Lewis Powell: The conspirator who was "different."

[HerbS]

Please read the book-"They have Killed Papa Dead"by Anthony Pitch.This book is very good and moving.I think it is as good,if not better than"Manhunt".

[BettyO]

You are correct, Herb. Pitch's book is excellent - and yes, he did some original research in the LAS files and came up with some Stanton papers I had never seen before. John Elliott swears that it's the best also.... I agree. Still, to me, nothing tops American Brutus.

[MaddieM]

Agreed. He had been thrown from his horse and knocked out (perhaps an apparent concussion - his face had been cut up a bit; having a black eye and a bloody lip). He had also gone for three days without any food or sleep. He was dog tired and dead on his feet so no, he was not at his "best" thinking wise or any other way. You are right in thinking that perhaps he was thoroughly rattled by the time of his arrest.
[/quote]

As someone who has experienced being awake for 72 hours, I can honestly say I could hardly put one foot in front of the other, never mind function in the normal way. I could barely think, and felt so ill, I'd have gladly just laid down and died. I'm not surprised Powell made the grievous error of returning to H Street. I should think at that point, he was perhaps beyond caring if he got caught. Who knows if there is the remotest chance he was subconsciously giving up. Sleep deprivation is torture. Coupled to hunger, fear and stress, that he came up with the excuse he did, is little short of a miracle.

[LincolnToddFan]

I have to pitch in about James Swanson. He's a good writer, but he's not really a favorite of mine when it comes to Lincoln books.

His book "Bloody Crimes" is a very interesting parallel study about the assassination and elaborate funeral of Abraham Lincoln, juxtaposed with the flight and capture of Jefferson Davis and his subsequent imprisonment. So far, so good. The book is very sympathetic to Davis, which I don't object to in principle. I am not a fan of the man, but there was admittedly a lot about him to admire. What I object to is his portrayal of MTL. Worse, he goes as far as some very unkind and inaccurate comparisons between Varina Davis and Mary Todd Lincoln...Varina was "everything MTL was not" for example. There were also striking similarities between the two Civil War First Ladies and what they endured but Swanson chooses to ignore this. He assures us all that unlike the Lincolns, the Davises had a great, transcendent love affair and that their marriage was darn near perfect.. which was frankly NOT AT ALL TRUE.

But the absolute nadir was when he criticized MTL's grief over the murder of AL, which he felt excessive and self-indulgent. He accuses her of being so self-absorbed in her own suffering at the Petersen House that she didn't think to have Tad brought to his dying father's side...and THEN only a couple of paragraphs down he describes Mary's frantic plea for Tad.."Fetch Taddie...the president loves him so!")

Confusing, no?

MTL also gets the finger wagging treatment for not coming downstairs to "receive the president's body with due honors" after AL was returned to the WH on the morning of April 15 1865. Just...wow is all I can say.

I have to agree with BettyO. Given a choice, I'd take Anthony Pitch or Michael Kauffman over Swanson.

MaddieM, ITA about Lewis Powell. I read that he went without food or water while he was on the run and was actually hiding in a tree, in a graveyard. The fact that he lasted as long as he did is mind boggling...he was VERY strong and disciplined!!

[Gene C]

In the thread "What was the Role of David Herold", post #320, BettyO mentions

"In truth, Powell was afraid to go abroad in the city in daylight due to his previous arrest in Baltimore in March of 1865 by which he could be re-arrested (if recognized) and sent to prison again. He did know his way about sufficiently to find his way to the Surratt House (at least 2 times, once after the kidnapping attempt and then including upon his arrest)."

So why head to Baltimore after the assassination?
Wouldn't he be more likely to be arrested there?
Would the Branson family take him in (especially the head of the household) and hide him when news of the assassination became known?

[BettyO]

Quote:In the thread "What was the Role of David Herold", post #320, BettyO mentions

"In truth, Powell was afraid to go abroad in the city in daylight due to his previous arrest in Baltimore in March of 1865 by which he could be re-arrested (if recognized) and sent to prison again. He did know his way about sufficiently to find his way to the Surratt House (at least 2 times, once after the kidnapping attempt and then including upon his arrest)."

