Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
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08-15-2018, 03:04 PM
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Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
I am about halfway through Dr. Robert Arnold's book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army to Assassinate Abraham Lincoln (2016). Arnold is a retired U.S. Navy surgeon who has been studying the Lincoln assassination for decades. In 2016, he published this book.
Arnold spent years digging through Lincoln-assassination-related documents in the National Archives and uncovered numerous witness statements and interview accounts that were never entered into evidence. He includes in his book copies of many of the documents that he found. Arnold seems to debunk a number of assertions and accounts found in most history books on the assassination. Arnold seems to make a very compelling case that the assassination was a carefully planned event that, among other things, required the help of someone inside Ford's Theater at least hours before the event, and that Stanton was involved in the plot. Mike Griffith |
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08-15-2018, 04:23 PM
Post: #2
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
(08-15-2018 03:04 PM)mikegriffith1 Wrote: required the help of someone inside Ford's Theater at least hours before Tom Bogar, author of the outstanding Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination, made this post on this forum over four years ago: "While there was no one "smoking gun" (pardon the inappropriate pun) to indict the stagehands en masse, I found after eight years of compiling research on them, that the (to me) compelling (if not overwhelming) evidence, collectively listed in my footnotes and my bibliography, led me to make an informed judgment that something was, with near certainty, amiss backstage and the tendency was toward the backstage area being a hotbed of southern sympathy. The primary factors were these: 1) the pattern of overheard remarks (by more than one witness) made by persons in leadership capacities, including Gifford, Carland, Maddox and Lamb, 2) the tacit allowance of such remarks by John and Harry Ford (although John had trimmed his sails noticeably, he had a solid states-rights background ethos), 3) comments made in several newspapers before and after the event alluding to the atmosphere of Ford's experienced by actors appearing there, 4) the strong Baltimore connection of many of the backstage figures, and the concomitant Secessionist sympathies which that conveyed, from the Baltimore Plot and the Pratt Street Riots onward, 5) the near-complete lack of similar sentiments expressed by the itinerant actors, who likely knew enough to be more circumspect than the stagehands, 6) the presence and behavior of Union veteran Jake Rittersbach, being so new to the backstage group yet had asked so many questions and then became the single most damaging witness against Ned Spangler, and thus, 7) the fact that Stanton and his men (both military and non) knew so quickly exactly where and when to swoop down on whom, far more so among the stage crew than among the actors, several of whom (e.g. Mathews and Emerson) might have been in theory equally suspect. I should note that in the process, I did feel the need to discount significantly the exaggerations of that serial enhancer of the truth, Leonard Grover. Bottom line: after doing the research, I reached a point where I felt secure in making an informed judgment." |
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08-15-2018, 08:08 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-15-2018 08:09 PM by mikegriffith1.)
Post: #3
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
(08-15-2018 04:23 PM)RJNorton Wrote:(08-15-2018 03:04 PM)mikegriffith1 Wrote: required the help of someone inside Ford's Theater at least hours before Arnold points out that one of the black workers at Ford's Theater, John Morris, told authorities that fellow theater workers Gifford, Spangler, and Maddox were secessionists, but Joseph Holt suppressed his statement. Arnold further notes that Margaret Roysea, a black lady who worked at the theater, adamantly insisted to government investigators that she never left any pieces of wood lying around in the theater. She said this in response to the official claim that the piece of wood that Booth used to jam the front vestibule door just happened to have been lying on the floor in the vestibule. Arnold argues that her insistence was the reason she was jailed for a time. Another fascinating fact that I've learned from Arnold's book is that the very first version of the shooting had Booth firing through the hole in the door, i.e., with the door closed, and then opening the door to the suite to escape over the railing. Mike Griffith |
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08-16-2018, 02:27 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-16-2018 03:14 PM by mikegriffith1.)
Post: #4
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
Finished Arnold's book today. A lot of information to take in. Arnold seems to make a solid case that Stanton, Baker, Holt, and some other Army officers were involved.
I had been skeptical of the theory that Booth escaped, mainly because I trusted the government's identification of the body and the family's later identification. But Arnold presents good reasons to doubt those identifications. Another thing I find fascinating about Arnold's book is his medically based commentary on the wound described in the autopsy report and on the injury to Booth's ankle. A former Navy surgeon, Arnold shows that the government's version of the shooting of the man in the Garrett barn could not have happened, that there is no way the man could have been standing up and walking toward the barn door when he was shot, because the bullet entered the man's head at about a 25-degree angle. Arnold also seems to make a good case that the bullet must have been a rifle bullet, not a pistol bullet. Mike Griffith |
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08-16-2018, 04:43 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-17-2018 04:32 AM by Gene C.)
Post: #5
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
The Amazon site for the book
https://www.amazon.com/Conspiracy-Betwee...800&sr=1-1 Be sure to read the sample pages if you are thinking about buying this one. Mike has a higher opinion of the book than I have, but I only read the "Look Inside" sample pages posted. So when is this "Old Enough To Know Better" supposed to kick in? |
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08-20-2018, 02:56 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-20-2018 02:56 PM by mikegriffith1.)
