Booth escape route north

[JMadonna]

(08-24-2013 02:14 PM)Rhatkinson Wrote:  I was reading an older post that Dave started about Booth's field glasses (http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...d-41.html)

and Jerry began a series about his hypothesis that Booth staged the route through Surrattsville as a ploy to disguise his true destination of Baltimore. It is interesting to ponder and well thought out.

My question for Jerry is at what point did Booth cancel this plan and decide to stay on a southern route? I would assume that it was after breaking his leg, but recall that Booth and Herold were on horses Sunday afternoon leaving Mudd's. What possible reason would have necessitated going south then instead of north as originally planned? They had only lost one day due to the fracture, and Booth was going to have to ride with a broken leg to escape capture whether he went north or south.

This seems to be a hole (at least to me) in Jerry's hypothesis.

Heath

First of all the theory belongs to Larry Starkey in his book Wilkes Booth came to Washington, I happen to subscribe to it.

If Booth rode hard from Surrattsville he could have made it to Annapolis Junction the first stop past Washington on the way to Baltimore. His best shot was to take the railroad north to New York and on to Canada. Booth had taken this route a number of times the last time only a few weeks before the assassination.

His broken leg (occurring AFTER he crossed the bridge) changed the plan and forced him to seek medical attention from the trusted Dr. Mudd.

With all the southern ports blockaded there was no way for Booth to leave the country by going South and he knew it. His best route was to get to Canada where he had friends. The broken leg changed his plans.

Jerry