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02-26-2013, 08:42 PM

(02-26-2013 08:35 PM)L Verge Wrote: I just realized that I don't have a road map of Southern Maryland, so I'm winging it at this point. Here goes - and if you attempt to follow my directions and get hopelessly lost, I will deny ever posting this (It'll be my evil twin who did it!).

Hang a left around the U.S. Capitol and head for the 11th Street/Navy Yard Bridge. On the other side of the bridge, you will be in Uniontown (now Anacostia - and enemy territory today). Turn left onto Good Hope Road and proceed to a right turn onto Naylor Road. This will lead you into Maryland where you will merge with Maryland Route 5/Branch Avenue. This road is now a heavily traveled dual-lane commuter road into D.C. In 1865, it would have been more of a cow trail.

Shortly after getting on this road, Booth and Herold would have veered slightly to the left in order to stay on the existing road. When the new highway went in during the 1950s, the old road became more of a "community road," but you can still make out where it was; and it eventually comes back to the new road and crosses over it until cut in half by the Capital Beltway. There's no need to try and follow this 1-2 mile portion of the original road, however.

When you cross under the Beltway on Route 5/Branch, you will be approximately at Soper's Hill where Herold caught up with Booth. There used to be a Soper family graveyard nearby, but it has been replaced by a Metro (subway) station. Once you cross under the Beltway, make the first right onto Linda Lane, which dead ends onto Old Branch Avenue. Turn left onto Old Branch and stay straight until you reach the center of the old commercial district of Clinton. You will pass an Episcopal Church and Catholic Church on your left and shortly reach an intersection where every road changes its name. Historic landmarks at that point include a liquor store, 7 Eleven, and Citgo station. Look straight ahead, and you will see a railing fence line. That marks the beginnings of Surratt House property (or what's left of it). You are now on Brandywine Road.

Exiting Surratt's parking lot, turn left onto Brandywine Road and follow for about five miles. You will then be in the vanishing village of T.B. and back to the Route 5 highway. There are two possible ways to get to Mudd's house from this point, but I'm going to give you the easier route. I happen to believe the fugitives took the longer, country route.

Turn right onto Route 5 and follow about four miles into Charles County. Route 5 will bear left at a light at that point to avoid a heavily commercialized area. If you miss the left turn there, go to the very next light and turn left onto Mattawoman-Beantown Road. You will now be on my family's Civil War plantation ("Mattawoman"). The family graveyard is still there.

Stay straight for about 2-3 miles and turn left at a light for Poplar Hill Road. Follow it for several miles until you come to a fork in the road. Bear right onto Dr. Mudd Road, and you will see the Mudd House ahead of you on the right. After visiting there, turn right out of the driveway and continue for several miles to a right on Bryantown Road. Believe it or not, this will bring you back to Route 5 - but, ignore the modern highway. Cross over it, and you will be on Oliver Shop Road. Stop at the first cross street and look to the second house on your right down that street. That is Bryantown Tavern.

Continue on Oliver Shop Road and past St. Mary's Catholic Church, where Booth met Mudd and where Mr. and Mrs. Mudd are buried. Oliver Shop Road will take you to Maryland Route 6. Turn right onto 6, and you will cross over two or three branches of Zekiah Swamp before making a left onto Bel Alton-Newtown Road. You will pass the quickly deteriorating home of Samuel Cox (Rich Hill) on your right along this road. It sits up on a bank, and you pretty much have to pass it, see the sign, and look back to see the house. Stay on this road and you will come into the small village of Bel Alton, cross over a railroad track, and look down the track to your left to see where the pine thicket was. Shortly thereafter, you will make a left turn onto U.S. Route 301 heading south.

Stay on 301 until you see a huge billboard for Capt. Billy's Seafood Restaurant. Turn right onto Pope's Creek Road and go a few miles to the gates of Loyola Jesuit Retreat. Thomas Jones's Huckleberry cottage is there. You are supposed to have permission to go on the grounds, but we sneak on in private cars all the time. If you are not familiar with Catholic Retreats, they are a time for quiet and reflection, so please be quiet when you drive down the looonnng and winding road (remember that song?) to the chapel and retreat house. If you exit your car and walk sort of behind the chapel, you will come to a very steep cliff. Do not go down to the water's edge, but the view from here is absolutely spectacular as you gaze across the Potomac River into Virginia. It was in a shallow cove at the foot of the cliff that Jones's former slave hid the boat that the fugitives would use to cross the river.

