Sgt. Harry H, Brogden

[John Stanton]

(09-01-2012 11:55 AM)L Verge Wrote:  My guess: The action plan was being put in place for the capture of Abraham Lincoln, and Brogden's men were part of the relay team of getting the President to Richmond?

Laurie. Does that mean that Benjamin was in charge of the abduction? If so, then wouldn't it have been better to have the best man for the job, on site, and in charge - Brogden. But Brogden was moved to Richmond. Since I have asked you guys "to think", I have done some serious pondering of my own. If you wanted help from the Confederacy, then you crossed here. A "passport" consisted of two letters -one fron the Sec. of State, and one from the Secret Service. There was still the option to swim the river, or cross in a home-made rubber boat -like Kensey Johns Stuart did., but they got no help , such as an escort to the nearest train and they were subject to arrest or deportation. Here is an option to consider. Putting the Camp uner Benjamin, gave him control, and a record, of everyone who entered of left the Confederacy. This may have been a problem to Benjamin. That guy Hebb was sent here in the fall of '64, to patrol the river and arrest any soldier attempting to desert the confederacy.
(Sarah Slater coming down from Canada had to wire ahead to get a passport, in Jan. '65. Sarah went North without a passport, but couldn't get back.) It appears that the passport Idea was born about htis time. Come to think of it - Sarah did have a pass. Rev. S. Cameron got permission to go to Canada, in Nov, with "Tho friends".
In another story he described them a women, dressed as Catholic Nuns. (At this time, Dec. '64, Sarah and Josephine Brown showed up in Canada.) I'm pondering some more as I write. In Summary, Benjamin then knew who was South and who was North, and when they crossed and Brogden was in Richmond to keep track of it. Maybe the info was sent in Code and Brogden decoded it. Any other ideas?