Lincoln's non pardon

[STS Lincolnite]

(02-05-2015 10:21 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  But how Jerry, when Booth and just about everyone else knew that Robert E. Lee had accepted an unconditional surrender almost a week previous? The war was over.

Lee only surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. Jefferson Davis for one would certainly have argued that the war continued. Also, there were other Confederate armies still in the field. Most notably Gen. Johnston's Army of Tennessee. Albeit more small scale, military action still continued (for example the engagement at Palmito Ranch, TX 13 May1865). General Stand Waite did not surrender Confederate forces under his command until 23 June 1865. Although politically all but over and militarily the end being a forgone conclusion with Lee's surrender, the American Civil War really did not end in April 1865.