Lincoln Kidnap Tries

[Jim Woodall]

(08-04-2015 08:51 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(08-04-2015 07:42 AM)Jim Woodall Wrote:  So, when did Booth get rid of the wagon?

Was this the buggy Spangler referred to in the statement found in his tool chest at Mudd's? Or did Booth have another? Spangler wrote:

Yes, that was what I meant. Thank you.

The same buggy that was not available later to take Mrs. Surratt to the tavern.

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(08-04-2015 08:03 AM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  Back to the timing.....Correct that armies waited until spring for many reasons. Winter is a terrible time to mount an offensive. Napoleon and Gen. Ambrose Burnside both found that out. Thousand of troops and the wagons and other wheeled vehicles to support them would turn the roadways with even the slightest moisture into mires. However a single wagon/buggy with a few outriders is a much different story. They could probably outpace any large pursuit with no problem.

Even a single wagon/buggy would have problems on Good Hope Hill. My 3rd great grandfather, Thomas Anderson, spent many a night rescuing those stranded in the mud of Good Hope Hill.

From the Rambler column of the Evening Star on 12 Apr 1925 pg 65 in a letter reply to the Rambler from my 2nd great grandmother, Clementine Hutton White nee Anderson:

"... He was there in that spot first, and a monument should be erected in his memory for his wonderful kind acts of being pulled out of bed any hour of the night to help get a neighbor up that terrible, winding Good Hope hill. Mud sometimes up to the hub of the wheels, horses down, and to hear their cry in the dead hour of the night was more than dear old Tom Anderson could stand. He would get his boys up, hook up his own horses down in the dark, he would get them all up to the top of that awful hill, not one word spoken about how much are you going to charge? His motto was: 'Do it, and do it quick!' and quick it was done."

Tom Anderson 1810-1887
Clementine Anderson 1853-1938
Clementine married Hutton and moved out of the family house in 1871. She would marry White later.

So, it wasn't a given that when the roads were wet and muddy, that a wagon would pass with ease nor possibly a rider.

Planning an escape on that route, up Good Hope hill, during the rainy season would be adding further risk to the operation.