Killers in color: Fascinating images bring to life the team who plotted the theater assassination of Lincoln to revive the Confederate cause (11 Pics)

These fascinating colorized photos bring to life the men and woman who assassinated Abraham Lincoln. 

David Herold who led Booth's escape. 

Lewis Powell who failed to kill Secretary of State William Seward

From left to right: Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, George Atzerodt, David Herold being taken to the scaffold on July 7th 1865

Long-time friend of Booth, Samuel Arnold, without handcuffs.

Edmund Spangler, who was accused of helping Booth flee the scene of the murder

A colorized image of what is thought to be the last photo of Lincoln before his death.

John Wilkes Booth

The role of George Atzerodt (1835-1865)  in the sordid affair was to assassinate Vice President Andrew Johnson at the Kirkwood House, a hotel where Johnson was staying. But he did not even try to kill Johnson and ended up drinking and walking around the capital. He was executed along with Powell and Herold at age 30. Pictured: Atzerodt at 30

John Bingham, Judge Joseph Holt, and Brigadier General Henry Burnett, prosecutors for Lincoln assassination trial

 Samuel Arnold pictured before his trial.

Conspirator Lewis Powell standing in overcoat and hat

Killed at the theater: Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was assassinated by well-known stage actor John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865.

Confederate spy Booth shot him in the head during a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C.

Lincoln died the next day at 7.22am in the Petersen House opposite the theater.

He was the first American president to be assassinated and his funeral was followed by an extended period of national mourning.

The assassination was part of a larger conspiracy intended by Booth to revive the Confederate cause by eliminating the three most important officials of the United States government. 

Conspirators Lewis Powell and David Herold were assigned to kill Secretary of State William H. Seward, and George Atzerodt was tasked with killing Vice President Andrew Johnson. The first plot was bungled and Atzerodt lost his nerve.