Planning a camping trip

[Dave Taylor]

Those of you who read my blog know that this summer I tried my best to recreate certain parts of the escape route. I walked the route from Dr. Mudd's to Oswell Swann's, from the Pine Thicket to Huckleberry, I went down to Dent's Meadow where Booth and Herold set across the Potomac, and I was fortunate enough to see the spot on the Nanjemoy Creek where they ended up after that first failed attempt. I really do love recreating history this way.

My next project is as follows. I really want to recreate John Wilkes Booth and David Herold's time in the Pine Thicket. My spring break is in April and I would like to spend a good 5 days roughing it in the great outdoors like they did. To do this as accurately as possible though, I'm going to need some help. I was hoping you all could help me out in this way. Booth and Herold's time in the pines is one of the things we don't know much about, but I could use any information you might know to help me plan and provide interesting things for me to talk about while I'm in the woods.

As a starting point for my planning, I'm trying to determine what items Booth and Herold would have would have had with them while they were in the pine thicket. This would give me a nice list of things I can take with me to use during my "camping trip". My biggest struggle is knowing what type of things would have been on the horses.

To start the brainstorming, I know that Booth and Herold would have had:
A Fieldglass (binoculars)
Carbine
2 Revolvers
Large, Bowie Knife
Handkerchief
Diary (with money, bank notes and photos inside)
Pocket Knife
Compass
Stick pin (Booth's "diamond" one)
Catholic Medal
Newspapers from Jones - Betty
Saddle Blankets - Betty
Probably a canteen (either their own or from Jones) - Betty
Pipe and tobacco (he had this at Garretts at least) - Betty
Possibly matches - Betty
Candle (this may have come from Jones when he put them on the river though) - Betty

Here's what I have off the top of my head. Can you all think of other items the boys would have had, either on themselves or on their horses?

[BettyO]

Quote:Can you all think of other items the boys would have had, either on themselves or on their horses?

Dave -

Are you talking about the "tack" i.e. saddles, bridles, blanket; etc. on the horses themselves?

I would think that JWB and Herold if they didn't keep the horses with them would have at least taken the horses' saddle blankets to keep themselves warm. They would probably have been woolen or of a felt material and not of course as large as an actual blanket; but they would work in a pinch. Saddle blankets are easy to find at most feed stores.

JWB and Herold also had newspapers supplied by Cox and/or Jones. You can get repros of these or I can "make" them for you. I have originals of actual 1865 newspapers which I can scan.

They may also have had a canteen with them to be used between both JWB and Herold. The binoculars you can get from CW Reenactor/Sutler shops.

[Dave Taylor]

Thanks Betty. I've added your ideas to my list.

With the horse tack, can you think of any other part of it that the boys may have cannibalized to make life easier for them in the woods? The saddle blankets is a good example.

[Jill Mitchell]

As a starting point for my planning, I'm trying to determine what items Booth and Herold would have would have had with them while they were in the pine thicket. This would give me a nice list of things I can take with me to use during my "camping trip". My biggest struggle is knowing what type of things would have been on the horses.

Here's what I have off the top of my head. Can you all think of other items the boys would have had, either on themselves or on their horses?


One thing almost certainly the horses would NOT have had is saddlebags. Recently I finished reading Border and Bastille, an account written in 1863 by English author George Alfred Lawrence, who enlists aid to (clandestinely) enter the Confederacy from a home base he makes in Baltimore. He will try three routes to cross into "Secessia" through: (1) Leonardtown, MD; (2) Shepherdstown, WV and (3) New Creek, WV. All three attempts fail. The first route of choice is the Southern Maryland route to Leonardtown. He is advised not to attempt a crossing on horseback, but Lawrence insists, and because he insists also on carrying saddlebags and other suspect accoutrements, his guide in turn insists on abandoning this route. Lawrence finally relents. Of this route Lawrence notes: "On the land route, before reaching the point of embarkation, lay the chief difficulties. A horseman traveling with saddle-bags, became at once a suspicious personage, liable everywhere to jealous scrutiny."

One point that is striking in reading Lawrence's account is the scarcity of suitable horses capable of covering long distances--something that gets worse as the war progresses during to an outbreak of a contagious disease that if it did not outright cause the quick death of a horse, left many unsuitable to be ridden. The area at the time was often infiltrated by Confederate cavalryman on "remount furlough" trying to obtain suitable horseflesh--through either purchase or appropriation. Two riders on horseback would have been tempting targets--thus the necessity of keeping weight to a minimum.

[BettyO]

Nothing else I can think of from the horses' tack - unless it would be the stirrup leathers and/or reins which they could use to tie or lash things together or perhaps perhaps use to secure JWB's splints if they came undone.

Oh - and don't forget matches ("lucifiers") and you can get "Period" ones from sutlers if you're striving for authenticity. They also had a candle stub which JWB had used to look at his compass while they crossed the Potomac.

