John Surratt's real parents?

[L Verge]

I don't know where to start, so I'm going to play devil's advocate. Why did Mrs. Surratt have to know about the plan to murder? Booth could have easily told her that he was leaving town that night and would pick up the weapons at the old tavern, and BTW, carry this package (i.e. field glasses) out there for me when you go this afternoon, please.

The first such message about needing the weapons soon was delivered to Lloyd on the afternoon of April 11 -- before Booth heard Lincoln speak that night and quickly changed his plans. Also, Lloyd testified that Mrs. Surratt told him on the 14th that there would be parties to call for them that night. Those parties arrived (according to Lloyd) just as the clock was striking midnight. Therefore, we cannot set the time at 4/15. Booth could have reached the tavern before the stroke of midnight on the 14th.

As for the purpose of gaining a prisoner exchange, that intent was kicked down a notch when Grant ordered the return of prisoner releases. I think Booth's plan for that issue was to get those Southern prisoners released in order to get them necessary food, supplies, and life-saving help. The treatment that most of them had received from their Union captors had weakened them so badly that (I think) they would have been useless on the battlefield. Opening "Hellmira" might get those men into Canada or more sympathetic portions of the Northwest where Copperheads were more supportive. Prisoners at Point Lookout in Maryland could fade into the Southern populace of the lower counties of that state. Remember the scene in D.C. where Booth saw a chain gang of Confederates being marched through the streets? I believe his comment was, "My god, I no longer have a country." That thought only drove him to seek worse revenge on the man that he blamed for the suffering.

I also agree with Bill about considering the fact that "you haven't got the half of them." We need to look farther than the tip of our nose and consider who else could be included in that statement besides the unlucky few of the real action team - who happened to be the ones closest by when Booth decided to strike.

How about considering Mudd, Harbin, Dr. Dent, Tom Jones, Samuel Cox, and others on the sidelines for aid and comfort along the escape route. Had Herold alerted them to something big coming soon while in the area on April 13? Had Booth contacted the Canadian cohorts? Was there a New York crowd? Was he still counting on help from Benjamin and Davis (or Breckinridge) even though the CSA was on the run?

I have spent nearly sixty years of my life trying to figure out all the ins and outs and angles of Booth's intent, Mary Surratt's role, etc.; and I still cannot answer things precisely. The Lincoln conspiracy is a giant puzzle of half-known facts, trying to place ourselves in the role of certain people, guessing games, speculation, and fabrication.

I just cannot bring myself to understand how Booth could place so much faith in Mrs. Surratt as to make her #2 in the planning process -- especially with her living in a house filled with so many young women who could eavesdrop, gossip, giggle, whatever, and a seemingly weak Weichmann that you definitely didn't trust to be privy to anything. And, how do we know that Weichmann told the truth about Mrs. Surratt wanting prayers for her intentions? While I tend to believe most of what Weichmann said, I also see him as practicing the first law of survival - self-preservation. He intimated later that the authorities pressured him to go against Mary Surratt. That would indicate to me that he was given the opportunity to lie.

Yes, I think Mrs. Surratt was intelligent and a secessionist. But, I also think she was naive and that she also would do Booth's bidding in order to protect her children (one of which was in a very precarious position with his aid to the Confederacy). I also don't see Booth (a user of women) letting her in on the deepest recesses of his thinking and planning.

Oh, lord - now I have a migraine! Too much thinking... I'm also watching snow pile up outside my window and cursing every inch of it!