Surratt Courier

[L Verge]

(07-19-2019 06:57 PM)Steve Wrote:  I just received the August 2019 Surratt Courier in the mail and I really want to commend Rick Smith's article, an updated reprint of his earlier October 2007 on the James Owens statement. I wasn't a member of the Surratt Society when it was originally printed and am glad to get a chance to read it now. (Even if I had been a member of the Society then, I was in Iraq then, so I might have missed it anyway.)

I wasn't aware of the 01 May 1865 memorandum by M. A. Clancey about Owens and his testimony.

I'm just adding a note of appreciation to Steve, whose locating Old Capitol Prison death and burial records spurred Rick to update his original article from 2007. I also suggested to Rick that he writes so well that he should be contributing more articles to the Courier... He is really a very good, all-around historian on the Civil War era. And, when he joins forces with his team of Wild Bill Richter and Bill Binzel, that triumvirate will set your brain a-spinning.

[Dennis Urban]

(07-19-2019 07:36 PM)L Verge Wrote:  

(07-19-2019 06:57 PM)Steve Wrote:  I just received the August 2019 Surratt Courier in the mail and I really want to commend Rick Smith's article, an updated reprint of his earlier October 2007 on the James Owens statement. I wasn't a member of the Surratt Society when it was originally printed and am glad to get a chance to read it now. (Even if I had been a member of the Society then, I was in Iraq then, so I might have missed it anyway.)

I wasn't aware of the 01 May 1865 memorandum by M. A. Clancey about Owens and his testimony.

I'm just adding a note of appreciation to Steve, whose locating Old Capitol Prison death and burial records spurred Rick to update his original article from 2007. I also suggested to Rick that he writes so well that he should be contributing more articles to the Courier... He is really a very good, all-around historian on the Civil War era. And, when he joins forces with his team of Wild Bill Richter and Bill Binzel, that triumvirate will set your brain a-spinning.

Excellent research and update Rick!
I was not aware of the Clancey statement either. Being curious about him, quick research shows him in American Brutus though spelled Clancy, as being a Captain on the staff of Colonel Timothy Ingraham,"provost marshal of the Defenses North of the Potomac, with jurisdiction over the area north and east of the city" and "much hardened by the war." See pages 50 and 465. I surmise that Captain Clancey interrogated Owens at the request of Ingraham and taking a cue from Ingraham pressed Owens greatly thus arriving at his assessment of Owens. I do not have The Lincoln Assassination: The Evidence. I wonder if it contains the entire memo written by Clancey; that might be enlightening.

[Rick Smith]

(07-19-2019 07:36 PM)L Verge Wrote:  

(07-19-2019 06:57 PM)Steve Wrote:  I just received the August 2019 Surratt Courier in the mail and I really want to commend Rick Smith's article, an updated reprint of his earlier October 2007 on the James Owens statement. I wasn't a member of the Surratt Society when it was originally printed and am glad to get a chance to read it now. (Even if I had been a member of the Society then, I was in Iraq then, so I might have missed it anyway.)

I wasn't aware of the 01 May 1865 memorandum by M. A. Clancey about Owens and his testimony.

I'm just adding a note of appreciation to Steve, whose locating Old Capitol Prison death and burial records spurred Rick to update his original article from 2007. I also suggested to Rick that he writes so well that he should be contributing more articles to the Courier... He is really a very good, all-around historian on the Civil War era. And, when he joins forces with his team of Wild Bill Richter and Bill Binzel, that triumvirate will set your brain a-spinning.

Laurie, Steve, Dennis,

Thank you all for your very generous words regarding the follow up article to the Owens Statement.

As Laurie said, the catalyst for the follow up was Steve's finding of the Owens death and burial record. That was an amazing find and brought conclusion to James Owens' story. Before this, there was only a very short, terse line in Come Retribution observing that Owens never came out of the Old Capitol alive. Well done, Steve.

