Mudd Info Needed

[Laurie Verge]

Thanks so much for the help. I especially enjoyed reading most of Silas Wesson's diary from the point where they get into the Washington environs of Virginia and the notes on Mosby. The Gray Ghost appears to have done a number on the 16th NY Cavalry from time to time -- the same unit that surrounded Garrett's barn.

As for Nettie Mudd's book, it has been years since I read it. Her description of the soldiers, however, has them camping on a hillside near the house. What is being interpreted there now, puts the camp at the bottom of a slight slope that ends up very near the edges of Zekiah Swamp. That was one of the things that intrigued me when the description was given to me. I just could not imagine troops putting themselves that close to a low, swampy area.

I also learned from Nettie's pages that William Wood, superintendent of Old Capitol Prison, was actually stationed at the Mudd home for awhile during this period and headquartered himself and several other officers in the home.

Wood, himself, is an interesting character. Joan Chaconas did a bit of research on him and the Old Capitol for a talk at our conference a few years ago. I guess I was surprised to learn that he was at the Mudds around the same time that Mrs. Surratt and Dr. Mudd were "residents" at his prison. Wood appears to have ingratiated himself with Southern Marylanders during the war (possibly as a spy). He was friends with Zadock Jenkins, Mary's older brother, and I believe there are references to him trying to gain better prison treatment for Mary.