Booth's visit to the Surratt Boarding House after the assassination

[Laurie Verge]

Sounds good. Also, I think the family atmosphere at the Garretts would have encouraged him to linger. There are comments about his interaction with the younger children, and we know from things that Asia wrote that he was very good with children. Maybe he knew that the end was near and decided to heck with it. There is just so much that the average soul can endure - especially one as high-spirited as JWB when faced with failure and pain.

And before anyone jumps on me as a Booth sympathizer, that's not what I'm attempting to say!

[Jim Garrett]

Sounds good. Also, I think the family atmosphere at the Garretts would have encouraged him to linger. There are comments about his interaction with the younger children, and we know from things that Asia wrote that he was very good with children. Maybe he knew that the end was near and decided to heck with it. There is just so much that the average soul can endure - especially one as high-spirited as JWB when faced with failure and pain.

And before anyone jumps on me as a Booth sympathizer, that's not what I'm attempting to say!

What this discussion group has done exceedingly well is take on the task of developing the principal players in this countries greatest and most tragic drama, and turn them into real flesh and bone people with emotions, feelings, character and.....life. History has painted JWB as nothing more than a villian. Like it or not he was one of the greatest actors, a loving son and brother. He had a great impact with Richard Bayham Garrett (11 years old in 1865) to the degree, that he continued a very caring correspondence with Edwin Booth for decades. Richard Garrett's sister-in-law, Lucinda appears to have had feeling for him for the rest of her life. It can be argued that every woman was in love with JWB, but I think by the time Lucinda met him, he was probab;y pretty worse for wear.....but he still had that spark.

[John Stanton]

Laurie.Yes, the trains from Richmond could roll as far North as Hamilton's Crossing.(At the southern end of the Battlefield. Tracks north were removed during the battle.) Elizabeth Van Lew was shipping escaped Union prisoners that far in Feb of '65. I would guess that other trains stopped at Milford - they had freight handling facilities. Tidwell told me that there was a train there, with a full head of steam -always. Waiting for the abducted Lincoln. If that was the plan, up until then, then Booth was sticking with it. A train from there would not have taken him to Mosby (Everything went South.) That line is still the main N-S RR track today.

[L Verge]

Thanks for that info, John. I'm not that familiar with Virginia geography (and too lazy to look). How far south would Booth have been able to go on the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac. I assume somewhere close to the Potomac River?? Would that be the same track that the VRE runs on now from Fredericksburg into D.C.?

[BettyO]

Milford is between Bowling Green and Ashland - not too far. (I currently live 8 miles from Ashland.) Then the next line would probably run from Ashland to Richmond and from thence thru Petersburg to Danville.

Sounds very logical to me.

[L Verge]

In essence, he might be following the same route as Jeff Davis? Ashland is intriguing - could he have been planning on "mustering out" somehow and just fade into the sunset with other Confederate soldiers heading home?

See how creative we can get? Now, if we can just find the paperwork.

[Wesley Harris]

Laurie to John Fazio: And, exactly what verifies your statement that no one in the Mudd household would have given Booth the weapons? What about the doctor himself? I can't prove that he did, but I don't think you can prove that he didn't.

I can't prove Mudd didn't hand over the two pistols but I can provide a convincing argument that if he did, it's because one of Booth's cohorts had dropped them off earlier. Booth may have picked them up at Mudd's (which I doubt). I have pretty strong evidence they were part of the Booth's original arsenal that the conspirators had early on.

If you want to know how I know, come to the 2013 Surratt conference!

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[quote='Art Loux' pid='6734' dateline='1351006119']
[quote='Laurie Verge' pid='6692' dateline='1350931711']
A man who examined the boot in 1925 wrote: "This is of well-worn black leather, 23 (maybe 28) inches long an approximately 20 inches in diameter at the top or thigh. The sole and heel together measure 11 inches outside, the sole at its greatest width ?? inches, and the sharply squared off toe is 2 1/2 inches. It is the boot for the left foot. The heel is intact at the outside, but is worn down about 1/4 inch at the inside and the same is true of the sole , indicating that when walking Booth turned his ankles in, and perhaps was inclined to be knock-kneed. [Yes, I know he was bowlegged] Inside, at the top, the boot is faced with smooth white calfskin for a distance down of 6 1/2 inches, where it joins the rough interior. At the front on this calfskin , some two inches below the top, is written in black ink, but very faintly, the name and address of the maker, and about an inch below this the name "J. Wilkes -----" From "New Interest in Booth Relics Keeps War Department Busy," Washington Star, Sunday Morning, May 17, 1925 by George M. Battey, Jr.

There is no mention of a pocket. I have another article which claims Booth used the boots for ice skating and there is a screw hole in the heel for mounting skates.

I have read an article that there is a pocket in the boot and that it's too small for even the Deringer. It was in the "Lincoln Log" or similar publication. I'll see if I made a copy.

