No need to question this Lincoln conspirator’s guilt

[John Fazio]

(05-13-2016 06:22 AM)Gene C Wrote:  

(05-13-2016 02:30 AM)John Fazio Wrote:  The Lincolns made use of the Soldiers' Home in the summer throughout his term of office and this was a well known fact.

According to Ed Steer's book "Lincoln, A Pictorial History", Stanton and his family also spent summer(s) at the Soldiers Home. It's not to big a stretch to think that on occasion, they may have traveled to or from work together. A tempting target for Booth and his gang, especially if Lincoln & Stanton had no military escort. (To me it is unlikely they would not have a military escort, but we know on at least one occasion, Lincoln made part or all of the commute alone)

Gene:

Thanks.

Apparently Lincoln often rode to the Soldiers' Home alone, or with Stanton, because we read that after he was shot at in August, 1864, he never thereafter rode to the Soldiers' Home alone, but always in a carriage accompanied by a cavalry escort. (Holzer; Tidwell, Hall and Gaddy)

If orders were given to decapitate the Federal government, with particular attention to its president, after the failed Wistar and Dahlgren-Kilpatrick Raids against Richmond, as I believe they were, then April, 1864, is a perfectly plausible time for an attempt on Lincoln.

John