Absent a break injury, how far would JWB gotten?

[Juan Marrero]

"What if" is probably as bad as "remember when", but I wonder if there has been informed speculation of JWB's chances to make it to Mexico absent his injury. He seemed to cover quite a distance despite it.

[RJNorton]

Hi Juan. I don't have an answer to your question, but I'd like to add one of my own to what you asked. When Booth was at Garretts he apparently marked on a map his intended route --> from Port Royal to Norfolk, then to Charleston, then to Savannah, then to Galveston, and on to Mexico. Is there any other evidence that Booth was headed to Mexico, or is this route he drew at Garrett's the only indication we have to go on?

[Eva Elisabeth]

The leg wasn't just a problem due to the pain and mobility handicap, but also made him easier to identify. I, too, would like to add a question I've "tried" before (receiving no reply). If the Rollins hadn't identified the group and forwarded such decisive information on where to find them, how far would Booth and Herold have made it?

[L Verge]

Since I am a lone wolf in believing that Booth stuck to his intended flight plan despite his broken leg, I am going to continue to surmise the situation thusly:

First, I still contend that Herold made the trip to Southern Maryland on April 12-13 to alert the Maryland underground that something was still going to happen very quickly. I believe that Dr. Mudd was at least one of those alerted because I still contend that they intended to go to his out-of-the-way farm for respite no matter what. We've argued that point before, and I'm not budging. However, I think his departure from Mudd's was impeded greatly by the broken leg. He did not intend to be there for twelve hours.

I also think that the late departure there caused the fugitives to get off track from the directions that Dr. Mudd gave them as to how to avoid Zekiah Swamp - which they did enter only briefly (contrary to the popular history). The meanderings that eventually got them to Samuel Cox cost precious time. I think Thomas Jones should have taken over their care much sooner than when he was alerted to help. If he had been able to use the cover of night sooner - before the hordes of dreaded Yankees arrived in Southern Maryland for real! - they might have made it across the Potomac sooner and in one trip. As it turned out, it appears that it took Harbin and Baden acting as decoys to cross the Potomac further down and attract the Union hordes in their direction. Of course, their first venture into the Potomac's strong currents that propelled them back to Maryland didn't help either.

Once they reached the more hostile environs of Virginia, I think they were slowed even further by getting minimal help from people like Elizabeth Quesenberry and Dr. Stuart. I would agree with Eva that William and Betty Rollins' identification of Booth, Herold, and especially Willie Jett was critical to their final demise. The ferry at the Rappahannock was a key point to be searched by the troops and yielded the best of clues.

Now, as to their destination, I also believe the map route to Mexico. There were still former blockade runners and privateers operating out of minor, makeshift ports further south that might be hired at some point. I would have considered making a run for Cuba to get into the Gulf of Mexico - from which I would seek help from the Trans-Mississippi faction of the Confederacy that intended to fight to the bitter end. They could possibly get the pair into Galveston, Texas, and then into Mexico or to Brownsville, which is a next-door-neighbor to Matamoras, Mexico, where a lot of Confederate forces were entrenched.

I would refer you back to discussions about the Knights of the Golden Circle or, better yet, read David Keehn's excellent book on the subject. If you understand the perimeters of what the Golden Circle included, you will understand my reasoning. In my mind, Booth was hearkening back to pre-war plans to continue extending the Southern, slave-based economy further south. Several parts of modern South America are still inhabited by descendants of Confederates who sought self-exile in those lands. Go where your friends are is my motto...

[PaigeBooth]

Juan,

One thing we are informed about is that Ruggles and Bainbridge did inform Booth and Herold (while at the Garrett farm on April 25th) that cavalry was coming, so Booth and Herold chose to hide in the woods until dusk. If Booth and Herold would have found a way to leave the Garrett farm upon this warning, their escape would probably have still failed, but they may have gotten just a little bit further. So, had it not been for Booth's injury, which caused him several delays, he may very well have made it to his desired destination, maybe Mexico. After escaping Washington no one really knew where Booth went beyond the Navy Yard Bridge. This was something definitely in Booth's favor, because it puzzled authorities.

