The Long Walk that Wasn't So Long.....

[BettyO]

Gene -

Yes, you can clearly see the Smithsonian "Castle" in the distance from this particular view...

There are plenty of "recollections"; however the vast majority of them were made approximately 25 to 40 (sometimes 50) years later and are somewhat "tainted" with errors or faulty memory. Some are even suspect. I wish that we could find some soldiers/guards who gave their recollections right after the hanging - so that there would be a more truthful rendition. They may be out there - we just haven't found them yet. For instance, what did the guards stationed outside the condemned cells hear from within other than sobs and prayers?! What did Mrs. Surratt, Powell, Herold and Atzerodt tell clergy/family members? What did they talk about or say, if anything, about their sentence or role in the conspiracy? You know that these guards heard quite a bit, probably -- did they ever divulge what they heard or experienced?

Gillette did reiterate what Powell said in two articles to the press later on. Did other clergy talk? Did their guards? It would be interesting to find out.