Southwest Quadrant in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

"Pursuers of Booth the Assassin"

Alexandria National Cemetery

Peter Carroll, Samuel N. Gosnell, Geo. W. Huntington, Christopher Farley Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, March 20, 2011

1. Peter Carroll, Samuel N. Gosnell, Geo. W. Huntington, Christopher Farley Marker

Inscription.
In Memory
of
Peter Carroll
Samuel N. Gosnell
Geo. W. Huntington
Christopher Farley
who lost their lives, April 24, 1865
while in pursuit of Booth the assassin
of our beloved President
Abraham Lincoln.

Erected 1922 by the U.S. Government.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Booth's Escape, the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the National Cemeteries series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is April 24, 1942.

Location. 38° 48.103′ N, 77° 3.493′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in the Southwest Quadrant. Marker is on Cemetery Circle south of Wilkes Street, on the right when traveling south. The cemetery is six blocks west of So. Patrick Street (US Hwy 1) via Wilkes Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1450 Wilkes Street, Alexandria VA 22314, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Alexandria National Cemetery (a few steps from this marker); In Honor of Those Who Gave the Ultimate Sacrifice (a few steps from this marker); A National Cemetery System (within shouting distance of this marker);

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Hooff's Run Bridge (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The West End (about 500 feet away); Old Presbyterian Meeting House (about 500 feet away); African American Heritage Memorial (about 600 feet away); Douglass Cemetery (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.

Also see . . .
1. Alexandria [Va.] National Cemetery. National Cemetery Administration website entry:
"... One large granite boulder memorial was erected by the U.S. government on July 7, 1922, in honor of the Pursuers of President Lincoln’s Assassin. The four men were Quartermaster Corps employees who drowned in the Potomac River on April 24, 1865, while pursuing John Wilkes Booth." (Submitted on April 2, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

2. Peter Carroll Samuel N. Gosnell Geo. W. Huntington Christopher Farley. Find a Grave website entry (Submitted on April 2, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

3. The USCT and Alexandria National Cemetery. City of Alexandria VA website entry (Submitted on September 17, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

4. "Dreadful Accident, Collision between Steamboats on the Potomac...". New York Times April 27, 1865
[Along with approx. fifty homeward-bound soldiers, recently freed from Southern prison

The head stones for Peter Carroll, Samuel N. Gosnell, Geo. W. Huntington & Christopher Farley image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, March 20, 2011

2. The head stones for Peter Carroll, Samuel N. Gosnell, Geo. W. Huntington & Christopher Farley

- on either side of the "Pursuers of Booth the Assassin" monument at Alexandria National Cemetery.

camps at the end of the war, the four Quartermaster Corps employees were apparently killed aboard the Black Diamond in this collision - while that vessel was on "picket" duty, hoping to thwart any attempt by the assassin John Wilkes Booth to escape the manhunt in Maryland by slipping across the river in this vicinity.] (Submitted on April 5, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

5. Alexandria National Cemetery. Virginia Department of Historic Resources website entry:
"Four Quartermaster Corps employees (Peter Carroll, Samuel N. Gosnell, George W. Huntington, and Christopher Farley), who drowned in the Rappahannock River on April 24, 1865, while in pursuit of Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, are buried in Section A, Graves 3174-3177. On July 7, 1922, a special monument was erected by the United States in memory of these men. The monument is a bronze tablet on a granite boulder base, about 3' x 3' and 3' high, and located in the center of the cemetery on a terraced wall." (Submitted on March 12, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

Additional keywords. John Wilkes Booth; U.S. Army Quartermaster Department; Soldiers Cemetery; USCT.

Alexandria National Cemetery, ceremonial lawn near marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, March 20, 2011

3. Alexandria National Cemetery, ceremonial lawn near marker

"United States National Military Cemetary, established 1862. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, March 20, 2011

4. "United States National Military Cemetary, established 1862.

Interments 3590: Known 3487, Unknown 103."

The entrance to Alexandria National Cemetery off Wilkes Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, March 20, 2011

5. The entrance to Alexandria National Cemetery off Wilkes Street

Peter Carroll image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, March 8, 2014

6. Peter Carroll

Civ. Emp.
QMD
April 24 1865

Samuel N Gosnell image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, March 8, 2014

7. Samuel N Gosnell

Civ. Emp.
QMD
April 24 1865

George W Huntington image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, March 8, 2014

8. George W Huntington

Civ. Emp.
QMD
April 24 1865

Christian Farley image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, March 8, 2014

9. Christian Farley

Civ. Emp.
QMD
April 24 1865

Virginia Historic Landmark - plaque at the Cemetery superintendent’s lodge/gatehouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, March 20, 2011

10. Virginia Historic Landmark - plaque at the Cemetery superintendent’s lodge/gatehouse

Civil War re-enactors on parade at Alexandria National Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, March 1993

11. Civil War re-enactors on parade at Alexandria National Cemetery

USCT re-enactors firing a salute in honor of Black image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, May 2003

12. USCT re-enactors firing a salute in honor of Black

Civil War vets interred at the Alexandria National Cemetery.

Wanted poster for "The Murderer" and his "accomplices" image. Click for full size.

1865

13. Wanted poster for "The Murderer" and his "accomplices"

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,997 times since then and 52 times this year. Last updated on May 5, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 1, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on March 12, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 10. submitted on April 1, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 11, 12. submitted on April 3, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 13. submitted on May 13, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.