Booth was discovered cowering in a barn. He was shot like the cur he was, and lingered for some time in horrible pain and discomfort. A fitting end.
He was not shot "cowering" but was shooting back.
Another revisionist history fantasy of yours Read:
Lieutenant Luther Baker (a detective) yelled, "Surrender, or we'll fire the barn and smoke you out like rats! We'll give you five minutes more to make up your minds."
Booth asked for time to decide. Finally, after some more give and take with the soldiers, Booth yelled, "Well, my brave boys, you can prepare a stretcher for me! I will never surrender!"
After a short time Booth said, "Oh, Captain, there's a man in here who wants to surrender awful bad." The barn door rattled, and David Herold's voice was heard saying he wanted to give up. Herold slowly came out and was slammed to the ground by the soldiers. He was hauled to a nearby tree and tied up with rope.
Still Booth would not come out. Using straw and brush, the cavalry set the barn on fire. Booth was visible to the soldiers because the barn was full of cracks and knotholes. They could see him moving about the burning barn holding his carbine and crutch (his left fibula being broken).
At this point a soldier, going against orders, shot Booth through the neck. Booth's body was dragged out of the burning barn. For a short time the dying man was placed on the grass near a locust tree. Soon, though, the body was moved to the front porch of the Garrett home. Booth was paralyzed and barely alive. (Library of Congress)
Some Cowering........