"Alias Paine"

[BettyO]

Quote:I think Booth's Montreal connections made Powell believe Booth was an acting Confederate agent.

Exactly, Joe! Powell simply thought he was following orders from either the Confederate Cabinet in Canada or in Richmond.

Yes, Richmond had fallen; Lee had surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. But - fighting continued in the Western Theatre of the war. Mosby (Powell's true commander) had not yet surrendered and never would. He would disband his unit on the 21st of April, 1865.

We don't know just WHY Booth and company continued their plans. That is precisely why this subject is so facinating and why we're here today discussing this topic. Until we know for sure, we'll continue to surmise exactly what happened.

Powell was not stupid. Yes, he was young and yes he was apparently engaged to be married. But sometimes youth is not the best judge of a situation. He was following orders as a soldier and that is all that can be supposed at present.