Book Report Of Chasing Lincoln's Killer By James Swanson

History class to many falls as a just another boring lesson, memorizing facts you will never use. The year America got it’s independence, the dates of the end of World War 1 and 2- all forgotten by the time you graduate. These facts may seem useless, but behind each one, their is a story with so many valiant people, a story with people who must be forever condemned, and facts that we can always use. In the book, Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, written by James L. Swanson, there is one such story about the death of Abraham Lincoln and the manhunt that followed. What is really important about this story is that the attackers of this night always be condemned, as well as to note the amazing effort of our country coming together with tips. Most importantly

Secretary of State Seward was injured from a carriage incident, and could not move from his bed. On Friday, April 15th, 1865, Lewis Powell, an accomplice of Booth entered the residence of Seward, claiming to be an apprentice for a doctor. He had to personally deliver the medicine, however, the smart family of Seward refused to let him give Seward the medicine. However, Powell still managed to enter Seward’s room. However, Seward’s sons as well as an army nurse prevented Powell from murdering Seward. “The sergeant and Augustus wrestled Powell into the hall and into the bright gaslight,”(Swanson 57). Because of the heroic actions of the Sergeant, Augustus, and Frederick(another son), Powell did not manage to come close enough to plunge a knife into Seward. Without the menacing fight posed by these people, Powell would have most definitely assassinated Secretary of State Powell, in turn causing more pandemonium in the country- enough that a Confederate takeover may have been possible. In addition to these warriors at the Seward residence, another faction of people whose acts must be remembered are the faction of Manhunters. These men devoted all their time for 12 days using clues and all sorts of wacky leads in order to trace down Booth. One important man in this chase was Boston Corbett, a Union

These people have forever been forgotten and have been limited to history books, while they all have amazing stories to tell about how they saved America that night. No story is ever without its antagonist, and every day, in our world, we may come face to face with these antagonists. However, what is ever more amazing about our world is how so many make the right decision of good over bad. It is our responsibility to make sure that we do not become that antagonist, and rather be the good guy. Could the perfect world actually be created, if not for the infinite number of people playing a good