Booth's Words

[RJNorton]

In his Rockville lecture John Surratt said, "The report only reached us about three quarters of an hour before the time appointed, but so perfect was our communication that we were instantly in our saddles on the way to the hospital. This was between one and two o'clock in the afternoon. It was our intention to seize the carriage, which was drawn by a splendid pair of horses, and to have one of our men mount the box and drive direct for southern Maryland via Benning's bridge."

Later in his speech Surratt said the man in the carriage turned out to be Chase, not Lincoln. I would think JWB and the boys would have to ride fairly close to the carriage to see it was not Lincoln.

My question: does anyone know if Chase ever confirmed that his carriage was approached by a bunch of men? Or did Surratt embellish what really happened?