Laurie also mentioned Bill Binzel and Bill Richter, my good friends, mentors and outstanding researchers and historians. We all have an interest, perhaps I should say a passion, for the Confederate underground network, secret service and all those operating on the periphery of the Lincoln assassination drama. The article is theirs as much as it is mine and in this particular case, Bill Binzel should have been credited as co-author, but he humbly refused. As I said in my author's note, the article would not have been published had it not been for Bill's input.

Before I close, it would be most remiss of me if I did not give credit to Laurie, who has, for the last 40 years, been the face, heart and soul of Surratt House and as such has inspired those of us who are privileged to serve as docents to keep alive the history of the Surratt House and the family whose name it bears. She has occasionally threatened retirement during the last few years, which leaves Bill and I with a difficult decision; if she goes, do we go too?

[Steve]

(07-20-2019 09:11 PM)Rick Smith Wrote:  Laurie also mentioned Bill Binzel and Bill Richter, my good friends, mentors and outstanding researchers and historians. We all have an interest, perhaps I should say a passion, for the Confederate underground network, secret service and all those operating on the periphery of the Lincoln assassination drama. The article is theirs as much as it is mine and in this particular case, Bill Binzel should have been credited as co-author, but he humbly refused. As I said in my author's note, the article would not have been published had it not been for Bill's input.

For anybody interested in the Confederate underground network, I'd suggest looking into Owens' employer Austin L. Adams due to his tavern business operating in Newport, MD at the same time as his cattle broker work in Washington DC.

[RJNorton]

I wish to commend Rick and everyone connected to the article. I must admit there is a side of me that does not like to think of Owens being "interrogated (beaten) to death." But, as the evidence in the article points out, it sure looks like that is exactly what happened. Given the prevailing mood, anyone who was stonewalling and required the "sternest measures" to open up with what he knew was certainly taking a life-threatening risk. The entire article is absolutely fascinating.

[L Verge]

(07-21-2019 04:22 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  I wish to commend Rick and everyone connected to the article. I must admit there is a side of me that does not like to think of Owens being "interrogated (beaten) to death." But, as the evidence in the article points out, it sure looks like that is exactly what happened. Given the prevailing mood, anyone who was stonewalling and required the "sternest measures" to open up with what he knew was certainly taking a life-threatening risk. The entire article is absolutely fascinating.

I recently did an article for our gov't. agency's Facebook on July 14, in recognition of Bastille Day since three of the historic house museums in our county were built by immigrants who came to the colonies to escape political and religious persecution in France (specifically). The Bastille, of course, became the symbol for the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror that followed. At the time of the storming of the prison, there were only seven prisoners left in the decaying fortress. However, gunpowder and arms were stored there and were much more interesting to the revolutionaries.

After a brief summary on the situation in France, I continued the posting with a brief history of the Old Capitol Prison in D.C. which, along with about five other such prisons in the U.S. during the Civil War, have been termed American Bastilles because of their housing and rough treatment of those who spoke against Lincoln and the administration. There is actually a book from just after the war that discusses these various prisons with an emphasis on the Old Capitol. Its title is American Bastille, and I think parts of it have been republished. As I ended the article, I reminded people that the United States Supreme Court now sits on the site of the American Bastille/Old Capitol Prison.

I am writing this because of Rick's comments about it being imperative to recognize and understand the people of Southern Maryland (and other similar regions in the Confederacy and the border states) and their efforts in creating an underground, a secret service, a blockade-running system, etc. Because of this, many men and women were imprisoned for their actions. Such are the circumstances of war, but many modern citizens do not realize that fighting for a cause can lead to situations that we apply only to foreign dictatorships and such.

I should add that Gen. William Tidwell, James O. Hall, and David W. Gaddy, authors of Come Retribution, were all trained in either military espionage or CIA/NSA history and activities. Gen. Tidwell once told me that the Confederate underground and secret service were heavily studied by and used as the model for the French underground resistance during World War II.

P.S. It upset me greatly a few years ago when I heard an upcoming star in the assassination field say that he had not studied the Southern Maryland underground because he did not think it had that much to do with the subject...

