Through Five Administrations

[RJNorton]

Either my files are wrong or Crook's memory was faulty. I have the initial detail (appointed November 3, 1864) composed of John R. Cronin, Alphonso Donn, Alexander Smith, and Tom Pendel. So what I have does not include Parker as one of the "originals." According to what I have Crook and Parker came later. I don't think Parker came until sometime in the winter/early spring of 1865. Changes were occasionally made, although the detail was never more than 5 officers at any one time. Other officers who served in the detail included William S. Lewis, George W. McElfresh, Thomas T. Hurdle, Joseph Sheldon, and D. Hopkins.

McElfresh stated, "My orders were that when the President went to the theater I should get there as soon as possible, take a seat at the box door, and let no one enter without first sending in his name or card, and I often stopped people that I knew to be particular friends of the family, until I had announced them....if the officer that took my place had carried out the orders given to me I don't think Booth could have gotten into the President's box."