Booth's Escape Route

[Rob Wick]

Jerry,

I don't consider the Klan, or any other southern group, as a guerilla organization, given that they operated in the open, which is a far cry from the way most operate by striking and then withdrawing. Republican abandonment of Reconstruction did far more to lose the peace than any actions by southern whites.

The removal of federal leadership would not have caused any more chaos than was caused when Lincoln was assassinated. Seward, Johnson, Lincoln and Stanton could all have been assassinated and while that certainly would have been difficult to overcome, the Constitution provided for the continuation of government. By this point the south had no manpower or material which would have allowed it to take advantage of any chaos. You mentioned earlier that there were about 175,000 men in the field. Why didn't these men rise up when news hit that Lincoln was dead? They didn't because they had no fight left in them. Neither did their commanders. Oh, and don't forget the north had over 650,000 soldiers in the field as well.

As I asked you concerning your belief that Booth and Herold had passes signed by Andrew Johnson, where is your proof of orders emanating on high?

Oh, and Booth was an excellent runner...just not a very good horseman.

Best
Rob