Tidwell revisited

[McCastle]

Some may agree that the change from Gustavus to Augustus Howell resulted from George Atzerodt's statement that "Gustavus" Howell was involved in the kidnapping plot. Is it possible this name change occurred with the creation of the (certificate of disability) document? According to records in the Maryland Archives and DAR, the soldiers name was Gustavus Howell. Congressional Cemetery records also list father and son as Gustavus Howell.

https://congressionalcemetery.org/records-search/

According to the disability certificate, this Gustavus is pulled from his unit due to illness, and under the care of a doctor, deemed unfit for duty. However, the name written on the certificate is Augustus with the name misspelled by the doctor ( Agustus?) This in addition to the signature of John Winder is unusual, but not surprising, considering Andrews and Winder were both in the spy business.

https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/sp...--270.html

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One of the last people to see Augustus Howell before his arrest on March 24, 1865 was former Confederate soldier David C. Barry. Early the next morning, March 25, Mary Surratt, her son John and rebel spy Sarah Slater left Washington City in a carriage rented from Brooke Stabler. Arriving in Prince George's County, they were met at Surratt's Tavern by David Barry. Did he inform the Surratt's about the arrest of Augustus Howell?

Barry told his story during the 1867 trial of John Surratt, claiming he rode from Surratt's Tavern to Port Tobacco with John and a "Mrs. Brown", who were on their way to Richmond, Va. (Mrs. Brown was Sarah Slater.) He also saw Mary Surratt, who remained behind at the tavern. Barry's story was that he had two sons in the rebel army and wanted to get information about them from a man, Charles (Keyworth) Cawood, who was in Port Tobacco. On March 24, the day of his arrest, Augustus Howell supposedly gave this information to David Barry. John Surratt also told him "yes" (Keyworth) Cawood is there in Port Tobacco. Barry testified that he forgot where Surratt got his information from.

On March 25, the trio arrived in Port Tobacco, where Barry said they had spent the night. This may have been the last known sighting of Confederate spy Sarah Slater. Surratt claimed that he had to take this woman to Richmond, but Barry does not indicate whether Surratt and Slater went across the Potomac River together. There is no clear indication that Sarah Slater went any further than Port Tobacco.

The following morning, March 26, Barry testified that before running the blockade to Richmond, John Surratt wrote two letters for him to take back to Washington. One letter was to Brooke Stabler, who rented out the carriage that Surratt was using, telling him the carriage would not be needed after all because "he had women on his brain". The other letter was to his mother Mary, who he left behind at Surrattsville the day before, informing her that he would return on the stagecoach if he could not run the blockade.

If Surratt could not run the blockade, why would he need to take the stage back home? He could have used the carriage he was driving. Meanwhile, Mary Surratt took the stage from Surrattsville back to Washington where she called on Louis Weichmann to inform Booth and Atzerodt that "Mrs. Surratt" wanted to see them at her house on H Street..

John Surratt told Barry that if he was able to cross the Potomac (on his way to Richmond) he (Barry) could use the carriage to return home. On March 26, Barry took the carriage back to Brooke Stabler at Howard's Livery Stable, just around the corner from Mary Surratt's house. After delivering the horses and the letter to Brooke Stabler, Barry claims he went to Mrs. Surratt's house where he was introduced to John Wilkes Booth, George Atzerodt and Louis Weichmann. Barry left shortly afterwards, but gives no statements regarding his trip back home to Surrattsville. He returned the horse & buggy before he went to see Mary Surratt.

His story seems somewhat contradicting. Barry also seems to have gone well out of his way to help the Surratt's. What originally was supposed to be a short trip to Port Tobacco in order to " inquire about his sons", turned into a two day, 75 mile affair for David Barry.

Meanwhile, John Surratt had given several different reasons for rushing down to Richmond immediately after the arrest of Augustus Howell. He told David Barry that he had to take the woman in his charge to Richmond, although there is no evidence at this point that Sarah Slater went any further than Port Tobacco. Mary Surratt told Louis Weichmann that John was going to Richmond for a clerkship. George Atzerodt had a letter and claimed Surratt told him "he was in trouble."

The latter may hold some truth. John Surratt arrived in Richmond, and according to the clerk, checked into the Spottswood House around suppertime on March 29,1865 and left on April 1.

From the Trial of John Surratt;

Testimony of J.B. Tinley;

Q. Where were you employed in March, 1865?
A. At the Spottswood House.
Q. Look at the name Harry Sherman on that register, and from memory state whether he was there
A. Yes Sir, he was.
Q. Now state how long he was there?
A. He came on the 29th for supper and left on the 1st after breakfast.

Testimony of David H. Bates;

Q.I now ask you to look at the handwriting shown you ( Harry Sherman) on the register of the Spottswood House, Richmond, March 29, 1865 and state whose handwriting it is?
A. I believe the signature to have been written by Surratt.
Q. By John H. Surratt?
A, Yes sir, John H. Surratt

Testimony of Henry Brouden;

Q. Where were you employed for the months of March and April, 1865?
A. In Richmond, up to 2nd of April
Q. Were you there from the 29th of March until the 2nd of April?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you see the prisoner (Surratt) there?
A .I did.
Q, Under what name did he pass?
A. He passed under the name Sherman.
Q. You knew who he was?
A. I knew who he was. That was the name he passed under there.
Q. State whether you were with him and saw Mr. Benjamin?
The question is objected to as having no relevancy.

From the prosecution;

Let the principle be once established that such evidence as this register as it now stands is admissible, and the proof of an alibi will be the easiest thing made that could possibly be conceived of. For instance a crime may be committed here, the guilty party may escape to Canada, registering himself in an assumed name wherever he may stop, and will only have to travel back again, write his true name at or near the bottom of the appropriate page of the hotel register wherever he stops on his return, with one or two of his friends to write their names under his, and the defense of the alibi is complete.

Augustus Howell, by his own admission went to Richmond in February 1865, and was arrested weeks later on March 24, at Surrattville. The very next morning at 8:00am, John Surratt was on his way to Richmond, Virginia.

Why... to get a clerkship? or for the company of a woman?..... to deliver Sarah Slater, when there is no evidence that she went any further than Port Tobacco, Maryland?

As John Surratt tells it...

" I accordingly left home for Richmond, and arrived there safely on the Friday before the evacuation of that city. On my arrival I went to the Spottswood Hotel.. " .

" I left Richmond on Saturday morning (April 1,1865) before the evacuation of that place."

J. Surratt
Rockville, Maryland 1867

Curiously.....

The register at the Spottswood Hotel, under the date April 2, 1865, bears this entry, the last ever made while Richmond was in Confederate possession.

" Major George M. Emack, Ist Maryland (Rebel) Cavalry" and opposite, in the clerks hand is written....."NO STAY", which is significant.

Richmond Whig