Rewards for a job well done.

[SSlater]

There are many ways, today, to reward an individual for doing a job that involves physical risk, but not in the Civil War. There were no medals to pin on their uniform, except the Purple Heart (that was sowed on). However that award was just about forgotten. The Medal of Honor was created, because there were no others. That award was created in 1862, but it was some time afterward, before awarding the Medal began, and that was for Navy personnel only.
(The first Navy man to be awarded the Medal - John Williams - Captain of the Foretop, USS Pawnee, for action on 26 June 1861, at Mathias Point, VA, about a quarter of a mile from my farm.)
(Do you want that story?)
During the Booth chase, it was a well known fact that the person or person, who got Booth -Dead or Alive- would receive an award, IN CASH. We have all seen the Reward Posters - there were no exclusions.
Lafayette Baker claimed the largest share - for thinking about the capture. He risked nothing. Baker put his own friends and relatives into the Chase-Party, to reward them and to protect his interest in the Rewards. IMO Baker learned of Booth's location from either Fanny Dade or Thomas Nelson Conrad. Both were spies for the Union (Read that again). Fanny was "arrested" first, then the same Landing-Party, "arrested" Conrad. Both were shipped up the river to Washington. Their trip up river is recorded in the Logbooks of the participating gunboats. The day after their arrival, Baker sent the NY Cavalry to Mathias Point. Was that a coincidence?
Distributing the rewards was a major project. The Cavalry folks argued every attempt to pay the shares. The leadership fought with each other over the split. There were many people who submitted wild claims. Most of these were disallowed. It was about 2 years before that claims were settled.
In summary: everyone knew about the rewards and acted accordingly.