Booth's Escape Route

[RJNorton]

(01-18-2013 11:11 AM)william l. richter Wrote:  But he defended Mrs. Surratt until the end, as any Southern gentleman would.

I agree with Bill and his reason, but I also have another reason which is different. Over the past few years I have moved from thinking Mary not only knew about the kidnapping but probably knew about the assassination as well. It is my gut feeling that Booth told her at about 9:00 P.M. on April 14, if not earlier (at one of his previous visits that day). After Booth departed for the theater Mary got real nervous and then asked Weichmann to pray for her intentions. I think Lewis Powell felt Mary had at least vague knowledge of the kidnapping, but he had no idea she may also have known the plot had changed to assassination. So my belief is that Powell was being honest when he defended her - I just don't think he knew the degree of her complicity with JWB. Just my opinion.

[brtmchl]

I believe Powell would have gotten out with the others, but the problems that arose at the Seward home added time, not to mention exhaustion to his mission. it could have just been more difficult to flee. The commotion in the streets would have been starting already and just a few setbacks could have been all it took. By the time he could have gotten out word most likely already started to spread. And quite possibly he missed the chance to cross any of the bridges that probably were secured after hearing any news or at least he may have believed that. I think he took on the mentality of a soldier trapped behind enemy lines, just waiting for an opportunity. I do wonder though why he didn't recon Surratt's house before just walking up and knocking. Risky.

[Rsmyth]

Hi Laurie, I was making fun of Mr. Garret for saying Booth was following the escape route tour.

[Laurie Verge]

Once upon a time, I heard Betty voice a thought that maybe Powell deliberately mounted those steps at the boardinghouse and knocked on the door - knowing that authorities were there and that he might become their objective instead of Mary and Anna. Betty - is that still a possible thought?

[BettyO]

Quote: Once upon a time, I heard Betty voice a thought that maybe Powell deliberately mounted those steps at the boardinghouse and knocked on the door - knowing that authorities were there and that he might become their objective instead of Mary and Anna. Betty - is that still a possible thought?

Hmmmm....did I say that?! Can remember! Man - it's devilish getting old!! HA!

No - I simply think that he mounted those steps thinking that he had arrived at a safe haven where he could procure a warm bed for the night, a good hot meal and perhaps a much needed hat so he could make his escape early the next morning! Southern gentleman that he was, I'm sure that once he was inside, the safety of Mary Surratt and daughter were his prime concern. He did not know how deeply Mary was involved. He once insinuated that he knew she was aware of the kidnap venture but knew nothing of the murder.

[Laurie Verge]

(01-18-2013 03:36 PM)Rsmyth Wrote:  Hi Laurie, I was making fun of Mr. Garret for saying Booth was following the escape route tour.

Oops, sorry. Bad day in bedrock here, and I guess my sense of humor didn't kick in.

[Matt Macoubrie]

Bowling Green, Virginia was a small village located twelve miles southwest of Port Royal, Virginia, and the Rappahannock River. Booth and Herold had crossed the Rappahannock with the help of three Confederate soldiers at Port Royal. They stopped at the farmhouse of Richard Garret, located midway between Port Royal and Bowling Green.

My mistake, there was not supposed to be a buggy waiting for him, but there were buggies there.

This is matt by the way . . . sorry haha



Source: The Lincoln Assassination Encyclopedia, Page 88

[Craig Hipkins]

I too, do not believe that Powell, or for that matter Davey Herold were dim witted country boys. Booth recruited these individuals for a specific purpose. I doubt seriously that he would have trusted them with specific tasks if he believed that they dim witted.

Craig

[BettyO]

Quote:I too, do not believe that Powell, or for that matter Davey Herold were dim witted country boys. Booth recruited these individuals for a specific purpose. I doubt seriously that he would have trusted them with specific tasks if he believed that they dim witted.

Neither Davey nor Powell were "dimwitted." Davey attended Georgetown College (now Georgetown University) and although perhaps a bit immature, was not in any way dimwitted. Born in DC, he was most certainly NOT a country boy.

Likewise, Powell may have been a "country boy", but he was far from dimwitted. He had aristocratic family connections, being 2nd cousin to General John Brown Gordon. Young Mr. Powell was described as being held in "high esteem" by the boarders at the Branson boarding house in Baltimore. He was described as "gallant and chivalrous" by General William H. Payne, whose family boarded Lew while he served with Mosby's unit. Dr. Gillette said that he had "educational advantages and was of cultivated mind." So - dimwitted? I think not!

If either Davey or Lew were described thus, it was more or less due to the psychological effects of the horrid hooding experience that they were subjected to during their incarceration.

That Davey Herold was a year older than Lew and acted a bit more immature could be due to the fact that Lew had "grown up faster" while in the Confederate Army!

[wsanto]

I believe Booth's escape route followed his planned route for the kidnapping. IMVHO Booth did not have the time or inclination to plan a new escape route north to Canada. He already had support and supplies staged for his escape through southern Maryland. It seems to me very logical that he would take advantage of this support and these supplies knowing that his chance of escape was greater along this line than with a new route.

