State Box

[J. Beckert]

Here's Waud's sketch, but I don't know how he placed Booth where he did.

[RJNorton]

Back in 2012 Dave T. did an article with graphics that has a general relation to this topic here.

[L Verge]

This is from one of the NPS websites for Ford's Theatre: Instantly, Major Rathbone sprang upon the assassin. Booth dropped the Deringer, broke from Rathbone's grasp, and lunged at him with a large knife. Rathbone parried the blow, but received a deep wound in his left arm above the elbow. Booth placed one hand on the balustrade, to the left of the center pillar, raised his other arm to strike at the advancing Rathbone, and vaulted over the railing. Rathbone again seized Booth but only caught his clothing. As he leaped, Booth's right boot struck the framed engraving of Washington, turning it completely over. The spur on his right heel caught in the fringe of the Treasury Guards' flag and brought it down, tearing a strip with it. These obstacles caused the assassin to lose his balance and he fell awkwardly on the stage, at least 11-1/2 feet below, tearing a rent in the green baize carpet. He landed in a kneeling position, with his left leg resting on the stage. In the fall, the large bone of his left leg was fractured about 2 inches above the ankle.

Note that the Treasury Guards' flag is the supposed culprit of tripping Booth. The GAR Museum in Springfield has an American flag that they claim provenance on. American flags flanked the far ends of the box, so that would have been some wild swinging of Booth's legs to get entangled in it. Also, if I interpret his leap correctly from the above, he placed his left hand on the balustrade in front of Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln and held the knife in his right hand to guard against Rathbone in preparing for his jump.

Did you catch a big error in this NPS description, however? They have Booth breaking the large bone of his left leg.

[RJNorton]

The Arlington National Cemetery website has a page which discusses the flags here. That page says that the flag which Booth's spur caught is the one at Ford's. This is also what the Connecticut Historical Society says.

[L Verge]

The Connecticut Historical Society supposedly has the piece of fringe that was torn off of the Treasury Guards' flag.

[RJNorton]

If I am understanding everything correctly two places - Ford's Theatre and the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum in Springfield both have the flag Booth tripped over. Like the Arlington website, the Connecticut Historical Society agrees that it's Ford's that has it.

So who really has it?

[Rsmyth]

There is a flag in Springfield but the provenance is weak:
George Preston Clark of Massachusetts penned a handwritten 20-page letter to his family recounting the history of his "Lincoln flag.” George states that this is the flag assassin John Wilkes Booth tripped on and tore as he leaped to the stage of the Ford Theater moments after shooting President Abraham Lincoln.
This 35-star flag is on display at the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum in Springfield, Illinois, donated by Clark's Great, Great Granddaughter of Fallbrook, California.
In the letter, George recounts how he helped decorate both Ford’s and Grover’s Theaters. On April 14th 1865 he was at Grover’s when he heard the President had been shot. He ran over to Ford’s and entered the box. Taking a pocket knife out of his jacket he cut the flag down, folded it up and put it under his coat. He then went back to Grover’s.
The GAR sent me a pic of the flag. It has a note at the bottom of the case that states:
This “35” star flag taken from the Ford Theater by George Preston Clark on April 14, 1865, the night President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Presented to the W.R.C. – G.A.R. Museum by, The grandchildren of George Preston Clark.

Note tear by John W. Booth’s boot
Letter of authenticity on file.

Known provenance - George Preston Clark, family of George Preston Clark to GAR Museum.

[Gene C]

An early artist's sketch of the stage and box shows a tiny mark on the stage immediately below the President's box which the artist indicates is a tear in the stage carpet where Booth landed, and I think one of the early photographs of the stage shows the same mark.

