Identification of Booth's body

[Steve Whitlock]

Great work Steve.
I must confess I find Ray Neff's narrative a bit confusing at times, but intriguing because it seems so extremely implausible.

Not having the research skills that several of you on the forum have, I appreciate it when you uncover facts and documents and share your findings with us.

Seems like throughout our history, there is always a historical/political swamp that needs to be drained, government conspiracies to consider, and more. With this in mind, we will always have the Finis Bates, Otto Eisenschiml, Wilma Francis Minor, C A Tripp, Ray Neff, Balsiger and Seller (and more), to steer us down a false path.

Oops! After reading the diary entry again, and checking my notes, I erred. That was William H. Roark who was in Newsome's Reg't:

"18th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Newsom's)"

Roark, W.H.

Side: Confederacy
Location: Tennessee
Battle Unit: 18th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Newsom's)
Function: Cavalry
********************
So, as stated from the news clip and diary, William Rowark [Roark] shot James W. Boyd, and Roark was a Lt. with Newsome's Reg't, while Boyd enlisted as a Lt in the TN 6th Confederate Reg't, but was working with the Yankee command of Major Smith to recover some fine horses.

Steve W.

There are records at Fold3, I can't download here, for Lt. Joel Roark in 1863 and his son, Lt. William H. Roark in 1864, both in Co. G, 18th Newsom's Reg't, TN Cav. at different times.

Steve W.