Thomas Conrad

[RJNorton]

Kieran McAuliffe sent this link about Thomas Conrad.

[Bill Richter]

Fabulous article about a man we need to know more about, as I am sure John Stanton will agree. I was surprised to see him looking so young! I thought him to be older.

[Laurie Verge]

Conrad is indeed someone who deserves a lot more study! I grew up with some of his descendants, and one of my daughter's best friends' father's given name was Benjamin Conrad Perrie through the intermarriage of the line with the Perrie family of Southern Maryland.

I was privileged years ago to know Thomas's great niece, who gave us photos of both Thomas and his wife -- both of them aristocratic and beautiful. They could have been movie stars today. I would say that they both were in their mid- to late-30s when our photos were taken.

[L Verge]

Besides wanting to know more about Thomas Nelson Conrad, I would like to know more about his boss in the Confederate secret line, William Norris, and the second in command, Charles Cawood. Cawood is especially frustrating because it appears that he slipped off the grid at the end of the war and no one knows what happened to him. I believe that he was a native of Charles County, Maryland.

[BettyO]

(08-14-2012 07:08 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Besides wanting to know more about Thomas Nelson Conrad, I would like to know more about his boss in the Confederate secret line, William Norris, and the second in command, Charles Cawood. Cawood is especially frustrating because it appears that he slipped off the grid at the end of the war and no one knows what happened to him. I believe that he was a native of Charles County, Maryland.

Very interesting man, Conrad! And....I wasn't aware that he was that young! First time I've ever seen a photo of him - I had imagined an older (late 30s-early 40s) gentleman with a goatee and moustache!

[John Stanton]

(08-14-2012 07:08 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Besides wanting to know more about Thomas Nelson Conrad, I would like to know more about his boss in the Confederate secret line, William Norris, and the second in command, Charles Cawood. Cawood is especially frustrating because it appears that he slipped off the grid at the end of the war and no one knows what happened to him. I believe that he was a native of Charles County, Maryland.

Hi Everyone, This reply is only to show you that I am trying to participate. Laurie, Cawood was not Norris' second in Command, I think there were 8 Captains ahead of him.
A little on Cawood. Cawood married in Richmond in March '64 +/_
and after the war lived in Manchester, VA (across the river from Richmond). He had a son born about Dec. 1865. Then both of them disappear. Wife moved to Montpelier, VA. Her first husband was a descendant of Madison. (She went where the money was.) She had a son by the first husband who lived out his days over there. Do you want me to write this up?

[L Verge]

Definitely because I think you located more on Cawood than Hall and Gaddy did. Somehow, a distant cousin in my family married into the Cawood family, but we never figured out the connection with Charles. This man died in WWII and left his wife with four young sons to raise. She never knew that much about her husband's family.

[BettyO]

Welcome aboard, John!

If you want, I can go over to the Library of Virginia (across the street from my office) and look up the marriage certificate, etc.

My mother's family are all from Manchester, south side of the James River (then a separate city from Richmond and annexed in 1910.)

Just let me know and I can check on any records for you -

I'm so glad that you've joined our Forum, John - we've missed you!!

[John Stanton]

Hi Betty O. Prof. Terry Alford was the first to find the marriage Certf. in a Church Book. After that research was easier. If you want to fill us in, the Bride's name was Lucy Johnson. Her first Husband was Lt. Edgar Macon. (Died at 1st Manassas). I am happier with more names of people involved involved, it helps to confirm the data. A death certif. would be a better find. Keep an eye pealed for news of a illness spreading in town. Since the two (Charles and son) disappeared together. I checked moves to South America and Egypt - no finds.
She reverted to using her Macon name, which sort of suggests a death of the spouse.
PS. A new man reporting for duty on a ship - requests permission to board - steps aboard, comes to attention, salutes the Flag at the stern, turns and salutes the Officer of the deck, And signs in
I -salute aft----salute the Officer --and sign in
I'm looking forward to a pleasant cruise.

(08-25-2012 11:12 AM)BettyO Wrote:  Welcome aboard, John!

If you want, I can go over to the Library of Virginia (across the street from my office) and look up the marriage certificate, etc.

My mother's family are all from Manchester, south side of the James River (then a separate city from Richmond and annexed in 1910.)

Just let me know and I can check on any records for you -

I'm so glad that you've joined our Forum, John - we've missed you!!

[RJNorton]

John, I am a big fan of all the work you have done. I must say Sarah Slater is my favorite. It's an honor to have you here on our new forum. Welcome to the group!

[John Stanton]

(08-25-2012 03:28 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  John, I am a big fan of all the work you have done. I must say Sarah Slater is my favorite. It's an honor to have you here on our new forum. Welcome to the group!