You can hire a boat and someone to row if you want, but we suggest taking the Route 301/Harry Nice Bridge across the river and into King George County, Virginia. To do this, you can either turn right out of the retreat and follow Pope's Creek Road to the river and up a hill on the other side, where you will navigate a sharp left-hand turn. Shortly thereafter, the road will dead end, and you need to turn right onto Edge Hill Road. This will take you back to Route 301 in order to cross the toll bridge into Virginia. Or, you can turn left out of the Retreat and retrace your steps to dual-lane 301 and turn right to get to the bridge.

Once you are in Virginia, you are now close to Mathias Point. Booth and Herold did not make the Point, however.They put into a rather broad Machodoc Creek. Booth stayed with the boat, and Herold went to a Confederate sympathizer, Elizabeth Quesenberry. Her house still stands - greatly enlarged and part of a small marina. Most of the territory here is part of Dahlgren Naval Proving Grounds. If you really want to see Mrs. Quesenberry's "Cottage," turn left at a light that leads into the naval base, but make a hard right and follow the single lane road into the town of Dahlgren. I'm not sure what the name or number of that road is, but it will take you through the town and directly to the home. You will literally need to turn around in their driveway in order to come back out. When exiting, however, make a left turn at a traffic light that has an elementary school on your left. I think this will be Route 206 because that's what it becomes in about two miles when you will cross back over Route 301 onto Route 206.

You will be on Route 206 for a number of miles. Your next left turn will be into a development known as Peppermill Estates (I hope that's the name!). There should be a historical marker for Cleydael (Dr. Stuart's home) at this turn. If I'm right, you will soon come to a right that will lead you past Cleydael on your right. It's easy to spot because all the other homes are only about twenty years old. It is shielded somewhat by tall evergreens. That might be Stuart Road that you are on, but I'm not sure.

Come back to Route 206 and turn left. In about two miles, look for a county road 611 and turn left (this is a tricky sign to find so go slowly - it will be on your right almost where you need to turn left). This is a shortcut to get back to Route 301. When you get to 301, turn right and be prepared for about a 10-15 mile trip or more until you come to another bridge, which crosses the Rappahannock River into Port Royal. Turn immediately left and circle the tiny town to enjoy some neat architecture. You'll find the Peyton-Brockenbrough House on one of the corners (it has a historical marker and is one of the few houses in the town that has not been restored).

Come back to 301 and turn left. You are almost there. Go through the traffic light where Route 17 crosses 301. Try to stay in the left-hand lane for the next two miles. You will need to find a left-hand U-turn road through the median about two miles out that will get you out of the southbound lanes and into the northbound lanes of 301 in order to find the Garrett place. There is no marker for that little access road, but you will be coming down a slight hill and ahead of you will be a long stretch of open road. Sorry that I can't be any more specific. I used to know the closest mileage marker, but I don't remember it any more.

Anyhow, if you are lucky enough to find that little road, turn left and head back north. In about fifty yards, you will see a historic marker for the Garrett Farm on your right. Do not attempt to pull off at that sign because it is not in the right place. Ahead will be a broad, grassy shoulder on your left - wide enough to accommodate a coach bus. Pull over there and find a narrow path that will lead back to a small clearing where the house would have been. Rick Smith of this forum tries to keep a sign posted by the path, but it has a habit of disappearing or getting knocked-down.

Across the southbound lanes to your right would have been the barn. Our standard joke is that Booth was hit in the southbound lanes of Route 301 and died in the median strip because the house would literally be in the median strip today.

John Stanton of this forum may be able to fill in the road names and mileage marker for the Virginia segment of your adventure. Have fun - and don't call me if you get lost.

I forgot to ask -- Roger, are you going to start charging me rent on this website for my long-winded posts?

This is a FANTASTIC post. Laurie, thank you so much for taking the time.

Heath