John Surratt's Superior's Opinion?

[Dave Taylor]

I have a thought in my head that I can't seem to find the source for. I was wondering if the forum could point me in the right direction.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that John Surratt's superior in the Confederate underground wrote about how, earlier in the war, Surratt had requested greater duties than that of mail agent and occasional courier. The superior wrote his opinion that Surratt was immature and not ready for greater responsibilities.

Does this ring a bell to anyone? I just can't seem to find where I got this idea from.

[RJNorton]

Dave, did you check Weichmann's book? This sounds like the type of "mocking" Surratt that Weichmann might have included if he came across it.

[Dave Taylor]

Good idea, Roger. I'll check Weichmann's book when I get home.

[Susan Higginbotham]

Perhaps you're thinking of L. Q. Washington's statement that Surratt was "unusually mutton-headed" and wasn't told what was in a letter he carried. From James O. Hall's "The Veiled Lady" in vol. 3, no. 6 (2000) of the magazine North and South:

Quote:Surratt checked with a man he knew, Sergeant Harry
Brogden, who was on detail in Richmond to Secretary of State
Benjamin. Until shortly before, Brogden had been in charge of
the Mattox Creek signal corps camp in Westmoreland County.
There was indeed something Surratt could do for the Confederacy.
Brogden took him to see L.Q. Washington at the State
Department. Washington told about this meeting in an interview
with the famous war correspondent, George Alfred
Townsend. The interview was published on January 5,1867:

A professional blockade runner, passing under the
name of Mrs. Howell, came on from New York City
with cipher dispatches, and expected to be joined by a
male escort in Washington. He had been detected and
put in confinement, however, and John Surratt was
substituted for him. Surratt, going by the Surrattsville
route, crossed the river and proceeded to Richmond
where Mr. Washington examined him, and formed the
opinion that he was unusually mutton-headed for one
of his role. He was sent back with a letter to Jacob
Thompson in Canada, "but," added Mr. Washington,
"he never knew what was in that letter."

[L Verge]

Thank you for finding that, Susan. I remembered Mr. Hall snickering about the "mutton-head," but didn't know where to find the reference.

[RJNorton]

I think the Mrs. Howell, referenced in Gath's interview with Lucius Quintius Washington, was Sarah Slater.

I have the magazine and one of the things Mr. Hall mentions was that George Atzerodt was "smitten" with Sarah Slater. I knew several of the men we discuss on this board were "smitten" with her, but I wasn't aware that Atzerodt was, too. I wish we had more photos of her (assuming the photo in Headley's book is a legitimate one - a big assumption, I assume).

[SSlater]

The information discussed in this Post, could not have occurred "early in the war", if it involves Slater. Her claim to fame is confined to the period of December 1864 and April 1865. I never heard her referred to as Mrs. Howell. "Olivia Floyd", "Kate Thompson," etc, etc. - Yes, but not Howell. That was most likely referred toGus Howell.
That whole story appears to have been Slater's March 17, 1865 trip from Canada to Richmond. It started with Roderick D. Watson's message to Surratt to come to New York on important business", and Surratt refused. I think he had good reason for his refusal - because Booth was already in New York, at that time, and was available. (To escort Slater to Washington) and he did.
An aside - Slater was less than 5 feet tall. (Rowan was 5'-1") She needed help with her baggage. She couldn't lift a satchel clear of the sidewalk. (and probably couldn't see too well through her veil).
Back to business. Surratt was acting sort of "fishy" in this time frame. (Remember his admission that "he had woman on his mind.)
He did not want to go to Richmond, and arranged to have another Man do it. (I can't recall his mane. Something like "Berry" ?????)
Surratt, Slater and "Berry" left for the Potomac, but by the time they got to the River, Surratt changed his mind and "Berry" brought the team and wagon back to D.C.
Oddly enough, Surratt and Slater stayed hand in hand until the end of the war. (to Montreal, to Elmira, back to Montreal, and more.
This is the only time that I can see where Surratt was "Mutten headed.
An aside - It would not surprise me, if I learned, that this is when Surratt learned from Slater, about Harney's mission. Slater told him or he read her dispatches, and "needed " to participate. Or was he trying to protect her?
'Nother aside. When all this was over, and E.G. Lee told Slater that Surratt "was not the man for you", she went back to New York City and cohabitated with Rowan. (So she said during her divorce) But I don't believe her.

[L Verge]

I agree that the agent was likely Gus Howell. I believe the "Berry" that you mentioned was David Barry, a close friend of John Surratt, Sr., father of Anna's boyfriend before the war, and a good Confederate.

Now, here's something else for theorists to ponder: Years ago, I began to read up on the Illuminati (thanks to the novels by Dan Brown). I just found some notes that I scribbled while reading a blog called theforbiddenknowledge.

It claimed that the B'nai B'rith was a pivotal player in a British Freemasonic plot to destroy our Union. A member of that group was a lawyer in D.C. named Simon Wolf, who supposedly looked just like Booth and had been with Booth in Cleveland. Booth and Wolf supposedly drank together at Willard's bar on the morning of the assassination and that Lucy had rejected Booth's proposal.

