Dr. Mudd Lends a Hand

[Gene C]

All that info from everyone helps to answer several of my questions.
I mistakenly thought the travelers were "poor of purse", but after re-reading the original post, it was the farmer who fed them who was in that condition.
I'm still a bit hung up on the interaction with Dr. Mudd.
I imagine with the ordeal they went through, after 40 years the details of the events can get a bit cloudy.
Emily's whereabouts for March and April 14th 1865 is certainly interesting.

Where you able to determine why Emily was there?
I'm sure there is an interesting story behind how and where you found the telegram
Sorry to be so skeptical, many of these retelling of war experiences after 20, 30 years and more that I have read, have had a considerable degree of exaggeration and embellishment.