Interesting Observations from James O'Beirne's Diary

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(12-18-2014 08:41 AM)BettyO Wrote:  In looking at the Donald Dow Collection (Thanks, Dave!) found some very interesting observations in the diary of James O'Beirne -

Atzerodt - "Description of Atzerodt

Medium height, black (?!) hair, thick set, broad shoulders, black moustache, high cheek bones, looks like a German. A smiling man ordinarily."

Herold -

"Herold visits frequently a Dr. Robinson between Woodville and Benedick (?) Takes the Bryantown Road. He often visits there. Dr. Robinson is a friend of his."

Woodville is now Aquasco, still a small village before you hop from Prince George's County into Charles County. Benedict is a Charles County fishing village on the banks of the Patuxent River, but dates to the colonial era. It's where the British landed their army in 1814 to begin the march through Southern Maryland aimed at D.C. for a bonfire. During the Civil War, Benedict was the site of Camp Stanton, a training area for the U.S. Colored Troops (placed smack in the middle of Confederate sympathizers to make a point).

Many years ago, Mr. Hall found reference to Herold spending time with someone in Patuxent City. That area no longer exists, except to us old-timers who remember when there were still some old, decaying structures there. Patuxent City is about the mid-point between Aquasco (then Woodville) and Benedict.

I don't know that Mr. Hall ever found out who Herold would stay with, but in the town of Woodville, there was a prominent Dr. Stone that we have always suspected of being part of the underground in that area. Now that we have the name of a Dr. Robinson, someone may be able to pinpoint who and where he was. Dave Taylor, I just gave you that assignment!

As for that description of Atzerodt, I don't think it's a very good one...