Dave Taylor / Davey Herold Question

[Linda Anderson]

Hi John. Katy of Catoctin (1886) by GATH is considered historical fiction (or a novel), right? But, for what it's worth, here's a small part of what GATH wrote:


"In the mean time Herold had ridden with Payne to the door of the Secretary of State, in an old tall brick house, on a secluded side of the President's green square. At the next corner below, in a brick dwelling, was the headquarters of the commander of the city of Washington, where generally orderlies and horses were to be found ready to take dispatches; but these murderers had chosen a late hour of the night, when the military business was done, and while peace was so far insured that discipline was much relaxed."

Well, the part about the commander of the city of Washington's headquarters being next door is misleading because the fire at General Augur's headquarters had occurred two weeks before and the headquarters had been moved to a few blocks away. There were only a couple of sentries next door who stayed at their posts when William H. Bell ran to them for help.

The fire was discussed on another thread. I still wonder if the timing had anything to do with the attack on Seward.

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