Of course, the same line of thought claimed that Confederate General Albert Pike was a member of the Illuminati, the Knights of the Golden Circle was sponsored by the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, and that the Rothchilds were in cahoots with Booth also as was August Belmont, who was married to John Slidell's (Trent Affair) daughter - but we have also heard that from other sources. Have fun...

[RJNorton]

John and Laurie - it's definitely a "Mrs. Howell" (not "Mr. Howell") in James O. Hall's article. I assumed it was a female because the person was looking for a male escort, and Mr. Hall's article is about the saga of Sarah Slater. Who else could Mrs. Howell be other than Sarah Slater? Maybe I am missing something...

For those folks new to a discussion of Sarah Slater - long ago Dave Taylor (thank you, Dave) posted a link to the photo in John W. Headley's book - here.

[Gene C]

As secretive as she was with her last name and the challenge she has presented to our quality researchers on the forum, I find it unlikely that she would appear before the KY legislature only two years after the war. And I don't recall any evidence she was from Kentucky.

Note the footnote on the bottom of the page
"The prisoners never met this lady before or after her visits to the jail. One of the survivors secured her photograph at the jail, but after forty years her name is forgotten."

How likely does that sound to you.

[SSlater]

Gene C. Let me limit my comments on Sarah Slater to her life immediately after the war, else we will be here for hours.
Sarah never used her true name, Excuse me - she did sign in one time at the St. Lawrence Hall as Sarah A Slater - because it was 3:00 AM, and she wanted get a bed before she fell asleep in the Lobby.
I believe she did appear before the KY Legislature because Headley said so. She was there as a guest of the St. Albans Raiders, and they wanted to thank her for the care and attention she gave to them while they were in a Canada Jail. (She brought them hot food and traveled to Richmond and back - alone - to bring papers that freed them.)
When the early Amnesty Proclamation were issued by the Federal Government, Sarah was excluded. (She waged war against the U.S. Government, from beyond the borders of this Country.)
Thus, the KY Legislature protected her freedom by Honoring her in "Executive Session" - and those records are not available to the Public - TO THIS DAY.
She managed her "invisibility" by never using her true name. Most people heard of her as "Kate", "Olivia", "Josephine", and more. Now I see she was called "Mrs Howell".
. (Aside. If you want to research her in Canada, she appears in that register between Dec. 1864 and April 1865, as Antoinette Reynaud - her mother's maiden name).
She waited until 1900 to show her "Current"real name in public, when she lived in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. with her sister. (Died there 1920 as Sarah A. Spencer)
I invite you, or anyone, to ask any question you may have.

[Gene C]

Thanks John.
Seems unlikely to me. but I acknowledge your research and knowledge in this area.

[Wild Bill]

She did appear before the KY ST LEGIS. Unfortunately I do not remember my source and fear it might have been John Stanton!

[Gene C]

(12-11-2016 08:46 AM)Wild Bill Wrote:  She did appear before the KY ST LEGIS. Unfortunately I do not remember my source and fear it might have been John Stanton!

The only source I know is Headley's book, which Dave Taylor linked to and Roger's post #9.

I don't have the same confidence in Headley's accuracy as John does, but he has researched the matter more than I have.

I must say I have the highest respect for those of you who do such extensive research, I don't have the patience for it, nor the knowledge of how to do it even if I had the patience. I just get to enjoy when you share with us the results of your untold hours (months and years) of your research.

[L Verge]

(12-10-2016 05:07 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  John and Laurie - it's definitely a "Mrs. Howell" (not "Mr. Howell") in James O. Hall's article. I assumed it was a female because the person was looking for a male escort, and Mr. Hall's article is about the saga of Sarah Slater. Who else could Mrs. Howell be other than Sarah Slater? Maybe I am missing something...

For those folks new to a discussion of Sarah Slater - long ago Dave Taylor (thank you, Dave) posted a link to the photo in John W. Headley's book - here.

Are we safe to assume that her escort was Gus Howell? Again, it's too early in the war for Sarah, so another female operative?

---

(12-10-2016 08:44 AM)Gene C Wrote:  As secretive as she was with her last name and the challenge she has presented to our quality researchers on the forum, I find it unlikely that she would appear before the KY legislature only two years after the war. And I don't recall any evidence she was from Kentucky.

Note the footnote on the bottom of the page
"The prisoners never met this lady before or after her visits to the jail. One of the survivors secured her photograph at the jail, but after forty years her name is forgotten."

How likely does that sound to you.

It sounds very likely to me, but I need to be back at work (hopefully after the new year) to check on this. If I recall, the reception in Kentucky was due to the St. Albans Raid - an appreciation event for those involved in securing the release of the Confederates who had participated. Olivia Floyd of Port Tobacco was also invited and attended. She had helped to relay the papers that were needed to prove the raiders operated under military orders. I hope I'm not confused and combining two events into one.