A Threat To The Republic

[L Verge]

Gene - There are other historians who believe that General Order No. 5 had been rescinded or greatly reduced in enforcement shortly before the assassination since the war was nearly at an end. They also point out that, even during the war, the threat was always thought to come from forces outside the city entering Washington - not from those leaving the city. I don't remember that any mention is made anywhere that Booth or Herold presented passes or codes (i.e. T.B. Road). They just talked their way through.

Several sources make mention of the fugitives passing a line of wagons and drivers standing idle along the road leading into the city. One such author of a recent book even tries to convince readers that this was a convoy of rebels ready to assault the capital!

If you know your Southern Maryland history, you know that Prince George's and Charles Counties were great producers of "truck" farms - not just tobacco. Washington City had a good number of markets and merchants who depended on those vegetables, fruits, eggs, etc., so the farmers of that area would line up outside the sentry posts during all hours of the night in order to be the first to set up their stalls once inside the city.

Again, a case of those entering the city being more suspicious than those leaving. P.S.: John Surratt, Jr. tells a story somewhere about smuggling things in via hidden spots in wagons (and commenting on how stupid the Federals were).