A Threat To The Republic

[JMadonna]

(02-21-2019 06:06 PM)Gene C Wrote:  I was wondering about Booth's travel pass, if he needed one when he passed over the bridge to southern Maryland the night of the assassination?

I don't recall any mention of Weichmann & Mrs Surratt having one when they traveled to Surrattsville the day of the assassination.

For those that had one to cross military lines, was the pass kept by the traveler or did they hand it over and at what point?

General Order No.5, issued on 24 January 1863, by Major General Samuel P. Heintzelman, was still in effect the night of the assassination and posted at the Navy Bridge. The basic order remained unchanged for over two years.

"None other [passes] will be recognized unless issued from these Head Quarters
or by superior authority. No person excepting General Officers will be passed
over any of the several crossings [of the Potomac] between the hours of 9 p.m.
and daylight without the countersign and a pass."

So yes Booth needed a pass to cross the bridge which led to the closest of the Rebel lines to Washington. The pass stayed with the traveler unless the sentry was told otherwise by the issuer.

Stanton did not send an order to close the bridge after the assassination because he "knew" the bridge was already closed.