The Spur Question

[J. Beckert]

I believe the entire scene had to be recreated for the photo on the 16th., Jerry. The Treasury Guards flag, which Booth supposedly snagged, is in the center and on a pole. Whether these are all the actual flags is anyone's guess.

I think I'm in the minority here, but I believe because of eyewitness accounts, on the night of the 14th., the TG flag was displayed beneath the others and was tacked up displaying, "it's large hand painted eagle". It was also described as a "State Flag" - an easy mistake, due to the very design. This tells me it was not on a pole and it's more probable that it was below the balustrade and Booth caught his spur on it on the way down.

The existing damage supports this, in my opinion.