While Booth was attacking the president, the other parts of conspiracy became unglued. Powell succeeded in entering the Seward residence but botched the assassination. Hearing the commotion inside, Herold fled the scene. Powell was able to exit the house after injuring Seward and members of his family, but was unable to get out of Washington. He was arrested along with Mary Surratt on April 17 at her boarding house on H Street. At the Kirkwood House, Atzerodt lost his nerve and abandoned his assignment in favor of drinking at the hotel bar. He was arrested at his cousin's house in Germantown, MD on April 20.
Racing through the city, Booth headed for the Navy Yard Bridge across the Anacostia River. Arriving between 10:40 and 11:00 PM, he was initially barred from crossing by Sergeant Silas Cobb as the bridge usually closed to traffic at 9:00 PM. After fast talking Cobb, Booth was permitted to cross. He was followed a few minutes later by Herold who was also able to get past Cobb. Herold was pursued by John Fletcher, a local stable hand, who was attempting to recover a rented horse from Herold. Fletcher was told by Cobb that he could cross, but would not be allowed back in the city until morning. Angry, Fletcher turned around and later reported the theft to detectives and General Christopher Auger. As a result, by 2:00 AM Auger was alerted to two men fleeing south. He promptly dispatched elements of the 13th New York Cavalry, under Lieutenant David Dana, in pursuit.
According to Herold's account, he caught up with Booth at Soper's Hill approximately eight miles south of Washington. Herold found Booth with a broken leg and was told that it occurred when his horse fell and rolled on him. Recent scholarship also indicates that Booth's leg was broken as a the result of a horse fall as opposed to the fall to the stage at Ford's Theater. Pressing on, Booth and Herold made for Surratt's Tavern. The tavern was originally to have played a role in the March 17 plot and Herold had left weapons in the building. The tavern's operator, John M. Lloyd, had been alerted by Mary Surratt that men would be calling that night. Arriving, Herold instructed Lloyd to fetch the weapons. He returned with a carbine, ammunition, and a set of field glasses. Herold entered the building and obtained a bottle of whiskey. Due to his injury, Booth did not dismount. Within minutes of arriving, the pair rode off into the night.