Post: #6
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
Dr. Arnold also argues that the description of the man in the barn's injured ankle could not have been describing the appearance of the kind of injury that Booth had. Dr. Arnold, a retired Navy surgeon and former coroner, contends that there would not have been the described amount of bruising and swelling from an ankle fracture.
Mike Griffith |
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08-20-2018, 04:20 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-20-2018 07:35 PM by L Verge.)
Post: #7
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
(08-20-2018 02:56 PM)mikegriffith1 Wrote: Dr. Arnold also argues that the description of the man in the barn's injured ankle could not have been describing the appearance of the kind of injury that Booth had. Dr. Arnold, a retired Navy surgeon and former coroner, contends that there would not have been the described amount of bruising and swelling from an ankle fracture. Has Dr. Arnold ever treated, or experienced himself, a broken leg bone that has been subjected to twelve days of riding horseback (which included mounting and dismounting); spending a lot of time on the ground, which was cold and damp during April in Southern Maryland; and jostling around in a wagon? Bet not... We rec'd a review copy of Dr. Arnold's book several years ago and decided not to get it for our gift shop. (08-16-2018 02:27 PM)mikegriffith1 Wrote: Finished Arnold's book today. A lot of information to take in. Arnold seems to make a solid case that Stanton, Baker, Holt, and some other Army officers were involved. The best description that I have ever heard as to how Corbett's pistol shot entered Booth through the back of his neck came from expert researcher, historian, and author Michael W. Kauffman. When Mike used to narrate the Surratt Society's Booth Escape Route Tours, he would carefully explain that Corbett was actually aiming at Booth's shoulder in an attempt to get him to drop his rifle. However, because of the broken leg, as Booth advanced towards the door to escape the increasing flames, he limped on his injured left leg causing the bullet to hit him in the neck instead of the shoulder. Have you read Dr. John K. Lattimer's detailed ballistic account of the shooting? I think it's still available on the secondary market. I knew John for forty years, and he was researching and experimenting in the ballistics field long before that. He was also expert in the Kennedy assassination and was the first civilian outside of the family to be allowed to study the autopsy and ballistic details re: JFK. |
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08-20-2018, 08:25 PM
Post: #8
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
(08-20-2018 02:56 PM)mikegriffith1 Wrote: Dr. Arnold also argues that the description of the man in the barn's injured ankle could not have been describing the appearance of the kind of injury that Booth had. Dr. Arnold, a retired Navy surgeon and former coroner, contends that there would not have been the described amount of bruising and swelling from an ankle fracture. Does Dr. Arnold include the description that one of the three returning Confederate veterans who were with Booth and Herold on the ferry crossing the Rappahannock River into Port Royal gave later? It follows the same line as that of the autopsy report as to the swelling, etc. |
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09-06-2018, 09:19 AM
Post: #9
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
Read often, post seldom. Decided to purchase the book and I can see why the Surratt Society decided not to sell the book.
I put this in the category of The Lincoln Conspiracy by Balsiger and The Curse of Cain by Nottingham. ( Yes, I own these books) Just one example of a lack of research. On page 40 describing Booth's entry to the box and giving a calling card to a messenger. "There is nothing in the archives to indicate who this messenger was or if an attempt was made to identify him" What happened to Charles Forbes? Silas Cobb was in the conspiracy? It goes on and on. Again, just my views. Thank you Roger for this forum. |
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09-06-2018, 12:06 PM
Post: #10
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
Richard - You may not post often, but you speak the truth when you do! And folks, you would be astounded at some of the manuscripts that come across our desks here at Surratt House...
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09-29-2018, 02:38 PM
Post: #11
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
Here is Barbara Scott's review of Dr. Arnold's book:
Quote:A new examination of the facts surrounding the violent death of President Abraham Lincoln gathered by a retired naval officer and surgeon/coroner, raises many valid questions about the generally accepted story of that assassination and its aftermath. Mike Griffith |
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09-29-2018, 04:17 PM
Post: #12
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
Mike, Dr. Arnold writes "almost no one believed it was Booth on the Montauk." (p.364)
Does Dr. Arnold, in his book, refute the testimony of Charles Dawson? |
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09-29-2018, 05:00 PM
Post: #13
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
The review of this book by Barbara Scott is from a site where authors pay for reviews, and have the option of keeping negative reviews private. 'Nuff said.
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09-29-2018, 06:46 PM
Post: #14
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
Bless you once again, Susan. I am not familiar with her name; what are Ms. Scott's credentials for reviewing a book on the Lincoln assassination?
I have been asked many times to review books on the subject or to write blurbs for the back cover. I won't do it. |
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09-29-2018, 06:59 PM
Post: #15
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RE: Robert Arnold's Book The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army
Thanks for posting that info Susan.
These reviews don't come cheap, from $300 - $495, plus https://www.pacificbookreview.com/purchase-your-review/ And, after all that, they offer this option "•Authors may remove their review from the site at any time, by emailing us at nicolesorkin@pacificbookreview.com" So when is this "Old Enough To Know Better" supposed to kick in? |
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