Escape speculations

[L Verge]

I like Jim's perspective on the situation also. However, I'm still holding to the idea that the escape route had been in place for months - ever since Booth dropped into Bryantown for church services in November. Maybe I'm placing too much faith in my Southern Maryland ancestors, but they had been pretty darn good at maintaining the Secret Line inside Union-held territory for most of the war.

Before Richmond fell in the first week of April, those same operatives still had the original plans in mind -- and Herold's visit on the 12th and/or 13th was intended to alert key players that something was still going to happen and to be ready to put those plans in action. There was no time to devise a new escape plan - I don't think that the gang ever planned to make their escape together in one direction.

It seems to me that the Maryland portion of the Line did a pretty good job of hiding Booth and getting him across the Potomac by using the same operatives that had been so effective during the War. Even in Virginia, I think everyone (except perhaps Dr. Stuart) did their part. I don't think that the Garretts had ever been part of the Secret Line, however; and the fact that they valued their horses enough to lock the barn door made all the difference.

I will admit that receiving assistance further down the line (after leaving the Northern Neck) would likely have been much more difficult. The war's effects on anything further South would greatly hinder movement unless they could successfully blend into the decrepit Confederate troops who were heading home.