Did Lincoln pick up Maj. Rathbone amd Miss Harris?

[scldrgnfly]

You have laid it out nicely, I think, John. I have a couple of other questions.

One, would it not have been a matter of protocol for the carriage to have picked up Harris and Rathbone at the Harris' and then pick up the President and his wife, so they needn't be imposed upon to wait for the couple in the carriage?

Also, when Herold said he delivered caster oil to the President, was the President waiting at the door for deliveries, especially one so insignificant, or did he have a reason to meet the delivery person, or did Lincoln just happen to be passing by when Herold made the delivery? To me, the supposed meeting has an untrue ring.