What Was The Role of David Herold

[JMadonna]

(04-16-2013 06:10 PM)J. Beckert Wrote:  An eyewitness account that states Powell had a pistol in his boot? I'm not buying it. Those things weigh a whole 2 pounds! That's waaaaay too bulky to fit in a boot!

If this is correct, I'd say he kept one to make his escape. I wouldn't want to be unarmed after that. Makes perfect sense.

He had the pistol during the day but it was locked in Atzerodt room during the
attacks.

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(04-16-2013 08:53 PM)Gene C Wrote:  Who else besides Johnson could issue a pass? Seems like a menial task for the VP to be involved in.

Unless there was a tie in the Senate that needed his vote, Johnson had nothing to do but drink during the day.

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(04-16-2013 02:07 PM)wsanto Wrote:  He doesn't sound like the kind of soldier you would hand-pick for this kind of mission. If I was Mosby or another Confederate Officer looking for the man to help in the mission to assassinate Lincoln and Seward, I wouldn't pick the guy in my unit that is helping to save the lives of Union soldiers and not cleaning his gun. I would pick a killer, an assassin.

Is there any indication as to how he got messed up in this business in the first place?

Lincoln was 6'4" and a powerfully built man. Booth needed someone who could control him in case he decided to resist his kidnapping.