Thomas Conrad

[JMadonna]

The article on Thomas Conrad reads:
"Before they could spring their surprise, however, things went awry. As they watched one day, Lincoln left the White House as expected, but this time he was escorted by a cavalry troop, clattering before and behind his carriage. Apparently detectives had reinforced his guard after picking up rumors swirling in Washington saloons about a threat to the president (rumors likely centered around Confederate cavalryman John Mosby). Frustrated, Conrad abandoned his scheme."

This excerpt came from Conrad's book and I always doubted it because it sounded too much like someone blowing his own horn. However, now I'm certain it happened and it wasn't thwarted by saloon rumors.

The guard was reinforced by Ward Lamon after Lincoln related the story of being shot at by a 'hunter' on the way to the soldiers home. The timing lines up. Apparently an independent patriot acting on his own foiled the CSA's kidnapping operation.