Dr Samuel Mudd

After graduation Dr. Mudd returned home and began life as a practising physician and farmer. On November 26 1857, he married Sarah Francis Dyer, his childhood sweetheart. The Mudd’s first child, Andrew, was born in November 1858. By 1859 the Mudd’s had a farm of their own. It was located about 5 miles north of Bryantown, Maryland, and 30 miles south of Washington D.C. In 1860 the Mudd’s second child, Lillian Augusta, was born. Two more sons were born in 1862 and 1864. During the civil war, Dr. Mudd was a Confederate sympathiser and member of the Confederate Underground.

On Sunday, November 13, 1864, John Wilkes Booth first met Dr. Mudd at St Mary’s Church near Bryantown, Maryland. Evidence (according to one source) indicates a second meeting of the two men took place on December 18 at the Bryantown Tavern. Then, on December 23, the two men met yet again in front of Booths Hotel (the National Hotel) in Washington D.C. Booth wanted Dr. Mudd to introduce him to the Confederate Courier, John Surratt. Walking along 7th St, the men came upon none other than Louis Wiechmann and John Surratt! Booth invited all three men up to his hotel room for a drink. Depending on ones point of view, the discussion and events at this meeting were either totally innocent or ‘Suspicious’

After he shot Lincoln, Booth broke his leg in his leap to the stage at Ford’s Theatre.

Needing a doctor’s assistance, he and David Herold arrived at Dr. Mudd’s at approximately 4:00 A.M. 0n April 15, 1865. Dr. Mudd set, splinted and bandaged the broken leg. The Dr. asked his handyman to make a pair of crutches for Booth; the Dr. was paid $25 for his services. Booth and Herold left the next afternoon (having stayed about 12 hours).

Within days the U.S. Government arrested Dr. Mudd. (The boot the Dr. had removed from Booth’s leg was found in his house, He was charged with conspiracy as well as harbouring Booth and Herold during their escape. He went on trial along with Lewis Powell (Paine), George Atzerodt, Mary Surratt, David Herold, Ned Spangler, Samuel Arnold and Michael O’Laughlen. (Booth had already been shot by Federal forces during his escape attempt). In court witness’s described Dr. Mudd as the most attentive of the accused. Dressed in a Black Suit with a clean White Shirt.

Testimony against the Doctor at the trial included his harsh treatment of some of his slaves. (He was supposed to have shot one male slave who survived) and a statement by George Atzerodt (No doubt in order to achieve a lessor sentence) that Booth had sent Liquor and provisions to Dr. Mudds home two weeks prior to the assassination. Like the other defendants, Dr. Mudd was found guilty. His sentence: Life imprisonment. He missed the death penalty by one vote.

Dr. Mudd was imprisoned at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas about 70 miles west of Key West. And is the southern most tip of the United States (Not Key West, as most people believe).

Dr. Mudd was allowed to stay in mail contact with his wife. Mrs. Mudd also wrote letters to President Andrew Johnson seeking her husband’s release. An attempted escape failed on September 25th, 1865. In February of 1867 Dr. Mudd was assigned to the prison carpentry shop. In the summer of 1867, Yellow fever broke out on the island. After the Fort’s Physician died on September the 7th, Dr. Mudd took a leading role in aiding the sick. Dr. Mudd himself came down with the disease but recovered. Michael O’Laughlen was one of those who passed away due to the epidemic. Because of his outstanding efforts, all non-commissioned officers and soldiers on the island signed a petition to the government in support of Dr. Mudd.

Early in 1869 a courier from the United States Government knocked on the Mudd’s front door, when Mrs. Mudd opened the front door she was handed an envelop from the President ‘Please sign this receipt and if there is a reply I am instructed to deliver it to the President in person’. The courier said. Mrs. Mudd opened the letter and read it. (A copy of which is set out below.

Dear Mrs Mudd

As promised, I have drawn up a pardon for your husband, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd. Please come to my office at your earliest convenience. I wish to sign it in your presence and give it to you personally.

Sincerely
ANDREW JOHNSON
President of the United States of America

Mrs. Mudd went to the White House the next morning . There the President signed and delivered to her the papers for the release of her husband. The date of the Pardon was February 8, 1869. Dr. Mudd was released from Fort Jefferson on March 8, and arrived home on March 20. He had served somewhat less than four years in prison. After regaining most of his practice he lived a quiet life until on January 10th, 1883 he died of either pneumonia or pleurisy at the age of 49. He was buried in St. Mary’s cemetery next to the Bryantown church were he first met Booth in 1864. His Grandson Dr. Richard Mudd had until his death in 2002 fought to clear his grandfather’s name. Richards’s son Thomas B. Mudd will continue the fight.

The above article first appeared in the ACWS Newsletter, Autumn 2006