Lewis Powell

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Lewis Thornton Powell (April 22th, 1844 – July 7th, 1865) was an battle hardened, and trained corrupted Confederate soldier, and one of the co-conspirators to John Wilkes Booth for planning to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln, Secretary of State William Seward, and vice president Andrew Johnson on April 14th, 1865.

At 21 years and been 6'1" ft tall, Powell was the tallest and youngest member of the conspiracy.

Early life

Lewis Powell was born in Randolph County, Alabama, on April 22th, 1844, to George Cader and Patience Caroline Powell.

He was the youngest son in a family of eight children. Powell's father was ordained a Baptist minister in 1847, and in 1848 the family moved to Stewart County, Georgia, where his father had received an appointment as pastor of Beulah Church in the village of Green Hill.

About this time, Powell's father freed the three slaves he owned. Powell and his siblings were all educated by their father, who was the local schoolmaster.

In his early years, Powell was described as quiet and introverted, and well liked by others, and he has been enjoyed carving, fishing, singing, reading, and studying. He also loved attending church, Sunday school, and prayer meetings.

Civil War service

Powell served in the Confederate Army during the Battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded. He worked as a nurse in the camp and at the Pennsylvania College until September 1. Powell also developed a relationship with Margaret Branson, a nurse volunteer who assisted Powell in escaping from the hospital 6 days later.

Involvement in conspiracy

Powell was one of Booth's henchmen in the failed attempts to kidnap Lincoln in exchange for Confederate prisoners, along with Booth's childhood friends, Michael O Laughlin and Samuel Arnold.

But when the Civil War ended, Booth decided that the kidnapping plan is changed to murder. On April 11, when Lincoln gave his speech about African Americans voting, Booth, Herold, and Powell were there. They were angry about the idea and Booth turned to Powell by saying, "That is the last speech he will ever give!"

It is unknown what Powell did on April 14, but in the afternoon of April 14, 1865, he was informed by John Wilkes Booth about his plan to shoot Abraham Lincoln, who planned to attend Our American Cousin at Ford's Theater instead of Grover's Theater.

At 8:45 P.M., Booth and his henchmen were at the last meeting about their plans to revive the Confederacy by killing President Abraham Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward that Booth planned at the evening of April 13. Powell was already assigned by Booth to kill Seward at his mansion, where he was recovering from a carriage accident and was required to wear a metal canvas splint in response to the carriage accident the previous week. Powell would be accompanied by David Herold, who was supposed to aid Powell after his deed.

At the same time that Booth made his way to the unguarded box at Ford's Theater, Powell knocked at the front door of Seward's house, causing the black maitre d' named William Bell to answer the door. It was 10 minutes after 10 o’clock that night on April 14, 1865.

After arguing with Bell about the medicine, Powell walked up the stairs, where he had another argument with Seward's son, Frederick, until Fanny opens the door to see what's going on, causing Powell to realize that he had founded his victim. Powell raised his gun at Frederick, but it jammed, causing him to knock Frederick unconscious to the ground. This caused Bell to run to General Christopher Augur's office for help.

When Powell rushed through the door, Fanny ran and screamed, "Murder!". Getting on top of the bed, he stabs Seward in the face and neck. Luckily, Seward's face was covered by the metal canvas splint that deflected the blow of Powell's penetrating blow to the jugular vain.

The screams in the house caused Herold to escape, leaving Powell behind.

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Powell arriving at the household and before getting arrested

While John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Ford's Theater, Powell began wrestling with the army nurse, George Robinson, and one of Seward's sons, Augustus. After injuring them, Lewis ran down the stairs and stabs a clerk from the State Department.

As Booth escaped through the back exit at Ford’s Theatre, Powell ran out of the mansion, yelling "I'm Mad! I'm Mad!", and got on his waiting horse, realizing that Herald left him behind. With no way to escape, Powell wandered through the city and hid in a cemetery before arriving at the tavern of Mary Surratt on April 17, where he was arrested for the conspiracy, along with Mary Surratt.

Arrest and trial

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Powell after getting captured

Next week, Lincoln's photographer, Alexander Gardner takes some photos of Lewis Powell and the conspirators, as well as the autopsy photo of their leader, John Wilkes Booth, who was killed by Boston Corbett before being tried.

Next month, Powell and 7 remaining henchmen were put on trial on May 10, where they were accused for being part of the conspiracy for trying to throw the reunited states into disaster. The trial last about one month until June 30th, that all of the defendants are found guilty.

Four other conspirators were sentenced to be transferred to Fort Jefferson at the Dry Tortugas; Dr Samuel Mudd (the doctor who set Booth's leg on the night of the murder), Ned Spangler (employee at Ford's Theater), and two of Booth's childhood friends Mike O'Laughlin and Sammy Arnold.

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Powell in his last hours in the cell

And as for the other four Powell, George, David and Mary, were all sentenced to be executed by hanging.

Execution

“	Mrs. Surratt is innocent, she doesn't even deserve to die along with us!	„
	~ One of his last words before getting executed by hanging

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Powell and other henchmen hanged

On July 7th, 1865. Powell was sentenced to death by hanging, along with the other henchmen by the order of new president, Andrew Johnson, including George Atzerodt (who got drunk rather than attempting to kill Andrew Johnson while Booth pulls the trigger), David Herold, and Mary Surratt, who became the first and only woman hanged by the government.

Trivia

• From the pictures of Lewis Powell, he was shown to be handsome and strong soldier with no emotional nor fear, even he was described as "being 6 feet 1 1/2 inches tall with black hair and blue eyes.".