I am surprised the stage had carpet. I would have thought hardwood flooring. Did carpet cover the entire stage, or only part? (the interesting things you learn here)

[L Verge]

There is a flag in Springfield but the provenance is weak:
George Preston Clark of Massachusetts penned a handwritten 20-page letter to his family recounting the history of his "Lincoln flag.” George states that this is the flag assassin John Wilkes Booth tripped on and tore as he leaped to the stage of the Ford Theater moments after shooting President Abraham Lincoln.
This 35-star flag is on display at the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum in Springfield, Illinois, donated by Clark's Great, Great Granddaughter of Fallbrook, California.
In the letter, George recounts how he helped decorate both Ford’s and Grover’s Theaters. On April 14th 1865 he was at Grover’s when he heard the President had been shot. He ran over to Ford’s and entered the box. Taking a pocket knife out of his jacket he cut the flag down, folded it up and put it under his coat. He then went back to Grover’s.
The GAR sent me a pic of the flag. It has a note at the bottom of the case that states:
This “35” star flag taken from the Ford Theater by George Preston Clark on April 14, 1865, the night President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Presented to the W.R.C. – G.A.R. Museum by, The grandchildren of George Preston Clark.

Note tear by John W. Booth’s boot
Letter of authenticity on file.

Known provenance - George Preston Clark, family of George Preston Clark to GAR Museum.

The ease with which Mr. Clark managed to get through the crowds, past guards, etc. and enter the box so soon after the assassination is absolutely astounding - let alone his ability to cut down the flag without anyone noticing. Just that would send my radar vibrating if I had to decide provenance.

[RobertLC]

And what about Dr. Taft's entrance to the box? Did he enter through portal 1 or portal 2? Again, I would think portal 2, but have found no firm evidence to support that. Any thoughts?

[Eva Elisabeth]

An early artist's sketch of the stage and box shows a tiny mark on the stage immediately below the President's box which the artist indicates is a tear in the stage carpet where Booth landed, and I think one of the early photographs of the stage shows the same mark. I can't immediately put my finger on the images, but as I recall, the mark is beneath where the Lincolns were seated, indicating that Booth dropped from a point between Mrs. Lincoln and the center pillar where the Washington portrait was hung. I'm going strictly by memory here. I might add that the diagram does not accurately depict the location of the chair and sofa where Miss Harris and Maj. Rathbone were seated at the time of the assassination. They were seated close enough to the railing for both to view the play.

This sketch?
   
I found it in "The LINCOLN MUSEUM and the HOUSE WHERE LINCOLN DIED" by Stanley W. McClure (1949):

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_boo...a/hh3g.htm

[RobertLC]

An early artist's sketch of the stage and box shows a tiny mark on the stage immediately below the President's box which the artist indicates is a tear in the stage carpet where Booth landed, and I think one of the early photographs of the stage shows the same mark. I can't immediately put my finger on the images, but as I recall, the mark is beneath where the Lincolns were seated, indicating that Booth dropped from a point between Mrs. Lincoln and the center pillar where the Washington portrait was hung. I'm going strictly by memory here. I might add that the diagram does not accurately depict the location of the chair and sofa where Miss Harris and Maj. Rathbone were seated at the time of the assassination. They were seated close enough to the railing for both to view the play.

This sketch?

I found it in "The LINCOLN MUSEUM and the HOUSE WHERE LINCOLN DIED" by Stanley W. McClure (1949):

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_boo...a/hh3g.htm

Thanks. Every contribution helps us better understand. Any thoughts on Taft's entrance to the box?

[L Verge]

I don't ever remember hearing any details as to Taft's entrance other than he was hoisted up. My suspicion would be Portal II only because the area around Portal I would already be congested by the victim, the wife, Dr. Leale, maybe Rathbone, and maybe Clara. Another possibility (without a photo in front of me) is that he was hoisted into the dress circle near the outside entrance to the boxes since that door was now opened??

[RobertLC]

Laurie,
I don't have the notes in front of me, but my recollection is that he was lifted from the stage. In fact, he dropped his overcoat, which he had to later retrieve from the police, I believe with some difficulty. So I agree that portal II makes sense, especially with all the congestion at portal I. I have never found any firm evidence, however.

---

Here's Waud's sketch, but I don't know how he placed Booth where he did.

Great sketch! Thank you!

[Houmes]

Here's Waud's sketch, but I don't know how he placed Booth where he did.

Thanks for printing the Waud sketch. If you look to the left, it's possible to see he measured the height of the box and how far down it was to the stage--11'6". This is only the second contemporary measurement I've seen, other than the one made by Dr. Charles Gatch and his brother on April 15th.