Mosby's Men in Southern Maryland

[Wild Bill]

The Mason Article, "A True Story of the Capture and Death of John Wilkes Booth," Northern Neck Historical Magazine, 13 (Dec., 1963), 1237-39, refers to what Booth's leg looked like, the order in which the escapees rode to Garrett's, and the turn of Booth in the wagon, with his injured foot hanging out for ll to see. He was dismissed by the Yanks to onlookers as a dead deserter. See Last Confederate heroes, Part V, Into Virginia, "Across the Rappahannock to Port Royal," and Part VII, Epilogue, "Back to the Rappahannock." Wellford Mason had a parole from Appomattox and could travel pretty much at will without fear of recapture. I surmise that he was to contact Mosby men and they were to find Booth and kill him before the Yankee cavalry could capture Booth and question him about Lincoln's assassination.

[SSlater]

I have to believe that many times men were sent on "Missions" and before long the mission was changed. The stay in So. MD is an example. I believe that Mosby sent men out to get FOOD. A large group of men were spotted returning to Mosby with wagons of food and were driving a herd of Beef. We also know that this was not all his men. so, if he left some behind, they were reacting to orders. Who, when where why etc. we don't know. But I doubt that their original orders had anything to do with Booth. They were on the road
long before Booth made his move. I doubt that Mosby did very much with his whole command at one time. He had people going off in every direction. Even his attention to Harney involved only one company. Several Companies moving in unison would attract to much attention. They did their best when they worked small.

I remember reading that the "escort troop" (for Booth) was sent from Richmond and included men who lived in this area (so as not to attract attention), and they were to hang back -to prevent capture from behind.

All of this makes me believe that the gang that had the battle were in the process of doing something described here. I can also add -they were off on some mission we don't know about and didn't get Mosby's orders to return to Upperville. (Maybe they wanted more food and hadn't picked up their quota) At any rate they were not there to protect Booth. (He had already passed through here when they had their battle.)

Tell me what you think.