Porter & Comstock

[John Fazio]

(02-02-2016 05:40 AM)John Fazio Wrote:  

(02-02-2016 04:58 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Welcome to the forum, Joe. I have a question as my memory on this incident is vague. But wasn't Porter also in the carriage on April 14th as the Grants rode to the train station in the late afternoon? Thus, was it Porter who also witnessed Booth riding by very closely and alarming the people in the carriage with a "cold stare?"

Roger:

In her Memoirs, Julia Grant said that the carriage in which they were riding to the depot belonged to General Daniel H. Rucker and/or his wife. She said, further, that Mrs. Rucker was in the carriage. She does not mention General Rucker, but presumably he was there too. She says nothing about Porter or anyone else being in the carriage. That is not to say with absolute certainty that he was not there; merely that she does not mention him.

John

Roger:

I should have added that because the carriages were designed for four passengers, and because this particular carriage was owned by the Ruckers, and because Mrs. Rucker is expressly said to have been in it at the the time, it seems quite probable that General Rucker was also a passenger. A strong probability, therefore, is that Porter was NOT a passenger.

John