What Was The Role of David Herold

[Laurie Verge]

Please tell me what references are being used to place Herold with Booth in front of Ford's Theatre (or anywhere in the vicinity) around 9:30-10:00 pm that night. I thought the last meeting of any of the conspirators was about 7 pm at the Herndon House. Isn't there some reference to Powell and Herold already being on the Square when the watchman called the hour and locked a gate?

Personally, I think Kauffman has a reasonable assumption in stating that Herold was with Powell until it was obvious that there was one little snag. A doctor was still inside the Seward home. The ruse of delivering medicine might not work. This threw off the timing, and Herold took off to tell the others to hold off on their missions -- just as any good point man would do. He could not locate Atzerodt, and by the time he headed to Ford's, Booth had completed his deed. The only thing left was to get the heck out of town.