Booth's Mental health

[Pamela]

Do you know if Badeau drank? Alot of writers drink/drank. F . Scott Fitzgerold? Stephen King was addicted to cocain for years and cranked out lots of books. He didn' t remember writing Cujo!

[Rick Smith]

As a doctor in that era, would Mudd have likely given Booth whiskey for pain or would he have had a drug for that purpose? Mudd went to town supposedly to buy calico, if I remember right. Could he have gone to buy whiskey for Booth? Also, Davey Herold parted company with Booth for a while and went off with the Confederate soldiers, is that right? Could he have gone to buy whiskey for Booth?

While resting at Mudd's, Booth asked for brandy, but was told by Mrs. Mudd there was none in the house. She offered him whiskey, but he declined it.

While at Locust Hill Farm, the Garrett place, Herold and Booth did part company. Herold went to Bowling Green with Willie Jett, Absalom Bainbridge and Mortimer Ruggles, saying that he wanted to get his shoes repaired. I doubt that he had money to buy much whiskey. I am not sure if Herold did get his shoes repaired, but he did meet Mrs. Carter and her daughters.

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I have never seen mention of that, but would think they did not take anything except what might be stuffed in pockets. Anything heavy would be difficult on horseback. Also, remember that they purchased milk(?) and bread from Swann(?) before asking him to take them to Cox. Cox and Jones both fed them. I can't imagine that Jones - who had a large family to feed - could afford to supply the fugitives with much, especially liquor.

On a different note, I would not judge the words that Booth wrote while in hiding to be those of a man high on liquor or even one in withdrawal. His writing is legible, his thoughts logical (albeit dramatic), no signs of a shaking hand from DTs, etc.

Booth and Herold also got milk and bread from Colonel J. Hughes near Indiantown. I believe that Booth asked for something stronger to drink but was told by Hughes that he kept no whiskey.

[Lincoln Wonk]

Do you know if Badeau drank? Alot of writers drink/drank. F . Scott Fitzgerold? Stephen King was addicted to cocain for years and cranked out lots of books. He didn' t remember writing Cujo!

Pamela, I don't recall if Badeau drank but his pal Edwin certainly did. Nora Titone does an amazing job of mapping their friendship in Thy Thoughts Be Bloody. If you haven't read it, it's is a stellar book, so well researched.

[L Verge]

"While resting at Mudd's, Booth asked for brandy, but was told by Mrs. Mudd there was none in the house. She offered him whiskey, but he declined it."

Thanks for reminding us of that, Rick, because it says a lot about Booth's alleged alcoholism. It would seem to me that a true alcoholic would take whatever would make him feel better and not be picky about it.

[Rick Smith]

"While resting at Mudd's, Booth asked for brandy, but was told by Mrs. Mudd there was none in the house. She offered him whiskey, but he declined it."

Thanks for reminding us of that, Rick, because it says a lot about Booth's alleged alcoholism. It would seem to me that a true alcoholic would take whatever would make him feel better and not be picky about it.

I would agree with you, Laurie. in my view, some caution should be taken in over analysis.

[Eva Elisabeth]

As a doctor in that era, would Mudd have likely given Booth whiskey for pain or would he have had a drug for that purpose?

I would think alcohol was the cheapest and best available painkiller and all-purpose drug. I don't think Dr. Mudd had nor had easily/quickly gotten morphine, especially without raising suspicions.

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"While resting at Mudd's, Booth asked for brandy, but was told by Mrs. Mudd there was none in the house. She offered him whiskey, but he declined it."

Two things catch my eye here - 1. Booth did drink whiskey at other times, e.g. right before the deed at Tavult's saloon; 2. Brandy was Dr. Leale's first choice to apply to A. Lincoln.

I have never drunk either - what is the difference?

[Rick Smith]

As a doctor in that era, would Mudd have likely given Booth whiskey for pain or would he have had a drug for that purpose?

I would think alcohol was the cheapest and best available painkiller and all-purpose drug. I don't think Dr. Mudd had nor had easily/quickly gotten morphine, especially without raising suspicions.

