Harmonica

[Laurie Verge]

Roger, you are quite correct in referencing John A. Kennedy as the Superintendent of New York City Police, who sent three of his detectives to Baltimore to investigate the possibility of a plot against Lincoln as he came through that city en route to his inaugural. Ed Steers points out in his great Blood on the Moon that the detectives were to report secretly and directly to a Colonel Charles S. Stone, aide to Gen. Winfield Scott.

On the night of the murder, the first telegram that Stanton sent out was to Superintendent Kennedy at 1:10 am on 15th. That telegram and two others have been used to prove that the military telegraph worked throughout the night - despite Otto Eisenschiml's claim to the contrary and with thanks to research about forty years ago from Art Loux.

Kennedy also played a role in Lincoln's funeral procession through NYC by ensuring that at least some USCT units were allowed to march in the solemn line.

That said, I would love to see this movie to see how accurately the Baltimore Plot was portrayed. If you have not read Michael Kline's excellent book (2010?) on the Baltimore Plot, please do so.