Lincoln's avengers : justice, revenge, and reunion after the Civil War / Elizabeth D. Leonard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Leonard, Elizabeth D.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Assassination.

Lincoln, Abraham.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875.

Assassination.

Trials (Assassination)--United States--History--19th century.

Trials (Assassination).

Assassins--United States--History--19th century.

Assassins.

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875--Impeachment.

Johnson, Andrew.

Impeachments--United States--History--19th century.

Impeachments.

History.

Impeachment.

United States.

Physical Description:

xviii, 367 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : W.W. Norton & Co., [2004]

Summary:

Did the federal government mete out justice or revenge in response to Lincoln's assassination? ON APRIL 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was murdered by John Wilkes Booth, and Secretary of State William H. Seward was brutally stabbed. Clearly a conspiracy was afoot. Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt was put in charge of the investigation and trial. He first set out to punish all of Booth's accomplices and then wanted to go after Jefferson Davis, whom he felt had instigated the assassination--despite stern opposition, not least of all from Lincoln's successor, Andrew Johnson. Elizabeth D. Leonard tells for the first time the full story of the two assassination trials. She explores the questions that made these trials pivotal in American history: Were they to be used to make the South pay for secession? Were they to be fair trials based on the evidence? Or were they to be points of reconciliation, with the South forgiven at all costs to create a solid union?

Contents:

1 "That Fearful Night" The Assassination and the Making of an Avenger 3

2 "A Vindictive Clique of Villains" The Pursuit and Capture of the Suspects 33

3 "A Disposition to Preserve Law and Order" Joseph Holt and the First Trial of the Assassins 67

4 "A Stupendous Retribution" Conviction and Punishment of Eight Co-Conspirators 103

5 "In Violation of the Laws and Customs of War" Going After Henry Wirz of Andersonville 137

6 "Forbearance and Forgiveness" Andrew Johnson's Vision for Southern Restoration 165

7 "Traitors, Confessed Perjurers and Suborners" The Unraveling of Revenge 193

8 "A Well-Dressed and Very Presentable Young Man" The Trial of John Surratt Jr. 229

9 "The Wicked Man Now Acting as President" The Trial of Andrew Johnson and the Collapse of Holt's Agenda 265.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 305-355) and index.

ISBN:

0393048683

OCLC:

53223534