Did Lincoln not want to attend the theater that night?

[RJNorton]

(01-18-2013 08:32 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Amazing were all the "might have beens" that made up what led to the eventual outcome of that evening.

Another possibility for that evening was going to Grover's Theatre. Tad ended up going there, but Abraham and Mary accepted the Ford's invitation and declined the one from Grover's. Booth was ready, though, if the Lincolns went to Grover's instead. He asked another man, John Deery, to secure tickets for him for the box that adjoined where the Lincolns would be sitting. Of course Booth never needed these tickets.

[LincolnMan]

Roger: I don't remember that Booth was ready for his action if the Lincolns had chosen Grover's instead. Which also means Tad would have been with his parents when Booth struck? How terrible that would have been for Tad.

[RJNorton]

Bill, I have read that Booth loved children. When he secured the tickets at Grover's I doubt he would have known Tad would be coming. Would Tad's presence have deterred him and caused him to delay the assassination until another time? Would he have shot Lincoln in front of his young son? I do not know.

[LincolnMan]

I would like to think Booth would not have done that knowing that Lincoln's boy would be there. You're right Roger-who knows?

[BettyO]

Personally, I think Tad would have been bored with Our American Cousin. Or maybe not - and as boisterous as Tad was, I don't think that it would have been enjoyable with him possibly chattering away in the theatre box and perhaps disrupting the audience as well. Would Booth have shot Lincoln with Tad there? I'd have to say no, but then he sure had no qualms about killing the man in front of his wife!

[J. Beckert]

I don't think Tad's presence would have stopped Booth's plans. What I'd like to know, as I've only seen one reference to it, was if Tad had met Booth. He supposedly presented Tad with a rose after a performance and Tad told his father- I love him so, Papa,. He makes me thrill!. Tad was supposedly a regular at Grover's- even being given bit parts in plays.

[BettyO]

Interesting, Joe!

I had heard about Tad meeting Booth and his proclaiming that "He thrilled him", but never heard about Tad being given "bit parts!" Seems very logical, though! And good press for Grover's as well!

Thanks!

[LincolnMan]

Anyone know what book might mention Tad meeting Booth?

[Gene C]

I'd never heard before that Tad had met JWB. That must have made it more difficult for him when he learned Booth had shot his father.

[BettyO]

I wonder if Tad even remembered meeting Booth - I think it was sometime early in the war if I remember correctly. I'll look for the reference -

---

Here is a reference by Dr. Terry Alford in which he states that although the story cannot be thoroughly verified; it sounds credible. The incident occurred in 1863.

By the way - this is from Google Newspapers - if you've never used it - DO give it a try! Although the scanning process of these wonderful old papers has now been discontinued, it is still out there and a WONDERFUL research resource!

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=87...903,479378

[LincolnMan]

Thank you Betty!

[BettyO]

No problem, Bill!

I want to make sure that folk know that these wonderful resources are out there!

I used Google Newspapers for years and they just discontinued the process about a year ago. Just WHY I don't know....but they are still out there (be sure and bookmark that link!) and but now you have to make a roundabout to find them even! IF you simply Google "Google Newspapers" it will give you newspapers - but only CURRENT ones!

It's an invaluable resource. I LOVE Chronicling America and also Genealogy Bank (a paid service) but sometimes they are limited -

[RJNorton]

(01-19-2013 08:27 AM)J. Beckert Wrote:  Tad was supposedly a regular at Grover's- even being given bit parts in plays.

Very true, Joe. Tad had made a friend of Leonard Grover's young son, Bobby. Although Bobby was about five years younger than Tad the boys played together frequently. In the afternoons Tad often attended rehearsals at Grover's, and the two boys got along well with the stage workmen. Tad aided the theater's carpenters in arranging the settings for the stage. At least twice Tad appeared in plays at Grover's as an extra.

[Laurie Verge]

I'm not sure, but I believe that Nora Titone mentions the Booth/Tad/bit parts in My Thoughts Be Bloody.

[RJNorton]

I apologize for my aging memory, but I think the original source for this story is The Little Bugler: The True Story Of A Twelve Year Old Boy In The Civil War . Just as vague in my memory is that I think I once read that a historian looked into that book and found it more fiction than fact. I certainly stand to be corrected if someone knows. I think Joe mentioned the story might be in Twenty Days, too.