Food for Thought

[L Verge]

Mike - There may be notes on that April 10 letter in Barbee's files, but I do not believe that the original or a transcription of it exists and has probably been "lost" on purpose since April of 1865. As I said earlier, it is mentioned in Weichmann's self-vindicating book (as edited by Floyd Risvold in the 1970s), but there is no indication of what it said other than something about the fall of Richmond.

Personally, I think it would have been rather foolhardy for Surratt to attempt to make himself so visible in his journeys northward. Out of sight, out of mind works for spies and Confederate couriers also -- why take the chance of anyone being able to identify you?

I do not think that Benjamin was issuing orders to Booth or Surratt at that point. Maybe from November through March, but when Richmond fell, so did Booth's chances of communication and he went out on his own, imo.

In closing: I swear that this world of technology is going to drive me crazy! How Pinterest found out that I had been digging around Garibaldi, but five minutes ago this showed up on my work email https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?r...cbeae839f6

I spent time scrolling through everything and clicking on some and have yet to find what I would call a Garibaldi jacket - shirt, yes, and even photos of women in their Garibaldi blouses. I am now, literally, seeing RED on the subject and sticking with my theory that Surratt's purchase was more along the lines of the Oxford style. Rick Smith found a perfect photo of one, but we can't seem to get it transferred to Roger to post here.