere to explain 
 the contents of the letter, believing him more com- 
 petent to give it a proper version. I am however 
 lead to hope for satisfaction & redress at the hands 
 of our Most Worshipful President, the very cause 
 & source of all my miseries. It is a strange disease 
 that is cured by its cause. If poison sickens, take a 
 little more, & it will cure — (that is), by killing. This 
 is the remedy held out to me. I do not wish to in- 
 crease your present trials and difficulties by the 
 narration of gloomey forebodings — but I must calmly 
 state that I look forward with no degree of hope. 
 Those who have sent me here, knowing the 
 outrage they have committed, against me, will be 
 the last to sanction my release. A letter was reed, 
 from Mr. Ford the last mail stating the Articles 
 had all safely come to hand— so Lilly will soon [have] 
 reed her desk. I shall send yours by the first safe 
 opportunity, that presents. How I am grieved I 
 can't do more. The only anguish I suffer is in regard 
 to you & our little children. I have grown accus- 
 tomed to imprisonment & it no longer gives me pain. 
 My soul though sometimes burn[s] with vengence 
 [sic] when I think of the authors. You spoke of 
 Pa's proposal to break up housekeeping & live with 
 him another year. This, although kind in him would 
 render you far more unhappy & miserable. You 
 would feel far greater dependence, moreover the 
 children would ever be a source [of] anxiety & 
 trouble Try therefore to remain where you are at 
 present, but learn from the past to prepare better 
 for the future & not be incommoded by a set of 
 worthless hands. Sell off all stock except that which 
 is actually needed for you own use & which it costs 
 to keep. You did not state the bargain that had 
 been made by Pa with those Parties for the rent of 
 the place. How it was to be worked wheather [sic] 
 you furnished any of the means &c. Give me full 
 particulars when you write again. Bear up bravely 
 
356 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 against present adversities & I am in hopes God from 
 whom all Governments proceed, will bring order 
 out of the Present Confusion & allow justice once 
 more to prevail. Say something kind to each of the 
 children from me. Tell Andrew he must learn fast 
 & write to me. Try to give him ambition to learn 
 w4fcfc e«fc not [to] create disgust or dislike to books 
 &c. Hoping this may find you & family — Dear Pa Ma 
 & all well I am as ever devotedly 
 
 Yrs 
 
 Sam 
 (From LINCOLN COLLECTOR by Carl Sandburg. 
 Used by permission of Harcourt, Brace and Com- 
 pany, Inc.) 
 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida 
 Jan. 1st 1868 
 My Darling Frank. 
 
 To day, being New Year, I will begin it by drop- 
 ping you a few lines to let you know that I am 
 spending the day soberly & thoughtful of you & 
 little ones. I sometimes fancy I can see the dear 
 little creatures coming in with chattering teeth & 
 little snotty noses shivering with cold. I have felt 
 great concern to know how you are provided with 
 fuel & fire. Since the darkies have been turned 
 away. Jere in his last told me he had been down 
 though did not state wheather [sic] he had obtained 
 any one to see to affairs during the winter. Your 
 last letter led me to a different conclusion which 
 the one preceding was calculated, had I not seen 
 through the myth. Any one would judge from the 
 former that my release was immediate — all that 
 had to be done was to present the petition & etc. 
 with the long list of Hon. Names to obtain the de- 
 sired boon. Your last postpone the happy day four 
 months longer— planting time. I can't see there is 
 so much virtue in Honorable Names & letters — or 
 even for meritorious services rendered. These are 
 hard things to overlook. I have no doubt saved 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 357 
 
 dozens of lives & thousands worth of property to the 
 nation & can say from my inmost heart that I have 
 never so much desired the death of an individual 
 — yet you with me & the children are suffering for 
 a crime which I am sure never entered our brains. 
 This is justice I would like to see visited upon those 
 who have so cruelly wronged me, that they may 
 be brought to a sense of their guilt & may atone 
 for their crime I have seen mention of the action 
 of the Medical Confraternity in my behalf, but of 
 what use, if it will not secure my release. My pride 
 is not elevated by seeing my name paraded in the 
 Newspapers as deserving the clemency of the Gov- 
 ernment for the services I have rendered. Why 
 don't they take up the case & prove my innocence 
 & confound my infamous calumniators. This would 
 be doing the world a service, besides relieving the 
 injured — I don't say satisfy. 
 
 My Darling Frank you ask me to write some- 
 thing cheering? Nothing would afford me more 
 pleasure than to be able to comfort & console you 
 in your present unhappy & helpless condition. So 
 long as the Government is controled [sic] by men 
 without souls & less honesty I can [not] promise 
 you nor myself anything. The Spirit of infidelity 
 pervades the whole Country. This is not only in 
 regard to God, but to the laws & the Constitution 
 of the Country. They are materialists & think 
 only of self gratification — exulting in the ruin & 
 misery they cause others. I have had no means 
 except by reading to arrive at the truth of our 
 political woes. The soldiers are a very ignorant 
 class generally & there is no one here in civil life 
 who is capable of advising. The Officers I rarely 
 have anything to say to. You can now judge of 
 the facilities I have of acquiring knowledge, even 
 upon the most unimportant matters. The Gentle- 
 man whom I have been expecting down — has not 
 made his appearance. I will be prepared to undergo 
 his bread & water administration upon his arrival. 
 
