Herold and Surratt

[Rhatkinson]

One aspect of the Surratt location puzzle that I have never been able to wrap my mind around is not necessarily where he was at (I agree with Roger and John that there are very compelling arguments as to both DC and Elmira [aside: I deposed two people last week who live in Elmira and were down here in SC for vacation and I brought up my interest in the assassination and Elmira's connection to it. They just looked at me like I was a martian (the same look my wife gives me when I "bore" her with history information!) haha.]

Anyway, the issue I can't decide is whether Surratt was even still involved in the plot on April 14th. That may sound silly, but consider:

1. Booth makes no mention of Surratt in his "men who love their country more than their own lives" letter or in his diary (which I realize doesn't mention anyone else other than Herold.) If Surratt had stood up Booth or left the plot suddenly, Booth is not the type who would have made no mention of that. He would have been very angry it seems and done something to make sure that Surratt was implicated (e.g., the letter from Arnold he left in his hotel room.)

2. Azterodt's several confessions make no mention of Surratt having any active part of the assassinations. If Surratt were in D.C., why would he NOT be used in the plan? He was certainly more trustworthy than Atzerodt and would have been a better person to send to kill Johnson.

3. None of the meetings of the conspirators recounted by Powell and/or Atzerodt mention Surratt being among the group.

I think Surratt was initially included in the wanted posters simply because it became known that Booth was often seen at the Surratt boarding house and with Surratt, who was suspected (rightly) of being a CSA spy. It was just assumed that Surratt was involved as either Seward's attacker or some other role in the plot. This is not to say that Surratt was innocent, as he clearly was involved with the kidnapping plot. Rather, I see no evidence that he was involved with the assassination, and based on the (non) reaction of Booth and the statements of Powell and Atzerodt. This leads me to think that Surratt was not only out of town on April 14th, but that he was no EXPECTED (by Booth) to assist with the assassination, either because he was sent away on CSA business or (less probably due to Booth's anger issues) decided to part ways with Booth.

I would love to hear the thoughts of those of you on here who are much more versed in this than I am.

Heath