[Gene C]

To what extent does the Union army control the railroad north of Richmond immediately following the fall of Richmond?

[L Verge]

I'm trying to find an answer to that one also, Gene, but only in the vein that Booth could have headed north and then west into the foothills of Virginia.

Wes - I have never doubted that Booth had those pistols on hand as early as his preparations for the kidnapping. My thoughts concerning them being left at Dr. Mudd's are two-fold: Atzerodt's statement that supplies were sent to the doctor two weeks before the kidnapping, and my thoughts on Davey Herold's activities one or two days before the assassination.

[Bill Richter]

Ok gang, to get back to the original subject 115 posts ago, here are two more things to ponder:

If JWB had saddlebags on his horse, why did he send the binoculars to Surrattsville via Mary Surratt? To say they were full with guns is no answer, as the alleged saddlebags discussed by those of you have have the propensities of Peterson House's rubber room. Of course one must then wonder if Booth stopped at the townhouse. If he picked up the guns there, why not the binoculars, too?

Next, everyone who has posted has assumed that JWB was traveling south to Virginia. He left ample evidence behind that he was after all. But what if all of that including his giving his name to Sgt Cobb at the navy Yard Bridge. What if his trip to Surrattsville was part of an elaborate feint, JWB turning on the Woodyard Rd going east and then north along the route of Hwy 301 to Baltimore, or more accurately, Relay Station south of Baltimore where the B&O split into its DC run and the tracks to Ohio? This is why he had the beard to disguise himself and why Joh Surratt, Jr., was waiting at the Canadian border--remember he was overnight in a railroad station there? Along with a companion, who might have been Sara Slater in male drag, according to John Stanton, which I used in my Confederate Freedom Fighter book. The horse would have to be ridden to death to make such a run (there is a lengthy discussion of some months back on the other forum about this and whether it could have been done). This theory is advanced by Larry Starkey in his book, Wilkes Booth Comes to Washington. It includes a long footnote on horse stamina and speeds that Starkey got from a Kentucky Derby trainer. Remember JWB was an excellent horseman. Of course JWB breaking his leg, seeking Dr Mudd, then Sam Cox, forced him and Herold to travel the Doctor's Line, the exact route that was to be his route to mislead pursuit. Tom Jones took over from there.

[Gene C]

Why have Mrs Surratt go to Surrattsville at all? It was Booth who paid for the carriage. To take the binoculars and see about a past due loan (as a ruse) and to let Loyd know to be ready with the guns and possibly check on Union calvary patrols in the area.

I think Booth planned to go to Virginia and David Herold was of some use, as he knew the area better. Were people waiting for him on the other side of the Potomic River to help in in VA, at least for the planned kidnapping? I personally think his chances of getting away would be better on board a fishing boat in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay like Solomons, and head for Bermuda. IMO, not much chance of getting away if he headed north to Canada. If the St. Albans raiders didn't fair well in Canada, Booth wouldn't either. Hiding Booth would be a whole lot different than hiding Surratt.

[JMadonna]

I'm a believer in the Starkey Theory. There was nothing in the South but devastation and Yankees. All the powerful friends of the South were in the North and he needed to get out of the country ASAP. Canada was the way to go. Stringfellow proved it the week before.

The purpose of Mary's visit to Surrattsville was to leave one more breadcrumb for the posse. From Atzerodt's map to giving his name to Cobb all were designed to lead the posse south. If Booth's horse didn't have the stamina to finish the run to the railway, he could always 'horsejack' a rider on the road OR end up in his hometown of Baltimore where he could hide among friends and catch either another train or a ship to Europe.

A MUCH better plan - the broken leg changed it all.

[Gene C]

What's the Starkey Theory? Where can I read more about it?
Who's Stingfellow?

Why not head for Baltimore, even with a broken leg?
Or is all of this in your book that I have on my Christmas wish list?

I do agree, the broken leg changed everything.

[JMadonna]

What's the Starkey Theory? Where can I read more about it?
Who's Stingfellow?

Why not head for Baltimore, even with a broken leg?
Or is all of this in your book that I have on my Christmas wish list?

I do agree, the broken leg changed everything.

Gene,
Yes, its all in my book.
For more on Starkey reread post 115

[John Stanton]

Thanks for that info, John. I'm not that familiar with Virginia geography (and too lazy to look). How far south would Booth have been able to go on the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac. I assume somewhere close to the Potomac River?? Would that be the same track that the VRE runs on now from Fredericksburg into D.C.?

Laurie. Think of the name of the RR -The R. F. &P. It ran to the River. There was a big Port there (Aquiq Harbor or Belle Plains. ( The wind blowing has me disconcerted) There was a Station at Brooke, VA. But no more. That is the same route the VRE runs - extended of course. Brooke was the Command Center, when B.G. Theophelious Holmes was in Charge. South of Richmond was "Weldon" and something RR, straight south. I have "Sandy" in my noggin.