Bel Alton in Charles County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Pine Thicket
“the instrument of his punishment”
—John Wilkes Booth – Escape of an Assassin —
May 26, 2007
1. Pine Thicket
Civil War Trails Marker
Pine Thicket. “the instrument of his punishment”. After assassinating President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth and his accomplice, David A. Herold, fled Washington for Southern Maryland, a hotbed of Confederate sympathizers. After leaving the home of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd near Bryantown, Booth found a guide who brought them to the home of Samuel Cox in the early morning hours of April 16. After some negotiating, Cox agreed to place them in the care of friends in the Confederate underground. He sent them to a dense growth of pines a mile west of his house and enlisted his foster brother, Thomas A. Jones, to help them reach the Potomac River, two miles farther west, over which they could cross into Virginia. For several days, Jones’ and Cox’s overseer, Franklin Robey, brought food and newspapers to the fugitives as they waited for a chance to continue their journey south. Booth learned from the newspapers how strongly the world condemned the assassination. Shocked, he tried to justify his act by writing of Lincoln in his pocket diary, “Our country owed all her troubles to him, and God simply made me the instrument of his punishment.” On April 20, Jones saw an opportunity to get his charges to the Potomac. After dusk, he led them southwest, past his own home near Dent’s Meadow, and down to the river.
After assassinating President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth and his accomplice, David A. Herold, fled Washington for Southern Maryland, a hotbed of Confederate sympathizers. After leaving the home of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd near Bryantown, Booth found a guide who brought them to the home of Samuel Cox in the early morning hours of April 16. After some negotiating, Cox agreed to place them in the care of friends in the Confederate underground. He sent them to a dense growth of pines a mile west of his house and enlisted his foster brother, Thomas A. Jones, to help them reach the Potomac River, two miles farther west, over which they could cross into Virginia. For several days, Jones’ and Cox’s overseer, Franklin Robey, brought food and newspapers to the fugitives as they waited for a chance to continue their journey south. Booth learned from the newspapers how strongly the world condemned the assassination. Shocked, he tried to justify his act by writing of Lincoln in his pocket diary, “Our country owed all her troubles to him, and God simply made me the instrument of his punishment.” On April 20, Jones saw an opportunity to get his charges to the Potomac. After dusk, he led them southwest, past his own home near Dent’s Meadow, and down to the river.
Erected by
May 26, 2007
2. Pine Thicket Marker
Marker series. This marker is included in the Maryland Civil War Trails marker series.
Location. 38° 27.78′ N, 76° 59.145′ W. Marker is in Bel Alton, Maryland, in Charles County. Marker is at the intersection of Bel Alton Newtown Road and Wills Road, on the right when traveling north on Bel Alton Newtown Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bel Alton MD 20611, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. John Wilkes Booth and David Herold (a few steps from this marker); Rich Hill (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named Rich Hill (approx. 1.2 miles away); Saint Thomas Manor (approx. 2 miles away); Saint Ignatius' Church (approx. 2.1 miles away); St. Ignatius Catholic Church (approx. 2.1 miles away); Chapel Point Park (approx. 2.2 miles away); Mulberry Grove (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bel Alton.
More about this marker. On the middle of the marker is a copy of a "Page of Booth's diary justifying the assassination of President Lincoln." A portrait of Booth is between the diary page and a map of Booth's escape route. The map uses stars to indicate locations of other Civil War Trails sites related to Booth. On the lower left is a photo of "Rich Hill, home of Samuel Cox."
Also see . . . Booth Escape Route. Civil War Traveler's driving tour of the route. (Submitted on January 3, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Additional keywords. John Wilkes Booth Escape Route
Categories. • War, US Civil •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on January 2, 2008. This page has been viewed 6,856 times since then and 357 times this year. Last updated on January 7, 2011. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 2, 2008. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
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