Lieutenant Edward Doherty was commander of the detachment of the 16th New York Cavalry which found John Wilkes Booth & David Herold #OTD in 1865. A cool thing about Doherty? This bad ass is a Canadian and his story deserves to be told...

#CivilWar #Lincoln155 https://twitter.com/Miss_Bellatrix/status/1254425404275863553

Lieutenant Edward Paul Doherty was born on September 26, 1838 in Wickham, Canada East (what is now the province of Quebec). In 1860, he moves to New York City & upon the outbreak of the #CivilWar, enlists in a 90 day militia....

Doherty is a Private in Company A of the 71st New York Volunteers. He is assigned to then Colonel Ambrose Burnside's 2nd Brigade of General Hunter's 2nd Division. Doherty sees combat in the First Bull Run, where he is captured by the Rebels. #CivilWar

But Doherty is such a bad ass that he manages to escape from the Confederate prison he is being held in.....

#CivilWar

The 71st NY is mustered out in August 1861. From there, Doherty will join the Corcoran Legion, which is made up of several NY regiments. It is founded by Irish-born American & confidant of #Lincoln Genreal Michael Corcoran. #CivilWar @Mr_Lincoln

On September 12, 1863, Doherty is appointed 1st Lieutenant in the 16th New York Cavalry. They are assigned to the defenses around Washington D.C. Doherty will distinguish himself in this role. #CivilWar

On April 24, 1865, Doherty is choosen to command a detachment of the 16th NY Cavalry that has one goal: find the assassin of Abraham #Lincoln. Two days later, Doherty & his men will find John Wilkes Booth & David Herold hiding in a tobacco barn in Virginia. #CivilWar

The next day, Doherty & his men return to Washington D.C. with the body of John Wilkes Booth. As a reward for his role in capturing the murderer of Abraham Lincoln, Doherty is given $5250.00 & is promoted to Captain. #CivilWar

In this photo here, Doherty it seen with fellow member of the 16th NY Cavalry & the man who shot John Wilkes Booth, Boston Corbett...

#CivilWar

In June 1865, the 16th NY Cavalry merges with the 13th NY & forms the 3rd Regiment of the New York Provisional Cavalry. They are mustered out in September 1865.

In April 1866, Doherty joins the regular cavalry as a 2nd Lieutentant in the 5th Regular Cavalry. He is eventually promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He will serve part of his time under General Meade as Inspector General of the Department of Georgia. #CivilWar

In 1870, Doherty is mustered out of the regular cavalry & in 1871, moves to New Orleans. In 1886, he finds himself back in New York City & in 1888, is appointed to Inspector of Street Paving. He will hold this position until dying of heart disease on April 3, 1897.

Edward Doherty, the bad ass Canadian who led the men that found #Lincoln's murderer, is buried in @ArlingtonNatl . Inscribed upon his grave is...

"Commanded detachment of 16th NY Cavalry which captured President Lincoln's assassin April 26, 1865"

While Doherty's year of birth on his grave is 1840, research has proven he was born in 1838. That's why I went with that date for my tweets today.