Washington Navy Yard, D.C. David E. Herold, a Conspirator (U.S. Civil War) Color Changing Coffee Mug 11oz

The Washington Navy Yard refers to a U.S. Naval base located in Washington, D.C., which played significant roles throughout American history, including during the U.S. Civil War. Among its historical figures connected to the site is David E. Herold, a conspirator associated with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. David Edmondt Herold (1836-1865) was born in Washington, D.C., and worked as a clerk at the Navy Yard before joining the Confederate Army during the U.S. Civil War. After the war ended, he became involved with John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated Lincoln. Following Booth's assassination of Lincoln on April 14, 1865, Herold served as a courier for the fugitive conspirators, providing them with information and supplies. On April 26, 1865, Herold was captured at the Port Tobacco River in Maryland while attempting to cross into Virginia. He was then taken to the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C., before being transferred to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. During his time as a prisoner, Herold maintained contact with fellow conspirator Mary Surratt, who had run a boarding house where some of the plotters had met. After the conclusion of the trial, which resulted in the execution of several conspirators, Herold was moved to the Washington Arsenal, located near the Navy Yard. On July 6, 1865, he committed suicide by swallowing sulfuric acid hidden inside a bottle of ink. His death followed the executions of Mary Surratt and four other conspirators on July 7, 1865, making him the only co-conspirator who avoided execution. The Washington Navy Yard continues to serve as an active U.S. naval installation and remains a significant historical site due to its connections with various events, such as the U.S. Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln. The story of David E. Herold, one of the lesser-known conspirators involved in that tragic event, is an integral part of that history.