Correcting History

[Seward]

Roger, I believe Henry was dressed in his uniform the night of the 14th. He was still on active duty and I think he would have been proud to wear it. JWB remarked that he had grappled with a colonel. During the brief, violent struggle, certainly Booth did not have time to look at the shoulder strap for rank. However the same double breasted frock would have been worn by a major, lt. col. and full colonel. The only difference was the insignia on the shoulder strap.
Also, in Booth's trunk at the National Hotel, was a Federal colonel's frock coat. Booth was well acquainted with Federal rank and I believe he did notice that Henry was wearing a double breasted frock coat and assumed he was a colonel!

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If Henry was not wearing his uniform, what else could have prompted Booth to note in his diary,"A Col. was at his [Lincoln's] side." Certainly no one else among the four in the box wore a uniform. If Rathbone was wearing civilian clothes, why would Booth mention a colonel at all!!