Lewis Powell: The conspirator who was "different."

[L Verge]

(09-22-2017 08:26 AM)Gene C Wrote:  Thanks Betty, I have always been a bit puzzled by the conspirators actions following the assassination. It's as though escape was an after thought.

I'm not sure that their escape plans were afterthoughts. I think they were following Mosby's rules of strike and skedaddle in various directions.

Booth and Herold headed to the planned territory where they knew they were likely to get support - Southern Maryland and the Northern Neck of Virginia; Atzerodt hadn't planned on being an assassin (and did not become one), so he just stumbled around DC and then sought refuge with family north of the city (probably aware that Booth and Herold were headed south). Remember that Powell had been a Mosby man, so he was well-versed in the skedaddle technique. I think Betty's correct that he was heading to a port city where he could smuggle himself back to his family down south.