I also believe and have read in various reports that Booth also had a pipe and some tobacco on him as well....don't know how accurate this is.

[LincolnMan]

Dave: what do you plan regarding food?

[Dave Taylor]

When I told my girlfriend Lindsey about the plan, she volunteered to be my Thomas Jones and bring me food and newspapers. I think she did this to get out of being my David Herold and having to camp out with me!

---

This goes along with supplies in some regard. Do we know what clothes Booth was wearing when he assassinated Lincoln? If I truly want it to be authentic, I'll need period garb anyway.

[L Verge]

I think Mr. Hall and Joan Chaconas located the cabin where a black lady prepared at least some food for the fugitives at the request of Thomas Jones. It was practically across the street from the thicket; and when they found it, it was still being inhabited by a single, black lady - who was not quite warm and welcoming to our researchers.

It was hidden from view by a thicket itself and at the end of a fairly long, over-grown driveway. Mr. Hall drove as close to the house as possible, and then he and Joan hoofed it. As they drew near, the door opened and out stepped a very large woman with a shotgun in her arms. She made it quite clear that they were to exit the property, and they obeyed.

All semblance of the cabin and its driveway are long gone. If it still existed, we could have Lindsey (Dave's girlfriend who is on staff at Surratt House) set up housekeeping there and fix up a mess of fried chicken, corn and butter beans, collards, and cornbread for you, Dave.

[BettyO]

I think JWB wore a black frock coat; plaid vest and pants and I read somewhere a blue flannel shirt. He would wear leather suspenders and probably have a gunbelt. He wore a leather high topped riding boot on the unbroken leg and a shoe on the other foot. He wore a dark slouch hat.

You can get outfitted at a reenactors shop/sutler. It will not be cheap - at least the frock is usually expensive. He may have had a pocket watch and guard chain as well.

Anyone know if JWB had a watch on his person?

[Linda Anderson]

Don't forget your diamond pin!

[wsanto]

You'll need a broken left fibula.

[Gene C]

They couldn't have a fire for fear of being discovered by flame or the smoke where it wasn't suppose to be (so no hot meals or drinks).
Newspapers crumpled up, can serve as insulation, as can a pile of leaves. You want to keep your body heat in, wear a hat, keep your feet warm, (only one boot?) and stay hydrated as much as you can. Jones may have brought Booth and Herold some "fire water", to kill the pain and stay warm,

Booth didn't do this, but you might want to wear an orange vest. He also probably didn't have water purification pills, but I'd take them (you can then at least drink the river water safely - take something like kool aid, or tea to help kill the taste) Your going to be miserable enough, without making it to difficult on yourself, take a paperback book to read - you will quickly get bored, and a small notebook for your journal, and maybe some toilet paper)
Don't forget your makeshift crutch.

Watch some of these survivor shows and maybe visit some good backpacking web sites for ideas.
Remember Booth didn't enjoy his camp out in the woods, but no reason why you shouldn't. Unless you've done much primitive camping, try an overnight dry run before you do this so you can learn from your mistakes. See if you can get someone to be your "Davey". Misery loves company.

[Dave Taylor]

(09-04-2013 09:45 AM)wsanto Wrote:  You'll need a broken left fibula.

If I have a partner camping with me, I was planning on splinting my leg. If I'm solo, I probably won't.

[LincolnMan]

You will not be lighting a camp fire then? Booth didn't light one, did he?

[Dave Taylor]

(09-04-2013 10:00 AM)Gene C Wrote:  They couldn't have a fire for fear of being discovered by flame or the smoke where it wasn't suppose to be (so no hot meals or drinks).
Newspapers crumpled up, can serve as insulation, as can a pile of leaves. You want to keep your body heat in, wear a hat, keep your feet warm, (only one boot?) and stay hydrated as much as you can. Jones may have brought Booth and Herold some "fire water", to kill the pain and stay warm,

Booth didn't do this, but you might want to wear an orange vest. He also probably didn't have water purification pills, but I'd take them (you can then at least drink the river water safely - take something like kool aid, or tea to help kill the taste) Your going to be miserable enough, without making it to difficult on yourself, take a paperback book to read - you will quickly get bored, and a small notebook for your journal, and maybe some toilet paper)
Don't forget your makeshift crutch.

Watch some of these survivor shows and maybe visit some good backpacking web sites for ideas.
Remember Booth didn't enjoy his camp out in the woods, but no reason why you shouldn't. Unless you've done much primitive camping, try an overnight dry run before you do this so you can learn from your mistakes. See if you can get someone to be your "Davey". Misery loves company.

Lots of good advice Gene, thank you. I am a big fan of Survivorman but I've never done any primitive camping before, just regular in a tent kind. My main concerns, safety and convenience wise, are shelter and sleeping arrangements. I really don't want to just sleep on the ground with the bugs and such, but we'll see how brave I am come April.