Booth's field glass

[JMadonna]

Great Info Dave!

I was particularly interested to know if the field glasses were readily identifiable. This line clinched it for me.

"It was a peculiar glass, having three sets of small lenses, with three screws to turn, marked "opera," "marine," and "field." It was a very valuable glass."

My theory is that Booth never meant to go to the Surratt House to pick up the field glasses anymore than he planned to visit Dr. Mudd. I think this was just another bread crumb he left to point the posse southward. Similar to the map he left with Atzerodt and the directions he gave to Cobb.

It makes too much sense not to believe that he meant to ride north and catch the train to Canada via Annapolis Junction or Baltimore. If he made it great! If not he’d be in his hometown with plenty of friends and places to hide until he could catch either another train or a ship out of the country like John Surratt did. Going South he was headed straight into the entire U.S. Army and an area of the country where shipping was practically non-existent.

I know that it goes against the accepted truth that's been stated for 147 years but if you were Booth why would you plan to go South?