St. Peter's or Horsehead? Is the Stage Route the Answer?

[L Verge]

(01-13-2017 03:50 PM)Rick Smith Wrote:  Laurie, Very good post.

John,

In response to a couple of statements you made in your most recent post:

First; you said that Thomas Jones helped Booth a little. Jones risked his neck to aid Booth & Herold by keeping them provisioned and secured for almost a week until he got them across the river in a boat which he provided. I suppose some would call that helping a little, but where I come from, if someone risks their life on your behalf, they are not just giving a little, but their all.

Second; Yes, Mosby's people were still in the area and yes, the skirmish at Mechanicsville was between a Union patrol and elements of Mosby's command, namely, Co. G under Garland Smith. Why is this so unlikely? Mosby's command was the special operations of The Army of Northern Virginia. General Tidwell is very specific in regards to this in "Come Retribution" & "April '65." The officer in charge of the Union patrol cites Garland Smith as being in command of the opposing force in his after action report, from intelligence he gleaned from one of Smith's men, who had been captured during the fight.

Rick

Thanks for the back-up on this, Rick. Many moons ago, before Come Retribution was published, Mr. Hall asked me if I knew of a Garland Smith from St. Mary's County (one of my great-greats was Charles Somerset Smith and married into the Sothorons - of previous mention). I cannot find my notes on this, but for some reason, I think I found a Dr. Garland Smith from St. Mary's County who skipped over to the Confederacy and served as a doctor to Jefferson Davis.

Mr. Hall et al. had found reference to Booth arriving in Southern Maryland in November of 1864 with letters of introduction to three people -- Dr. Queen, Dr. Mudd, and a Garland Smith. This has me thinking that Garland Smith was not a doctor, but rather a Mosby Man stationed in St. Mary's County to assist Booth from the beginning. He remained on special assignment until after the assassination.

Just wild speculation on my part, but...