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MaddieM · (This post was last modified: 02-13-2014 07:28 PM by MaddieM.)

(02-10-2014 04:11 PM)John E. Wrote:
(02-08-2014 10:44 AM)Dave Taylor Wrote: John could you post the source for Porter saying Herold escorted Powell? I've seem to forgotten that one.

I'm not sure if this goes along with Porter's version, but Art Loux had pointed out that the July 8th, 1865 edition of the Boston Daily Advertiser included the story:

Hi Dave, its on the bottom of page 527 of Porter's "A Tragedy Of A Nation" in the Medico-legal Journal, Volume 18. Porter provides a nice recap of the conspirators and their crimes but there is no telling where he got his information from.

http://books.google.com/books?id=uxgCAAA...er&f=false

I still believe Powell went to the house by himself. Herold probably signaled "All systems go" from Pennsylvania Ave. but I don't believe his plan was to hold Powell's horse or escort him from Seward's home.

Just my opinion.

Yeah, me too. If Powell knew enough to find his way back to H Street after spending three days hiding out, then surely he'd know Washington enough to find his way to and from LaFayette Square. Also, isn't it on record that he spent a day or two on 'reccies' sussing out the place.

(02-11-2014 11:38 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote: I believe that the Powell-Herold action team was probably right. Maybe to Booth, Seward was the second most important target. Seward was an ardent abolitionist and a high value target. Johnson was somewhat on the outs with the administration and was probably the perfect model for the modern VP. Herold was not much more than a unreliable errand boy, and he proved that his best role was as a companion. I think JWB was a good judge of human character and did the best with what he had to work with. He probably felt the assassination of Lincoln and Seward would have the desired effect. If Atzerodt was successful, even better.

Wasn't Powell Booth's most trusted stalwart and reliable team player? Atzerodt on the other hand was a known drunk. Why then would Booth instruct Herold to ensure Powell did the job, rather than Atzerodt. If he was that good a judge of character?