Booth's Day on April 14

[Dennis Urban]

John did an admirable job on putting together the following timeline of Booth's activities on April 14. I don't know that I have see such a timeline previously. From my own reference library, I am endeavoring to add specific times to some of the observations. My love of the small details of history sometimes takes over my thinking. Below is what John wrote some time ago.

On the 14th he is reported to have:
1. Written to his mother at 2:00 am (no one knows where);
2. Had breakfast at the National;
3. Gone to the boarding house at least three times;
4. Gone to the theater to pick up his mail at about noon, sat and read a letter and chatted with Harry Ford.
5. Reserved a horse at Pumphrey's Stable;
6. Had lunch at Willard's with three men, probably Herold, Powell and Atzerodt, and eavesdropped on Julia Grant;
7. Picked up his rented horse at Pumphrey's;
8. Talked with John Mathew's on Pennsylvania Avenue about 4:00;
9. Made a ride-by past the Grants' carriage and then doubled back for a second ride-by;
10. Returned to Willard's to determine where the Grants were going;
11. Some time during the day, sent Herold, with a card, up to Johnson's room at the Kirkwood, and then, upon being advised by Herold that Johnson was in, visited his room to determine his whereabouts that evening, but was rebuffed by Johnson, who said he was too busy to see him, whereupon, being personally piqued, he left the card in Browning's box for the purpose of implicating Johnson;
12. Stabled his rented horse behind the theater;
13. Met with Herold, Atzerodt and Powell at the Herndon House, for about an hour, from 8 to 9 pm.
14. Taken his horse to the theater at about 9:30.
15. Taken a drink at the Star.
16. Shot the President at about 10:30.

I realize that some times will be in dispute among sources, however some additional accuracy is possible. What I am having the most trouble with is #3, the number of times and exactly when Booth went to the "boarding house" assuming John meant Surratt's. John will surely see this post so I suspect he can set me straight. If others can fill in times, so much the better. Should make for an interesting thread. I have already added some to my own list.

Finally, it's pretty clear the doors to Box 7 & 8 opening inward. The theatre party entered through the door to 8. Booth entered through the door to 7. When he was in the theatre making the modification to secure the door from the dress circle into the passageway, he must have been overjoyed to find the peephole to allow observation of the party. Ford said Booth did not drill the hole. Imagine if Booth could not see into the boxes to know the position of Lincoln. He would be operating blindly and may have lost the opportunity for surprise by entering through a door farther from his target or he could have opened the door striking Lincoln's rocker. History could have been changed dramatically.