What qualifications did Surratt have, that made him suitable to send to Elmira? That assignment never made sense to me. There had to be a reason. He, and Sarah had each arrived in Montreal - and had nothing to do. Could it have been sent, merely to get them out of the way?
One of the reasons that Gen. E. G. Lee was assigned to Montreal was said to be the inability of Thompson, et. al. to anticipate the military aspects of such a crucial mission. Lee was present to review that assignment. This assignment appears to be the kind of faults that he was sent to fix.I assume that he approved. Was it to be a paid-vacation, for two hard working couriers ? Or, did they "take-off", to be together?
Some one who has access to E. G. Lee's diary, can help us out here. If they would find the quote, where he says, that he took a young lady aside and recommended that she go home, because John Surratt was not the kind of a man for her. Please tell us the exact quote and any more pertinent info. It will say, that she "she returned to New York."
Her departure from Montreal, in this time frame, agrees with some testimony given during her divorce proceedings in a New York Court.
(don't bother hunting for her divorce, the whole proceeding was a farce. Many lies were said, and many truths, unsaid. Rowan was not invited to attend.)
I have considered the possibility that Surratt and Sarah, were sent to Elmira to exclude them from the Lincoln Plot. He certainly didn't seclude himself. (as planned?). I believe that Sarah was there, with him, but was not as identifiable. Also, she may have been disguised as a man, or merely dressed as a "floozy". (which Surratt was expected to associate with,). Thus she missed the radar.
There has to be something more to their assignment that we are not privy to.
It is interesting to note, that all of the witnesses who ID Surratt, as being in Elmira, were honest citizens of Elmira, but those who "saw him in Washington," had trouble remembering details of their sighting, they weren't sure of which day it was. Their uncertainty weakened their integrity.
Do you have any ideas?

(11-27-2015 12:05 PM)SSlater Wrote:  Some one who has access to E. G. Lee's diary, can help us out here. If they would find the quote, where he says, that he took a young lady aside and recommended that she go home, because John Surratt was not the kind of a man for her. Please tell us the exact quote

John, I do not have the text of the diary, but I had this quote in my files:

"He is not the man for your undivided attention and constant companionship."

Then John Surratt went on to Canandaigua,NY and stayed at the Webster House and went to Easter mass at ST.Marys church!

I'll take a look at the diary when I get home on Sunday. Personally, I doubt that Miss Young, the lady in question, was Sarah. I got the impression from the diary as a whole that Miss Young was an acquaintance Surratt made while in Canada, not someone (like Sarah) he had known for some time before that. And as a married woman, Sarah hardly needed a warning about being involved with any man other than her husband.

I checked the diary and Alexandra Levin's biography of Edwin G. Lee. Lee makes several mentions of a Miss Young, a New Yorker who was staying with John and Sarah Lovell. On August 18, he notes the arrival of "Mr. Armstrong" (Surratt), and mentions a visit to the theater to see Kean in the role of Richard III; apparently the party included Miss Young and Surratt, although the entry's worded rather vaguely. On August 21, Lee writes, "Mr. Armstrong very devoted; made an opportunity for him in the library." Later he adds, "Had very confidential conversation with 'the Young' after returning from theater at 11 p.m." Miss Young had left Montreal by August 30, when Lee, who described her in a letter to his mother quoted by Levin as "remarkably pretty, sings, is said to be rich, tries to be a belle," wrote in the same letter, "She behaved so well and seemed so determined to make a friend of me, that when she left Montreal and asked me, when saying goodbye, if we didn't part friends, I told her 'yes' most heartily." He added, "But the other Yankees I have met haven't found much favor at my hands."

There's no indication that the "confidential conversation" involved Surratt, although it very well could have.

(11-29-2015 08:01 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  I checked the diary and Alexandra Levin's biography of Edwin G. Lee. Lee makes several mentions of a Miss Young, a New Yorker who was staying with John and Sarah Lovell. On August 18, he notes the arrival of "Mr. Armstrong" (Surratt), and mentions a visit to the theater to see Kean in the role of Richard III; apparently the party included Miss Young and Surratt, although the entry's worded rather vaguely. On August 21, Lee writes, "Mr. Armstrong very devoted; made an opportunity for him in the library." Later he adds, "Had very confidential conversation with 'the Young' after returning from theater at 11 p.m." Miss Young had left Montreal by August 30, when Lee, who described her in a letter to his mother quoted by Levin as "remarkably pretty, sings, is said to be rich, tries to be a belle," wrote in the same letter, "She behaved so well and seemed so determined to make a friend of me, that when she left Montreal and asked me, when saying goodbye, if we didn't part friends, I told her 'yes' most heartily." He added, "But the other Yankees I have met haven't found much favor at my hands."

There's no indication that the "confidential conversation" involved Surratt, although it very well could have.

Thank you for your research. I was thinking about their (Surratt/Slater) earlier relationship and the full month they stayed together. (constant and exclusive) Then Sarah's arrival in New York . I also wonder if E. G. new of Sarah's earlier exploits. Sarah was 22.
I keep all this in mind, and keep looking.