I hadn't hear the theory that Powell fell off his horse. Now it seems that both Booth and Powell were thrown form their horses: what are the chances? It seems to me that these Union horses were throwing would-be assassins left and right.

[JMadonna]

It is obvious to me that once Booth left Mudd's house he had no pre-planned route for escape and no destination in mind.

[MaddieM]

(01-20-2013 04:15 PM)BettyO Wrote:  

Quote:I too, do not believe that Powell, or for that matter Davey Herold were dim witted country boys. Booth recruited these individuals for a specific purpose. I doubt seriously that he would have trusted them with specific tasks if he believed that they dim witted.

Neither Davey nor Powell were "dimwitted." Davey attended Georgetown College (now Georgetown University) and although perhaps a bit immature, was not in any way dimwitted. Born in DC, he was most certainly NOT a country boy.

Likewise, Powell may have been a "country boy", but he was far from dimwitted. He had aristocratic family connections, being 2nd cousin to General John Brown Gordon. Young Mr. Powell was described as being held in "high esteem" by the boarders at the Branson boarding house in Baltimore. He was described as "gallant and chivalrous" by General William H. Payne, whose family boarded Lew while he served with Mosby's unit. Dr. Gillette said that he had "educational advantages and was of cultivated mind." So - dimwitted? I think not!

If either Davey or Lew were described thus, it was more or less due to the psychological effects of the horrid hooding experience that they were subjected to during their incarceration.

That Davey Herold was a year older than Lew and acted a bit more immature could be due to the fact that Lew had "grown up faster" while in the Confederate Army!

Perhaps Lewis was just naive, intellectually unsophisticated, unwordly, and made a stupid error of judgement. He probably thought he could kill one on one, but the reality of that is very different from firing random bullets on the battlefield. He stated that he had never knowingly killed anyone before. That indicates that he had not engaged in hand to hand battle during the war and killed someone in cold or hot blood.

The thing that most surprises me about Lewis, is that he seemingly did not have the capacity to see the larger picture. But then, none of them did. Undoubtedly, the whole assassination was a botched job, badly planned, and almost child like in it's plotting. What were they thinking? There was no real escape route, the horse Powell had was a nag with one eye, and a pacer to boot. He was someone who knew his horseflesh. What on earth made him go along with such poor planning? He worked raids with Mosby, which surely must have been tactical. This is what baffles me. Are we missing something? Is there a missing piece to the puzzle?

---

(01-20-2013 03:53 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  I too, do not believe that Powell, or for that matter Davey Herold were dim witted country boys. Booth recruited these individuals for a specific purpose. I doubt seriously that he would have trusted them with specific tasks if he believed that they dim witted.

Craig

He trusted George Atzerodt and wasn't he very often worse for drink? Why would anyone choose a drunk for involvement in something that important? If that's not an error of judgement I don't know what is. I think JWB was desperate to do this, and when push came to shove, he probably would have chosen a performing monkey if he thought it would shoot Johnson.

[JMadonna]

(01-21-2013 05:06 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  The thing that most surprises me about Lewis, is that he seemingly did not have the capacity to see the larger picture. But then, none of them did. Undoubtedly, the whole assassination was a botched job, badly planned, and almost child like in it's plotting. What were they thinking? There was no real escape route, the horse Powell had was a nag with one eye, and a pacer to boot. He was someone who knew his horseflesh. What on earth made him go along with such poor planning? He worked raids with Mosby, which surely must have been tactical. This is what baffles me. Are we missing something? Is there a missing piece to the puzzle?

The inescapable conclusion is that, as so often happens in conspiracies, the grunts were hanged and imprisoned, but their superiors who gave the orders, got away with murder, just as they had gotten away with treason and rebellion.

[Gene C]

(01-21-2013 05:06 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  He trusted George Atzerodt and wasn't he very often worse for drink? Why would anyone choose a drunk for involvement in something that important? If that's not an error of judgement I don't know what is. I think JWB was desperate to do this, and when push came to shove, he probably would have chosen a performing monkey if he thought it would shoot Johnson.

Sometimes you just have to work with what you've got, and make the best of it. Booth didn't have much to work with, he didn't plan on breaking his leg, he miscalculated community support, his escape plans were weak, and he was inexperienced in this type of activety. Worst of all, he didn't properly anticiapte the consequences of his actions.

There is a potential business book here. "Booth on Miss-Management"

[BettyO]

Quote:The inescapable conclusion is that, as so often happens in conspiracies, the grunts were hanged and imprisoned, but their superiors who gave the orders, got away with murder, just as they had gotten away with treason and rebellion.

Still happens....I see it every day! Yes, I have to agree, Maddie. I think that with Lew Powell, it was simply an error of misjudgement, youth and immaturity - not to discredit Lew and his military qualities, but so much for being a soldier.