Louis Weichmann

[Pamela]

(07-16-2015 08:57 AM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  One thing that makes me believe that Weichmann knew more that he lets on in his book (albeit not necessarily about the kidnapping and assassination) is his recollection that when Surratt returned to the boardinghouse on the day that Richmond fell, he told Weichmann that he had seen Judah Benjamin and Jefferson Davis in Richmond and that they had told him it wouldn't be evacuated.

Surely if Weichmann had been unaware of his friend's activities as a courier at this point, he would have been quire surprised to hear that he was hobnobbing with the leaders of the Confederate government. But he expresses none whatsoever.

Susan, that's a really interesting part of his book which I wish he had shared more of his thoughts about. He said that he was shocked to see John appear at the boarding house that night because Mary told him John had gone to Richmond for a clerkship. John was wearing a new suit. Louis said he was "worn out by the turmoil and excitement of the occasion" referring to the big news of the day, that Richmond had evacuated. The inquisitive Mr Weichmann asked John where he had been, to which John replied, "Richmond." Weichmann then said, "Richmond is evacuated. Did you not hear the news?" John's response was, " No, it is not, I saw Benjamin and Davis, and they told me it would not be evacuated."

Weichmann didn't say who else was in the parlor when John said that, but presumably Anna, Mary and others where there. Also, John should have heard the news during his travels, so he would have lied about not knowing that Davis had fled Richmond. As Weichmann said, the city was in turmoil with excitement. Since John had been secretive with Louis, why would he then change tactics? Was it a kind of taunt or said sarcastically? Could it have been something like, I met with the President of the Confederacy, and how was your meeting with Lincoln, Mr. Nosy?

When Louis followed John up to their room, where Surratt reverted back to being secretive and enigmatic with Louis concerning the large amount of gold coins he had, which Holohan exchanged to greenbacks for him. In response to Louis's expression of surprise at seeing so much money, John said he had an account in a bank in Washington, which was not an explanation, and other than that, had little to say to him. Even so John invited Louis out for oysters after which they parted ways.