358 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 I think I have acted wisely. I shall certainly not 
 
 make any statement until I am placed right before 
 
 the law. The only comfort or consolation I can give 
 you, is, that I am well with a very good prospect 
 of living until planting time. You are in a situation 
 to know more than myself, consequently you should 
 look to those better informed & receive cheer. If 
 you believe all that is told you I am sure you ought 
 not to despond on my account. Two Companies 
 of soldiers have been ordered from here to New 
 Orleans & will leave upon the first steamer that 
 arrives. The two remaining Companies have orders 
 to be in readiness to move, but their destination 
 is not known. From what I have heard & can judge 
 this Post will soon be guarded by negro troops — 
 perhaps early in the Spring. Owing to the damp 
 and unhealthy condition of the Fort, the Comman- 
 dant has recommended that the Garrison & Prison- 
 ers be removed to one of the Islands near & erect 
 temporary sheds &c to shield us from the heat of 
 the sun & rain. The truth is beginning to be mani- 
 fest. 
 
 Tell Lilly Pop has nearly completed her little 
 work box. It is made of mahogany & inlaid with 
 crab wood. Three little leaves representing a branch 
 is inlaid in the corners of the top— a fancy piece in 
 the centre with the enetials [sic] of her name in 
 German letters engraved & inlaid, which looks quite 
 nice. I have the sides yet to finish. I have several 
 little crosses made of crab wood which I will send 
 to be distributed among you all. We received the 
 box & barrel of Potatoes in good order. There is 
 no objection to our receiving anything. The jug of 
 whiskey was a great treat to us — it lasted us over 
 a week — so you can judge our moderation. Maj. 
 Andrews has given us permission to receive any- 
 thing our friends chose [sic] to send us not except- 
 ing whiskey. Remember me to dear Pa & Ma & 
 family to all of our household — kiss our darling little 
 children & tell them Pop loves them with all his 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 359 
 
 heart, & they must be good & learn their little'lessons 
 well & learn to write to Pop — Wishing you my 
 precious Frank and all a happy New Year — I am 
 devotedly 
 
 Yours husband 
 
 Sam 
 (From LINCOLN COLLECTOR by Carl Sandburg. 
 Used by permission of Harcourt, Brace and Com- 
 pany, Inc.) 
 
 Attorney General's Office 
 
 Washington. August 29th, 1868 
 Hon Jno. M. Schofield 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 Sir: 
 
 I deem it proper to inform you that the following 
 telegraphic despatch was received yesterday after- 
 noon at this Office from the United States' Marshal 
 for the Southern District of Florida: 
 
 "Application to the Judge U.S. District Court 
 for writ of habeas corpus for release of Mudd, 
 Spangler and Arnold has been made. Held under 
 consideration." 
 
 Should the Court decide to issue the writ, I pre- 
 sume you will be duly informed of the fact by the 
 Military Officers having the men in custody. 
 
 Very respectfully, Sir 
 Your obedient servant 
 I. Hubley Ashton 
 Acting Attorney General 
 (From the National Archives, Washington, D. C.) 
 
 Attorney General's Office 
 Washington Sept. 5th, 1868 
 Hon : J. M. Schofield, 
 Secretary of War. 
 Sir: 
 
 I have the honor to inform you that 
 I received a telegram from the United States 
 Marshal at Key West stating that Judge Boynton 
 
360 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 refuses a writ of habeas corpus in the cases of Mudd 
 
 and others. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 I. Hubley Ashton 
 Acting Attorney General 
 
 (From the National Archives, Washington, D. C.) 
 
 St. Catherine, Chas. Co., Md. 
 August 5th 1869 
 Adjutant General U.S.A. 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 Sir, 
 
 I earnestly beseech your clemency 
 in behalf of Wm. Bradley — a prisoner confined at 
 the Dry Tortugas Fla under sentence of Court 
 
 Martial from the State of Mississippi for Horse 
 
 Stealing—. 
 
 This prisoner with several others arrived there 
 during the prevalence of Fever in 1867 — was attack- 
 ed with the disease & came near dying — His health 
 since has been very feeble — So much so as to be 
 unable to perform the lightest duty. He candidly 
 admits his guilt & expresses sorrow & firm resolve 
 to restore to those whom he has injured to the best 
 of ability. During my confinement at the above 
 named place I became well acquainted with this 
 prisoner & believe him sincere in his resolves for the 
 future. 
 
 Hoping to have a favorable in his regard — 
 
 I have the honor to be 
 
 Very respectfully &c 
 
 Yrs. obt. servt. 
 Saml A. Mudd. M.D. 
 Adjutant Genl. U.S.A. 
 Washington, D.C. 
 
 (From the National Archives, Washington, D. C.) 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 361 
 
 PARDON FROM PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON TO 
 DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 February 8, 1869. 
 