Because you flatter me, I give you a tidbit on Sarah, that was not in my"'Courier" write up. Sarah sent a telegram to Richmond asking for a Passport to go to New York to stay with her Mother. That wire was a pure and simple a Cover. She was already North of the Potomac, she didn't need a Passport to go to her Mothers. She had been in Canada for a month or better - tending to the the St. Albans Raiders. She knew the Confederate Rules to cross the Lines. She needed two letters - one fron the Sec. of War and one from the Head of the Secret Service. She had neither. The Rev. Stephen Cameron had taken her North, so he had the papers. She was asking the South to tell the Camps on the Potomac to provide all the aid she needed to cross. Obviously, the Camps got the word and she was in Richmond by Jan. 30, 1865. She went back the same way - to Sgt. Brogden's Camp in Westmoreland Co. and Gus Howell picked her up there and took her to New York. PS I got more.

[Jim Garrett]

(08-25-2012 11:12 AM)BettyO Wrote:  Welcome aboard, John!

If you want, I can go over to the Library of Virginia (across the street from my office) and look up the marriage certificate, etc.

My mother's family are all from Manchester, south side of the James River (then a separate city from Richmond and annexed in 1910.)

Just let me know and I can check on any records for you -

I'm so glad that you've joined our Forum, John - we've missed you!!

Betty, I was in LVA last Friday. Next time I come down, we will get together.

[JMadonna]

(08-26-2012 12:37 AM)John Stanton Wrote:  Because you flatter me, I give you a tidbit on Sarah, that was not in my"'Courier" write up. Sarah sent a telegram to Richmond asking for a Passport to go to New York to stay with her Mother. That wire was a pure and simple a Cover. She was already North of the Potomac, she didn't need a Passport to go to her Mothers. She had been in Canada for a month or better - tending to the the St. Albans Raiders. She knew the Confederate Rules to cross the Lines. She needed two letters - one fron the Sec. of War and one from the Head of the Secret Service. She had neither. The Rev. Stephen Cameron had taken her North, so he had the papers. She was asking the South to tell the Camps on the Potomac to provide all the aid she needed to cross. Obviously, the Camps got the word and she was in Richmond by Jan. 30, 1865. She went back the same way - to Sgt. Brogden's Camp in Westmoreland Co. and Gus Howell picked her up there and took her to New York. PS I got more.

Love to hear more.
I read this piece in Headley's Operations in Canada. Is he describing Sarah Slater?

Mrs. ,* a widow only 24 years old, employed by the Confederate Government for secret service in the Northern States, had come to Montreal and called on the prisoners at the jail. She volunteered for the journey to Richmond. After leaving the railroad in Maryland she walked much of the way through the country occupied by the enemy in Virginia. She departed from Richmond with the necessary certified papers, well concealed, one day before Rev. Mr. Cameron arrived there. These two messengers, traveling by different routes, reached Montreal on the same day. She declined to accept from Col. Jacob Thompson any compensation whatever for her services or expenses. This devotee of the South was a Kentucky lady. About 1867 she visited Frankfort when the legislature was in session. During a recess of fifteen minutes taken in her honor she was the recipient of an ovation, being presented by Hon. Thomas T. Coger, of Jessamine County, the home of Lieut. Bennett H. Young. *The prisoners never met this lady before or after her visits to the jail at Montreal. One of the survivors secured her photograph at the jail, but after forty years her name is forgotten

[JMadonna]

The article on Thomas Conrad reads:
"Before they could spring their surprise, however, things went awry. As they watched one day, Lincoln left the White House as expected, but this time he was escorted by a cavalry troop, clattering before and behind his carriage. Apparently detectives had reinforced his guard after picking up rumors swirling in Washington saloons about a threat to the president (rumors likely centered around Confederate cavalryman John Mosby). Frustrated, Conrad abandoned his scheme."

This excerpt came from Conrad's book and I always doubted it because it sounded too much like someone blowing his own horn. However, now I'm certain it happened and it wasn't thwarted by saloon rumors.

The guard was reinforced by Ward Lamon after Lincoln related the story of being shot at by a 'hunter' on the way to the soldiers home. The timing lines up. Apparently an independent patriot acting on his own foiled the CSA's kidnapping operation.

[RJNorton]

The timing fits as I believe the "hunter/sniper incident" happened in the middle of August in 1864. Referring to this incident, Harold Holzer, author of The President Is Shot! The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, wrote "...from that day on, Lincoln rode to and from the Soldiers' Home in a carriage, surrounded by soldiers."