It is also important to remember that Samuel Mudd was primarily a tobacco farmer and that his medical practice was secondary to his farming. He probably did not have a well stocked medicine cabinet. I do not think his procuring drugs would raise any suspicions; he was a licensed medical doctor after all, but probably he would not administer morphine for pain. Laudanum would be much more readily available. The FDA was not watching over all at that time and opiates could be purchased by private citizens.

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As a doctor in that era, would Mudd have likely given Booth whiskey for pain or would he have had a drug for that purpose?

I would think alcohol was the cheapest and best available painkiller and all-purpose drug. I don't think Dr. Mudd had nor had easily/quickly gotten morphine, especially without raising suspicions.

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"While resting at Mudd's, Booth asked for brandy, but was told by Mrs. Mudd there was none in the house. She offered him whiskey, but he declined it."

Two things catch my eye here - 1. Booth did drink whiskey at other times, e.g. right before the deed at Tavult's saloon; 2. Brandy was Dr. Leale's first choice to apply to A. Lincoln.

I have never drunk either - what is the difference?

Whiskey is distilled from grain; brandy is a fortified wine. Dr. Leale was using brandy as a "stimulant" in Mr. Lincoln's case.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks, Rick.

I saw the unbelievable figures on how much the average American man drank in the 19th century somewhere. Believe it or not, Booth was about average.

I believe this(, too).

[Rick Smith]

Thanks, Rick.

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I saw the unbelievable figures on how much the average American man drank in the 19th century somewhere. Believe it or not, Booth was about average.

I believe this(, too).

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There are lots of interesting articles on the topic (alcohol/drugs in the CW) out in cyberspace, e.g. these:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006.../?page=all
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/life/...war/90673/

My pleasure, Eva.

[Pamela]

Do you know if Badeau drank? Alot of writers drink/drank. F . Scott Fitzgerold? Stephen King was addicted to cocain for years and cranked out lots of books. He didn' t remember writing Cujo!

Pamela, I don't recall if Badeau drank but his pal Edwin certainly did. Nora Titone does an amazing job of mapping their friendship in Thy Thoughts Be Bloody. If you haven't read it, it's is a stellar book, so well researched.

I did read her book and I loved it! Badeau was an amazing person. Without refreshing myself on her book, I believe as a theater critic, he discovered Edwin and thought he had acting genius. Didn't he encourage Edwin to be well read and then introduced him to society? If it weren't for Badeau, Edwin wouldn't have been able to enter into the high social strata that he lived in. And Edwin had an incredible life, although with some tragedies. And then, of all things, Badeau joined the military and was on Grant's staff. It may have been because of Badeau that Grant's memoirs were so well written. I recommend her book, it 's so interesting and it gives a needed perspective for anyone who studies the assassination.

[Rogerm]

Grant apparently wrote ever word of his memoirs with great encouragement from his publisher, Mark Twain. The book GRANT AND TWAIN by Rick Perry describes the friendship that developed between these two men and how Twain and his publishing company won the rights to publish Grant's autobiography. Badeau and Grant had a falling out in the process.

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One correction on my post: the name of the author of the book GRANT AND TWAIN is Mark Perry. Not Rick Perry.

[LincolnToddFan]

THANK YOU Pamela...I have added Nora Titone's "Thoughts" to my Wish List on Amazon.

And I never knew that Grant had a falling out with his close aide Adam Badeau!

[Pamela]

I think Badeau was paid for research and fact checking and the falling out may have been with Grant's family rather than Grant, although either way it was sad. I admire the heroic feat he accomplished with his memoirs to provide for hs family after his death since they lost most of their money in a ponzi scheme.

[HerbS]

Great post Pamela!

[L Verge]

It's a little hard to find information on, but I believe that Adam Badeau created a bit of a scandal with an officer under Grant's command who was forced to resign (while Badeau remained unscathed). I heard this in a lecture given by a well-known author many years ago while discussing the friendship of Edwin Booth and Adam Badeau. Badeau was also rescued by John Wilkes Booth during the New York Draft Riots and hustled into Edwin's home, which was located practically at Ground Zero of the fighting. I think Nora mentions this in her book.