Page "William H. Seward" Paragraph 34

On the night of April 14, 1865, Lewis Powell, an associate and co-conspirator of John Wilkes Booth, attempted to assassinate Seward at his Washington D. C. home.

Powell's attack on Seward was coordinated with Booth's attack on President Abraham Lincoln and George Atzerodt's attack on Vice President Andrew Johnson in order to maximize the element of surprise and to sever the continuity of the United States government.

Another member of the conspiracy, David Herold, led Powell to the Seward home on horseback and was responsible for holding Powell's horse while he committed the attack as well as guiding him out of the city during their escape.

Powell was able to gain access to the Seward home by telling the butler that he was delivering medicine for Seward.