Surratt Courier

[Dennis Urban]

I am curious about some of the dates and happenings surrounding Colonel Henry H. Wells interviews in Bryantown. At this time Wells was the Provost Marshall for the Military District of Washington, a very high profile position. I believe he interviewed Dr. Samuel Mudd on April 21 and John Lloyd on April 22. According to Rick Smith's account, Wells was then to interview Austin Adams, his wife, and James Owens, who were brought to Bryantown. Since the Wells interview date of Owens is April 28, do we know what Wells did or where he was in those intervening days? During this time the trail for Booth and Herold was heating up, culminating on the 26th. Wells would possibly have known of the outcome on the 26th or certainly by the 27th. I wonder if Wells went back to Washington City or remained in Bryantown interviewing others while the Newport group was rounded up (which would not take days to accomplish) and held for questioning. I, too, wonder about the date of incarceration at Old Capitol of Owens. Seems like those records were pretty well kept. I've never learned if those books exist.