[Rick Smith]

(07-21-2019 12:46 PM)L Verge Wrote:  

(07-21-2019 04:22 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  I wish to commend Rick and everyone connected to the article. I must admit there is a side of me that does not like to think of Owens being "interrogated (beaten) to death." But, as the evidence in the article points out, it sure looks like that is exactly what happened. Given the prevailing mood, anyone who was stonewalling and required the "sternest measures" to open up with what he knew was certainly taking a life-threatening risk. The entire article is absolutely fascinating.

I recently did an article for our gov't. agency's Facebook on July 14, in recognition of Bastille Day since three of the historic house museums in our county were built by immigrants who came to the colonies to escape political and religious persecution in France (specifically). The Bastille, of course, became the symbol for the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror that followed. At the time of the storming of the prison, there were only seven prisoners left in the decaying fortress. However, gunpowder and arms were stored there and were much more interesting to the revolutionaries.

After a brief summary on the situation in France, I continued the posting with a brief history of the Old Capitol Prison in D.C. which, along with about five other such prisons in the U.S. during the Civil War, have been termed American Bastilles because of their housing and rough treatment of those who spoke against Lincoln and the administration. There is actually a book from just after the war that discusses these various prisons with an emphasis on the Old Capitol. Its title is American Bastille, and I think parts of it have been republished. As I ended the article, I reminded people that the United States Supreme Court now sits on the site of the American Bastille/Old Capitol Prison.

I am writing this because of Rick's comments about it being imperative to recognize and understand the people of Southern Maryland (and other similar regions in the Confederacy and the border states) and their efforts in creating an underground, a secret service, a blockade-running system, etc. Because of this, many men and women were imprisoned for their actions. Such are the circumstances of war, but many modern citizens do not realize that fighting for a cause can lead to situations that we apply only to foreign dictatorships and such.

I should add that Gen. William Tidwell, James O. Hall, and David W. Gaddy, authors of Come Retribution, were all trained in either military espionage or CIA/NSA history and activities. Gen. Tidwell once told me that the Confederate underground and secret service were heavily studied by and used as the model for the French underground resistance during World War II.

P.S. It upset me greatly a few years ago when I heard an upcoming star in the assassination field say that he had not studied the Southern Maryland underground because he did not think it had that much to do with the subject...

Good info, Laurie.

Come Retribution is the great work that it is because the authors had practical experience in wartime operations with OSS, CIA et al.

As you know, the Confederate Secret Service and the Southern Maryland underground had everything to do with it.

Some up and coming stars think it has everything to do with themselves...

[L Verge]

In an earlier posting, someone inquired about the memorandum sent by M.A. Clancey regarding Owens/Adams. Here it is as printed in The Evidence tome compiled by Evans and Steers:

M.A. Clancey
"C" 634 (JAO)
M.A. Clancey (memorandum by)
Washington, May 1st 1865

Thos. Henry Owens (gives his name as James Owens) states that two persons corresponding to the description of Booth & Herold came to the house of Austin L. Adams (now a prisoner) with his wife on Thursday night succeeding the assassination; stayed there until Friday night, when they disappeared. They did not stay in the house, but were fed by Mrs. Adams. Adams & his wife deny all knowledge of the affair. Owens is a workman for Adams. From other witnesses, it appears that Owens assisted either Booth & Herold or other parties to cross the Potomac. He is an ignorant, stubborn fellow, and will require the sternest measures to elicit anything from him.
Henry Woodlawn (colored) (not arrested) is a witness against Adams & his wife. Testifies that Adams said he was going to hide a boat on the Thursday succeeding the assassination. Adams was missing from Thursday noon until Friday morning; supposed to have assisted Booth & Herold across the river.
Ask Owens about Tom Harbin, who stopped at Adams's some time previous to the assassination, and who is supposed to have made arrangements for the passage of the assassins across the River.
Capt. Samuel Cox is clearly implicated by the evidence of Osborne Swann (colored) (both sent here under arrest). Swann has a wife & 8 children, who are left without protection in Bryantown, and all due leniency should be shown him.
Dr. Samuel Mudd (under arrest) has made a statement, a copy of which (I believe) was forwarded to Col. J.H. Taylor, Chief of Staff, AAG of Maj. Gen. Augur. It is not clear that he had any "guilty" knowledge in setting Booth's leg.
Maj. John A. Wait 8th Ill. Cav. has arrested and sent up some 18 or 20 prisoners, accompanied with sworn statements or memoranda. I believe he has also reported in person at Headquarters, Washington & will be able to give ample information in regard to prisoners.
Col. Wells at Port Tobacco, Md., has written statements of several witnesses (some arrested and some not) and will be able to give full information. He can do better personally than by letter.

