Identification of Booth's body

[L Verge]

(12-12-2018 05:58 PM)AussieMick Wrote:  By the way, when looking for references to Rollins (Mike seemed to imply that Rollins was quite an important player, e.g. "let Booth rest in his house while Booth was waiting to cross the Rappahannock River"), I came across this in Blood on the Moon ... after the stay in Lucas cabin , Page 187

"on the morning of April 24 ... Before departing, Booth wrote out a note to Stuart on a page he had cut from his little memorandum book ... "

He did, and then he discarded that one and wrote out another one on a page from the appointment book (sent a more sarcastic message than the first). It was delivered, but Dr. Stuart threw it in the fireplace - luckily, Mrs. Stuart retrieved it and showing it to the authorities probably spared Stuart from additional prison time. The Feds had already imprisoned him a few times during the war.

Stuart was descended from the Stuart line of England and was definitely high on the list of very wealthy Americans at the start of the war. His wife was on the direct line of the Calverts, founding proprietors of Maryland (and also the niece? of the Calvert gentleman who was dunning Mrs. Surratt for money). They were also related to Robert E. Lee, and several of the Lee daughters spent time with the Stuarts during the war.

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(12-12-2018 03:50 PM)mikegriffith1 Wrote:  

(12-12-2018 02:16 PM)AussieMick Wrote:  All these meals that the runaway/flightman had its a wonder he wasnt putting on weight.

Mike, you wouldnt have a description of the menus ? Its just that as (Laurie I think) has been written many of these war-stressed homes and farms would have been subjected to scavenging by soldiers.

And its one thing to say he said he had a meal here one day and a meal there that day ... mate, I'm skinny but there's no way I can survive on one meal a day.

Did you not read my reply on the weather and Booth's meals? He had much more than just one meal per day.

As for the theory that Booth showed no sense of urgency but instead relaxed and socialized at the Garrett farm because the Garretts didn't know what he had done, I see this as implausible for two reasons:

One, Booth had already had one close call with federal troops and had had to delay crossing the river because he was warned that federal forces were nearby. So it seems unimaginable, incomprehensible that he would have hung around the Garrett farm for so long. For that matter, as Dr. Arnold points out, it is hard to fathom why he would have gone there in the first place instead of continuing to head toward safer territory.

Two, the behavior of "James W. Boyd," as the Garretts knew him, at the Garrett farm fits much better with the theory that Boyd really was Boyd. One can totally understand why Boyd would have felt free to hang around for days with the Garretts and would have been in the mood to socialize.

What about when Boyd hurried into the woods when warned that federal cavalry were coming, assuming this event actually occurred? If Boyd was wearing a Confederate uniform, as some accounts state, then it makes perfect sense that to be on the safe side he would have sought to get out of sight. Keep in mind that the two Confederate soldiers who warned him, Bainbridge and Ruggles, likewise ran into the woods. These were not good times to be in a Confederate uniform and to be seen on an isolated farm by Union cavalry.

By the way, Boyd was clearly more ambulatory than Booth was at this point. This fact is seen again in Boyd's actions in the barn, as Dr. Arnold points out.

Someone still needs to explain when and how Booth's body supposedly underwent its amazing transformation from being recognizable by Rollins less than 48 hours before the barn shooting and the time the body was allegedly examined on the Montauk. How and when did the freckles magically appear? How come no one who saw him during the days leading up to the barn shooting describe him as appearing "half-starved," "much older," "freckled," etc., etc.?

1. Have you read any of our replies to your assertions that Booth was warm and snug in his thicket or where he got food? Prove your statement that he and Herold got more than one meal a day. I don't think you can. You have already fibbed about getting food at the home of William Rollins.

2. Did you read Rob's post about personally thinking that Booth made a serious mistake by deciding to stay at the Garretts? I think you just came close to stating it as yours and Arnold's belief.

3. Ruggles and Bainbridge did not run into the woods. They were on horseback and pulled a Mosby special of skedaddling further south. They were also from the area as was Jett (there's a very nice vineyard and winery on his old property), so they were better equipped to melt into the countryside. Jett should not have let love get in the way.

4. Please point out how ambulatory Boyd's actions would be any different than those we know of Booth.

5. Don't you get sick and tired of constantly repeating that old garbage about Booth's appearance? And you once again used the word "freckles..."