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

[L Verge]

Just some last tidbits and a question related to the Battle of Mechanicsville, MD... On April 15, 1865, Brig. Gen. James Barnes, commander of Union forces around the Confederate prison camp at Point Lookout, MD, reported that a scouting party led by a Lt. Davis had reported seeing Confederate troops (3 officers and 27 men) on April 12 in the area of Newport in St. Mary's County.

On April 16, Union Capt. Buckley reported the skirmish with Confederate troops under Lt. Garland Smith as discussed previously on this thread. It is pretty likely that Smith's men were the same ones spotted on the 12th, but thirty Confederates in the same area of Southern Maryland within three days seems somewhat obvious to me.

Gen. Tidwell also pointed out that, on April 24 (two days before Booth was killed), he and Col. Mosby were within 25 miles of each other - both interested in getting to Orange Court House, Virginia. Like Rick, he also mentioned other Confederates who were known to have visited the Garretts while Booth was there - not just Ruggles, Bainbridge, and Jett. He suggests that they were part of a protective screen thrown up around Booth and Herold. Could they also have been a disposal squad to "take care" of Booth if necessary?

I also have a question about the Enoch Mason that we keep referring to as having crossed on the ferry from Port Conway to Port Royal with the fugitives and the Jett gang. Tidwell mentions this person by a different name - T. Wellford Mason, who had been a Confederate courier. Which one is the correct Mason on the ferry?