Pretty much what we already knew. HOWEVER, after seeing this transcript of the original memorandum, I am going to incur the wrath of Wild Bill and Rick and return to my original belief that James Owens was a white man, not African American.

Please note that, after the names of both Woodlawn (sic) and Swann, there are notes of "colored." This is at least 95% standard in everything pertaining to this era and the assassination, from statements to court testimony and more. Yet, nowhere have we found such a notation after the name of James Owens. Also, his stubborn attitude indicates to me that he was a white man and soured on the situation that had befallen Southern Maryland -- likely a poor white, whose station in life was becoming even lower with the freeing of slaves. He hated those Union invaders and was not going to cooperate -- either at Newport, Bryantown, or in Old Capitol, where I do believe that he was beaten to death.

P.S. I did check on Maj. John M. Waite as mentioned in the above. His telegraph dispatches begin on April 20 and were sent from Leonardtown. His unit was obviously scouring St. Mary's County, Maryland. It was a part of four units who arrive at Port Tobacco and then split with one going down the Patuxent River to Benedict, another going along the Potomac and the Wicomico River. There is also mention on an infantry squad being sent by order of Gen. Hardie to seize a schooner named "Breeze" that was supposed to come in at Allen's Fresh on April 19, but had not arrived by noon on the 20th. That had something to do with the schooner having been purchased in Allen's Fresh and supposedly having "Walter A. Barnes, one of the conspirators" on board. Would love to know what that is all about!

Aha!! Back to The Evidence book and found a lengthy statement from Walter Barnes. Will peruse and send significant points in a separate posting.

[Steve]

After reading this memorandum, I have to concur with Laurie on Owens being a white man. Especially since, as far as I know, Owens isn't mentioned as being colored or a former slave in any of the other documents we have on him.

[Dennis Urban]

It was I who wanted to see the entire Clancey statement. Thanks, Laurie, for posting.

I believe you are on the right track in thinking Owens is white. I have not seen that expressed before. In all of my CW era research the notation of "colored" is commonly used for a variety of purposes. Additionally, the apparent insolence of Owens points to him being white. For a black man to successfully get along in that southern MD society, he would have to "know his place." Finally, although a minor point, the location of Owens burial in Arlington, points toward him being buried with others of his race rather than in a separate colored section. A black man could be hastily buried in that location but custom points to it being otherwise. I do wonder what is the origin of Owens being labeled as a black man?

[Eva Elisabeth]

My question - if he were, would that make his statement more or less credible?

[Steve]

(07-24-2019 02:54 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  My question - if he were, would that make his statement more or less credible?

I don't think it would have any effect on the credibility of Owens' statement since it is corroborated by other information, such as his description of the horses matching the horses Booth and Herold rode as they escaped Washington. I suppose Owens' reluctance to give information and his being white could mean that he was possibly still hiding more information or maybe that he knew who the men were and why they were fleeing.