 ANDREW JOHNSON 
 
 President of the United States of America 
 To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: 
 
 Whereas, on the twenty ninth day of June in the 
 year 1865, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd was by the judgment 
 of a Military Commission, convened and holden at 
 the City of Washington, in part convicted, and in 
 part acquitted, of the specification wherein he was 
 inculpated in the charge for the trial of which said 
 Military Commission was so convened and held, and 
 which specification in its principal allegation against 
 him, was and is in the words and figures following, 
 to wit: "And in further prosecution of said con- 
 spiracy, the said Samuel A. Mudd did, at Washing- 
 ton City, and within the Military Department and 
 military lines aforesaid, on or before the sixth day 
 of March, A. D. 1865, and on divers other days and 
 times between that day and the twentieth day of 
 April A. D. 1865, advise, encourage, receive, enter- 
 tain, harbor and conceal, aid and assist, the said 
 John Wilkes Booth, David E. Herold, Lewis Payne, 
 John H. Surratt, Michael O'Laughlin, George A. 
 Atzerodt, Mary E. Surratt and Samuel Arnold and 
 their confederates, with knowledge of the murderous 
 and traitorous conspiracy aforesaid, and with intent 
 to aid, abet, and assist them in the execution thereof, 
 and in escaping from justice after the murder of the 
 said Abraham Lincoln, in pursuance of said con- 
 spiracy in manner aforesaid;" 
 
 And whereas, upon a consideration and examina- 
 tion of the record of said trial and conviction and 
 of the evidence given at said trial, I am satisfied 
 that the guilt found by the said judgment against 
 the said Samuel A. Mudd was of receiving, entertain- 
 ing, harboring, and concealing John Wilkes Booth 
 
362 THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 
 
 and David E. Herold, with the intent to aid, abet 
 and assist them in escaping from justice after the 
 assassination of the late President of the United 
 States, and not of any other or greater participation 
 or complicity in said abominable crime; 
 
 And whereas, it is represented to me by intelli- 
 gent and respectable members of the medical profes- 
 sion, that the circumstances of the surgical aid to 
 the escaping assassin and the imputed concealment 
 of his flight are deserving of a lenient construction 
 as within the obligations of professional duty, and 
 thus inadequate evidence of a guilty sympathy with 
 the crime or the criminal ; 
 
 And whereas, in other respects the evidence, 
 imputing such guilty sympathy or purpose of aid in 
 defeat of justice, leaves room for uncertainty as to 
 the true measure and nature of the complicity of the 
 said Samuel A. Mudd, in the attempted escape of 
 said assassins; 
 
 And whereas, the sentence imposed by said Mili- 
 tary Commission upon the said Samuel A. Mudd was 
 that he be imprisoned at hard labor for life, and the 
 confinement under such sentence was directed to be 
 had in the military prison at Dry Tortugas, Florida, 
 and the said prisoner has been hitherto, and now is, 
 suffering the infliction of such sentence; 
 
 And whereas, upon occasion of the prevalence 
 of the yellow fever at that military station, and the 
 death by that pestilence of the medical officer of the 
 Post, the said Samuel A. Mudd devoted himself to 
 the care and the cure of the sick, and interposed his 
 courage and his skill to protect the garrison, other- 
 wise without adequate medical aid, from peril and 
 alarm, and thus, as the officers and men unite in 
 testifying, saved many valuable lives and earned the 
 admiration and the gratitude of all who observed 
 or experienced his generous and faithful service to 
 humanity ; 
 
 And whereas, the surviving families and friends 
 of the Surgeon and other officers who were the vie- 
 
THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL A. MUDD 363 
 
 tims of the pestilence earnestly present their dying 
 testimony to the conspicuous merit of Dr. Mudd's 
 conduct, and their own sense of obligation to him 
 and Lieut. Zabriskie and two hundred and ninety 
 nine non commissioned officers and privates sta- 
 tioned at the Dry Tortugas have united in present- 
 ing to my attention the praiseworthy action of the 
 prisoner and in petitioning for his pardon; 
 
 And whereas, the Medical Society of Harford 
 County, Maryland, of which he was an associate, 
 have petitioned for his pardon, and thirty nine mem- 
 bers of the Senate and House of Representatives of 
 the Congress of the United States have also requested 
 his pardon : 
 
 Now, therefore, be it known that I, Andrew 
 Johnson, President of the United States of America, 
 in consideration of the premises, divers other good 
 and sufficient reasons me thereunto moving, do here- 
 by grant to the said Dr. Samuel A. Mudd a full and 
 unconditional pardon. 
 
 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed 
 my name and caused the Seal of the United States 
 to be affixed. 
 
 Done at the City of Washington, this Eighth day 
 of February, A. D. [Seal] 1869, and of the Inde- 
 pendence of the United States the Ninety third. 
 
 ANDREW JOHNSON 
 
 By the President 
 
 WILLIAM H. SEWARD 
 
 SECRETARY OF STATE. 
 
 (From the National Archives, Washington, D. C.) 
 

 
 ill 
 
 ft