1869: The owner of the land where our downtown now stands, George Baker Waller Sr., from Virginia, deeded one-half interest in 150 acres of his land to the railroad company
Booth wanted to assassinate both Ulysses S Grant and Lincoln
That day, Our American Cousin was playing at the Ford s Theater in Washington, DC. When Booth learned of Lincoln s intent to attend a play with General Grant, his original plan was to assassinate Lincoln and Grant both. However, at the last minute, Grant decided to skip the play and visit his children in New Jersey.
General Ulysses Simpson Grant, later the 18th President of the United States. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Booth s original plan was to kidnap Lincoln
It has been reported that Booth was spearheading a plot to abduct Lincoln, bring him to Richmond in Virginia, which was the Confederate capital, and use him as a bargaining chip to ensure the release of rebel prisoners. After Confederate General Robert E. Leeâs surrender at Appomattox, Booth had decided that he was going to kill and not kidnap Lincoln.