[Rick Smith]

(07-24-2019 10:34 AM)L Verge Wrote:  In an earlier posting, someone inquired about the memorandum sent by M.A. Clancey regarding Owens/Adams. Here it is as printed in The Evidence tome compiled by Evans and Steers:

M.A. Clancey
"C" 634 (JAO)
M.A. Clancey (memorandum by)
Washington, May 1st 1865

Thos. Henry Owens (gives his name as James Owens) states that two persons corresponding to the description of Booth & Herold came to the house of Austin L. Adams (now a prisoner) with his wife on Thursday night succeeding the assassination; stayed there until Friday night, when they disappeared. They did not stay in the house, but were fed by Mrs. Adams. Adams & his wife deny all knowledge of the affair. Owens is a workman for Adams. From other witnesses, it appears that Owens assisted either Booth & Herold or other parties to cross the Potomac. He is an ignorant, stubborn fellow, and will require the sternest measures to elicit anything from him.
Henry Woodlawn (colored) (not arrested) is a witness against Adams & his wife. Testifies that Adams said he was going to hide a boat on the Thursday succeeding the assassination. Adams was missing from Thursday noon until Friday morning; supposed to have assisted Booth & Herold across the river.
Ask Owens about Tom Harbin, who stopped at Adams's some time previous to the assassination, and who is supposed to have made arrangements for the passage of the assassins across the River.
Capt. Samuel Cox is clearly implicated by the evidence of Osborne Swann (colored) (both sent here under arrest). Swann has a wife & 8 children, who are left without protection in Bryantown, and all due leniency should be shown him.
Dr. Samuel Mudd (under arrest) has made a statement, a copy of which (I believe) was forwarded to Col. J.H. Taylor, Chief of Staff, AAG of Maj. Gen. Augur. It is not clear that he had any "guilty" knowledge in setting Booth's leg.
Maj. John A. Wait 8th Ill. Cav. has arrested and sent up some 18 or 20 prisoners, accompanied with sworn statements or memoranda. I believe he has also reported in person at Headquarters, Washington & will be able to give ample information in regard to prisoners.
Col. Wells at Port Tobacco, Md., has written statements of several witnesses (some arrested and some not) and will be able to give full information. He can do better personally than by letter.

Pretty much what we already knew. HOWEVER, after seeing this transcript of the original memorandum, I am going to incur the wrath of Wild Bill and Rick and return to my original belief that James Owens was a white man, not African American.

Please note that, after the names of both Woodlawn (sic) and Swann, there are notes of "colored." This is at least 95% standard in everything pertaining to this era and the assassination, from statements to court testimony and more. Yet, nowhere have we found such a notation after the name of James Owens. Also, his stubborn attitude indicates to me that he was a white man and soured on the situation that had befallen Southern Maryland -- likely a poor white, whose station in life was becoming even lower with the freeing of slaves. He hated those Union invaders and was not going to cooperate -- either at Newport, Bryantown, or in Old Capitol, where I do believe that he was beaten to death.

P.S. I did check on Maj. John M. Waite as mentioned in the above. His telegraph dispatches begin on April 20 and were sent from Leonardtown. His unit was obviously scouring St. Mary's County, Maryland. It was a part of four units who arrive at Port Tobacco and then split with one going down the Patuxent River to Benedict, another going along the Potomac and the Wicomico River. There is also mention on an infantry squad being sent by order of Gen. Hardie to seize a schooner named "Breeze" that was supposed to come in at Allen's Fresh on April 19, but had not arrived by noon on the 20th. That had something to do with the schooner having been purchased in Allen's Fresh and supposedly having "Walter A. Barnes, one of the conspirators" on board. Would love to know what that is all about!

Aha!! Back to The Evidence book and found a lengthy statement from Walter Barnes. Will peruse and send significant points in a separate posting.

Laurie,

No wrath incurred.

Seems that Owens may have been white.

