St. Peter's or Horsehead? Is the Stage Route the Answer?

[SSlater]

(04-24-2014 07:38 AM)L Verge Wrote:  Good Grief, Jonathan - the Courier accepts pertinent articles to the Civil War in Southern Maryland, Victorian life, etc. in addition to assassination material. Get thee busy on that article!

Thanks for the encouragement. (BTW - Glad to see that you are up and about. Are you back to work?)
I'll start from the beginning so I may repeat some info, but you will see how it all fits. Here goes!

I am not questioning whether or not there was a battle at Mechanicsville, I'm only questioning who was involved. I doubt sincerely, that there were any of Mosby's people there.
I'm basing my doubts on "orders sent to Mosby" and on "information that we are now findings on Harney." If Dave Taylor can correct any assumption about the Battle at Mechanicsville, that I am making - please do so. Here is what I am working with.
On March 27, 1865 - Mosby was directed to "Collect your Command and watch from the front of Gordonsville to the Blue Ridge, and also the Valley. Your Command is all now in that section and the General will rely on you" (Emphasis added)
After receiving those Orders - Would Mosby leave Company G in Southern Maryland, to watch for Mosby? (No Way!) In early April Co. C, E, F and G returned from the Northern Neck.
"The Companies which had been sent to the
Northern Neck to winter now returned, having
done very little except to recruit their horses."
Chapt. XXIX "Mosby's Rangers"
Now "new" information is being applied to this situation. The effort to use Harney appears. Richmond had most likely developed the new plan to attack Lincoln and started authorizing it. April 2 -Harney leaves Richmond for Upperville and Mosby. April 4, Harney arrives in Upperville. Mosby organizes an escort troop to take Harney to Washington. The Troop was composed of "old" Company G and a new Company H. (That's further confirmation that Company G was in Upperville about April 4 - not in Southern Maryland.)
Undoubtedly, Mosby now knows that Booth "got fired". There will be no need to watch for Booth coming down the "Doctor's Line". He probably was told that Booth has been ordered "Not to shoot Lincoln" (as per statements by L. T. Hogan). This indicates that Booth is no longer a "welcomed traveler" on the "Doctor's Line". In fact, the principle Agents along the "Doctor's Line" have been called to Richmond for a meeting. (probably to be told of the change in Plans).
I know positively that Thomas Jones and Charles Cawood - were in Richmond at this time. Jones said he went "to collect 2 years back pay". Cawood went to see his new wife, who lived across the River from Richmond.
All the evidence that I can find,, indicates that Booth did not get help as he went South. Jones did help him a little bit - as any friend would. But - Booth was not sent to the "next agent" in the system. He was sent to Mrs. Quesensberry with the warning " I THINK she will help you". He would not have needed to say that to a "sponsored Traveler" .
Since all these facts are well supported, then who is left to fight at Mechanicsville? The NAVY! That's no joke. There was a Navy Partisan Group active in Virginia and Lower Maryland and camped in King George. Their assignment was to harass the enemy and do as much damage as possible and they would be rewarded commensurate with the damage done. They also had an assignment to secrete a supply of guns and ammunition in Southern Maryland to be available to a mass release of prisoners from Point Lookout Prison.
Camp Stanton would be of interest to these Money Grabbers If they could capture some of these "escaped slaves" and return them to Virginia each would bring a tidy sum. Any orders - issued by the Army would have no effect on these Navy people.
I can find no mention of Mechanicsville in any Mosby literature. I would like to know where Lt. William Garland Smith got paroled. (I will work on that).
I believe that the South authorized a "Hap-hazard" search for Booth after he shot Lincoln - on his own volition. For example: Thomas N. Conrad was probably alerted to Booth's possible appearance at the Potomac and to watch for him. This is how Ruggles, Bainbridge and Jett (and maybe Enoch Mason) got involved. Ruggles was never a Mosby Man. He spent the war with his father - General Ruggles, but in April '65 hw was second in command to T. N. Conrad. Fact: Booth rode Conrad's horse, Old Whitey from the Rappahannock to the Garrett Farm. Bainbridge - was Ruggles' cousin and Jett was a childhood friend. Both of these were Mosby men. All 3 grew up in King George, together. ( I see it as; Ruggles was under orders, the other two tagged along). Mason's Uncle was a State Senator from King George and very active in Secret stuff.
Dave Taylor. How does this compare with your research? (I'm all ears - to anything you can add. Do you want any cites on my sources?