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Roger,

American Brutus shows a picture of an escape map Booth drew, which seems to show that Booth planned to escape to Mexico. This map was found at the National Hotel, however, authorities ignored this piece of evidence.

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Eva,

I agree with you that the identification given by the Rollins to the cavalry was one of the worst things against Booth and Herold. The Rollins also knew that Willie Jett could be found at the Star Hotel in Bowling Green. This was yet another thing against Booth and Herold because the cavalry knew exactly where to find Jett, who led them to the fugitives. Once the cavalry found Jett, they threatened his life until he consented to lead them to Booth and Herold. Had Jett not led them to the Garrett farm, the cavalry may not have been able to find the Garrett farm in the dark. So it is interesting to pretend that had Booth and Herold left the next morning, before the cavalry had located the farm, Booth and Herold might have avoiding the cavalry yet again.

[Wild Bill]

And by all means see the 1954 movie Vera Cruz with Gary Cooper, Burt Lancaster, and Denise Darcel. It is very suggestive on this.

[RJNorton]

(07-01-2015 01:23 PM)PaigeBooth Wrote:  Roger,

American Brutus shows a picture of an escape map Booth drew, which seems to show that Booth planned to escape to Mexico. This map was found at the National Hotel, however, authorities ignored this piece of evidence.

Paige, thank you very much. I was just looking at it in the middle of the book in the "Pictures" section. I do not think I noticed it previously. Thanks again for drawing my attention to it. Does anyone know if the other map Booth marked at Garrett's is still in existence?

[Gene C]

For your viewing enjoyment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoeWraJxs20

(sorry, no Bradford Dillman)

[Eva Elisabeth]

Re.: "Booth stuck to his intended flight plan" - who was intended to meet with him at Sopher's Hill? I've always understood that Powell originally was to be (there) with Herold, but Herold abandoned him "spontaneously". What about Atzerodt?

[Jim Page]

(07-01-2015 12:56 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Once they reached the more hostile environs of Virginia, I think they were slowed even further by getting minimal help from people like Elizabeth Quesenberry and Dr. Stuart. I would agree with Eva that William and Betty Rollins' identification of Booth, Herold, and especially Willie Jett was critical to their final demise. The ferry at the Rappahannock was a key point to be searched by the troops and yielded the best of clues.

One can only imagine how Booth felt when he and Herold were rebuffed by the folks he encountered in Virginia. He probably felt that once he got into Virginia, he'd be embraced by those living there for what he'd done.

[L Verge]

(07-01-2015 05:46 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Re.: "Booth stuck to his intended flight plan" - who was intended to meet with him at Sopher's Hill? I've always understood that Powell originally was to be (there) with Herold, but Herold abandoned him "spontaneously". What about Atzerodt?

For years, the books had me convinced that Herold would lead Powell out of D.C. via the same route that Booth would use, and the plan would have them meeting up at Soper's Hill. I think Soper's Hill remained the rendezvous place, but I now agree with Kauffman and others who insist that Herold remained at Seward's home only long enough to make sure that Powell gained entry and then headed back downtown. I don't think Herold was assigned to kill anyone, however. He just didn't have it in him.

I think Powell was trained to skedaddle by Mosby and did exactly that, hoping to reach Baltimore until a detour screwed it up. Booth didn't need Atzerodt after the fact because Herold knew the route (and had friendships with residents along that route) better than Atzerodt.

Atzerodt probably was left to his own devices as to how to amble back to Port Tobacco. He was smart enough to realize that, at some point, the authorities would link Southern Maryland with Booth, so he went north.

It was up to Herold to catch up with Booth before he got too deeply into the countryside and had to leave the main coach road that he was fairly familiar with - at least to T.B. I wonder if Herold's intention was to get Booth to Mudd's (even if the leg had not been injured) and turn him over to the underground to handle from that point on. That was the smart thing to do; and Herold was no dummy, just naive and immature in my estimation.

[HerbS]

Laurie,I agree with you 100%.Take a hard look at the desparate prison escape here in New York State recently.It clearly shows what a planned escape is like!It also shows that these two had inside help!Which brings me to the question of how much help Booth had!