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Will the real Thomas F. Harney, PLEASE STAND UP!
06-22-2016, 12:56 AM
Post: #67
RE: Will the real Thomas F. Harney, PLEASE STAND UP!
Next. I will "preach" next on what may have been going on. It involves Slater and her hurried trips back and forth to Canada.
Beginning about the middle of March when Booth's plan to kidnap Lincoln failed. Richmond had to do something NOW! They sent Slater North to tell Canada that they are "Taking Over". Canada may have had some input, so they shipped Slater out promptly, and E. G. Lee worried about her safety and the message she carried. She begged for an escort, but no one was available. She got as far as Roderick D. Watson and still no help. Eventually, Booth got pressed into service. He got her to D.C. and passed her to John Surratt. Surratt claimed he was too busy to take her South so some others were pressed into service, except Augustus Howell had been arrested the night before. At this point Surratt probably realized that he could do better, if he went to Richmond. I don't know if Slater shared her messages with her escorts (They had to be in Code) but I think Surratt knew what was in the messages. They barely get to Richmond, when they are shipped immediately back to Canada. At this same time Harney hotfoot's it to Gordonsville. (Harney went his own way to get help from Mosby.) The point I'M making here is the all-out haste of this operation. Surratt and Slater get to Canada and they have finished their usefulness, so they are sent to Elmira, to get them out of the way. About the same day that they go to Elmira, Harney is captured
Everyone knows of the events that followed.
The one thing that impresses me about Harney's mission is the absolute secrecy of the whole event. NO ONE TALKED!
Do you realize that this mission was a Secret until the 1980's. All of the facts were available to anyone who wanted them, but no one put them in order.. That is why we are having problems arriving at an understanding of the events. There is nothing written about all that went on.
That is why I have tried to put this all on paper. I want you to hack it to pieces, and see what that gets us. It is always easier to change a sentence, than it is to create one.
In my opinion, this could change our conception of what happened in early April 1865. Would you say Surratt was "Involved" with the assassination? Was his Mother involved? I'm not "UP" on law, but if you plan a Murder, and then don't do it, can you be hanged? I would agree with "some punishment", but hanging?
In my mind, Booth originated his plan, by himself, about April 12th +/-. As all the "participants" have stated, Booth never mentioned "Assassination", until the 14th.
Another guess. Booth acted as he did, because he wanted to "Rewarded" for his efforts. He wanted to stand alone, in the limelight.
I want to add, that the Confederate government was fully involved in this mission. They picked the best man for the job and put all the resources on the confederacy at his disposal, believing he could extend the life of the Confederacy.
More to come.
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RE: Will the real Thomas F. Harney, PLEASE STAND UP! - SSlater - 06-22-2016 12:56 AM

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