Rick

[L Verge]

(07-24-2019 03:41 PM)Rick Smith Wrote:  

(07-24-2019 10:34 AM)L Verge Wrote:  In an earlier posting, someone inquired about the memorandum sent by M.A. Clancey regarding Owens/Adams. Here it is as printed in The Evidence tome compiled by Evans and Steers:

M.A. Clancey
"C" 634 (JAO)
M.A. Clancey (memorandum by)
Washington, May 1st 1865

Thos. Henry Owens (gives his name as James Owens) states that two persons corresponding to the description of Booth & Herold came to the house of Austin L. Adams (now a prisoner) with his wife on Thursday night succeeding the assassination; stayed there until Friday night, when they disappeared. They did not stay in the house, but were fed by Mrs. Adams. Adams & his wife deny all knowledge of the affair. Owens is a workman for Adams. From other witnesses, it appears that Owens assisted either Booth & Herold or other parties to cross the Potomac. He is an ignorant, stubborn fellow, and will require the sternest measures to elicit anything from him.
Henry Woodlawn (colored) (not arrested) is a witness against Adams & his wife. Testifies that Adams said he was going to hide a boat on the Thursday succeeding the assassination. Adams was missing from Thursday noon until Friday morning; supposed to have assisted Booth & Herold across the river.
Ask Owens about Tom Harbin, who stopped at Adams's some time previous to the assassination, and who is supposed to have made arrangements for the passage of the assassins across the River.
Capt. Samuel Cox is clearly implicated by the evidence of Osborne Swann (colored) (both sent here under arrest). Swann has a wife & 8 children, who are left without protection in Bryantown, and all due leniency should be shown him.
Dr. Samuel Mudd (under arrest) has made a statement, a copy of which (I believe) was forwarded to Col. J.H. Taylor, Chief of Staff, AAG of Maj. Gen. Augur. It is not clear that he had any "guilty" knowledge in setting Booth's leg.
Maj. John A. Wait 8th Ill. Cav. has arrested and sent up some 18 or 20 prisoners, accompanied with sworn statements or memoranda. I believe he has also reported in person at Headquarters, Washington & will be able to give ample information in regard to prisoners.
Col. Wells at Port Tobacco, Md., has written statements of several witnesses (some arrested and some not) and will be able to give full information. He can do better personally than by letter.

Pretty much what we already knew. HOWEVER, after seeing this transcript of the original memorandum, I am going to incur the wrath of Wild Bill and Rick and return to my original belief that James Owens was a white man, not African American.

Please note that, after the names of both Woodlawn (sic) and Swann, there are notes of "colored." This is at least 95% standard in everything pertaining to this era and the assassination, from statements to court testimony and more. Yet, nowhere have we found such a notation after the name of James Owens. Also, his stubborn attitude indicates to me that he was a white man and soured on the situation that had befallen Southern Maryland -- likely a poor white, whose station in life was becoming even lower with the freeing of slaves. He hated those Union invaders and was not going to cooperate -- either at Newport, Bryantown, or in Old Capitol, where I do believe that he was beaten to death.

P.S. I did check on Maj. John M. Waite as mentioned in the above. His telegraph dispatches begin on April 20 and were sent from Leonardtown. His unit was obviously scouring St. Mary's County, Maryland. It was a part of four units who arrive at Port Tobacco and then split with one going down the Patuxent River to Benedict, another going along the Potomac and the Wicomico River. There is also mention on an infantry squad being sent by order of Gen. Hardie to seize a schooner named "Breeze" that was supposed to come in at Allen's Fresh on April 19, but had not arrived by noon on the 20th. That had something to do with the schooner having been purchased in Allen's Fresh and supposedly having "Walter A. Barnes, one of the conspirators" on board. Would love to know what that is all about!

Aha!! Back to The Evidence book and found a lengthy statement from Walter Barnes. Will peruse and send significant points in a separate posting.

Laurie,

No wrath incurred.

Seems that Owens may have been white.

Rick

Thanks, Rick. As I think I told you earlier, I also reinforced my belief that Owens was white when Steve found that he had three given names - James Thomas Henry. I just thought that unusual.

[Rick Smith]

Without the Clancey memo, which Bill Binzel supplied me with, I made the presumption 12 years ago that James Owens was black. I think the Clancey memo makes a good case for his not being white.

---

Yes, I do remember you making mention of Owens having three Christian names and that it gave you doubts about his being a man of color.