A few days of hiding in the wilderness took a toll on Booth, who had prepared for a rapid escape and was poorly outfitted in a suit. Herold and Booth were unable to perform much in the way of hygiene, making them look more like fugitives. They were also demoralized that Powell surrendered, and that their heroic deeds had not caught fire and provoked a new Southern uprising.

Booth was also surprised to see that an article he had written and entrusted to a friend for submission had not appeared; as it turned out, the panicked friend had burned the letter. Booth immediately responded to the absence of his letter by writing an explanation of the assassination’s intent in a date book. Meanwhile, John Surratt was shocked to see a report identifying him among the assassins. Samuel Mudd finally received a visit from an officer tracking down old leads. Mudd stood firm to evade their suspicions, but did include information that some unknown men matching the fugitives’ descriptions had rested briefly at his farm. According to Swanson, the investigating lieutenant made a mental note that he would arrest Mudd soon, as the officer assumed he had committed some wrongdoing.