So why head to Baltimore after the assassination?
Wouldn't he be more likely to be arrested there?
Would the Branson family take him in (especially the head of the household) and hide him when news of the assassination became known?

He was headed North - either to Baltimore or perhaps NY or Canada. Probably Baltimore to arrive either late at night or early in the morning - perhaps layover at the Branson House or Miller's Hotel until he could catch a train further north to NY or Canada. As his Oath stated he was to go "North of Philadelphia" (and possibly stay there for the duration of the war), I simply feel that he would have perhaps laid over there for a night or perhaps went on straight to NY or Canada. At a later date when things cooled down he could seemingly go home to Florida. Who knows.... Joseph Branson was in on things or so it would seem. Oddly enough, he apparently had somehow skipped town because he certainly didn't make the "dragnet" in the Branson household when the entire house and occupants were arrested later that month and held on house arrest. His name does NOT appear in the list of occupants!

[Gene C]

Thanks Betty, I have always been a bit puzzled by the conspirators actions following the assassination. It's as though escape was an after thought.

[BettyO]

Escape was most certainly an afterthought - no planning appears to have been given to it at all.

All we know is that Powell's horse and overcoat were found in outskirts of the Northern part of the City. He was definitely not headed South to either Fauquier County, VA nor Florida. He was apparently not planning on joining JWB in his flight South. Whether disoriented or no, he was apparently headed North. It is amazing to me that having been thrown from his horse, knocked out (with perhaps a concussion) he could STILL find his way back to Mary Surratt's house. No one came forward stating that he stopped and asked directions - so this tells me that he must have known the layout of the City at least sufficiently enough to find H Street - even with a slight head injury!

[L Verge]

(09-22-2017 07:26 AM)Gene C Wrote:  Thanks Betty, I have always been a bit puzzled by the conspirators actions following the assassination. It's as though escape was an after thought.

I'm not sure that their escape plans were afterthoughts. I think they were following Mosby's rules of strike and skedaddle in various directions.

Booth and Herold headed to the planned territory where they knew they were likely to get support - Southern Maryland and the Northern Neck of Virginia; Atzerodt hadn't planned on being an assassin (and did not become one), so he just stumbled around DC and then sought refuge with family north of the city (probably aware that Booth and Herold were headed south). Remember that Powell had been a Mosby man, so he was well-versed in the skedaddle technique. I think Betty's correct that he was heading to a port city where he could smuggle himself back to his family down south.

[BettyO]

Very good analogy, Laurie -- It was definitely a "hit and run" tactic.... Powell's "mistake" if you could call it one, was that he panicked while in the Seward House -

[Dennis Urban]

Help me out here. I know I read that Powell's coat was found in the northeast area near Bladensburg, MD. I understand the fall from the horse which makes sense with his injuries (unless Stanton had something to do with that), but I was unaware of his being knocked out. What is the attribution for that? I do believe he was trying to find his way to Baltimore where he had friends and acquaintances and could make good his escape through that city.

[BettyO]

Quote:Help me out here. I know I read that Powell's coat was found in the northeast area near Bladensburg, MD. I understand the fall from the horse which makes sense with his injuries (unless Stanton had something to do with that), but I was unaware of his being knocked out. What is the attribution for that? I do believe he was trying to find his way to Baltimore where he had friends and acquaintances and could make good his escape through that city.

Dennis -

All indications appear to show that Powell was indeed thrown from his one-eyed horse and thrown hard. The Daily National Republican for May 22, 1865 claims that it was reported by Powell that "his horse fell and pitched him headlong in the road. When he had recovered his senses, he crept from the road...."

Lieutenant John Toffey, who found Powell's horse, claimed that the animal was lame and had a cut and bruised shoulder as if he had fallen hard. Daily National Republican May 18, 1865.

Powell also apparently stated that "...his horse stumbled and partly fell upon him and he then abandoned him and took to the fields." Daily National Republican - May 23, 1865 "Sketch of Payne"

Colonel John A. Foster stated that on the night of April 14, 1865, near Fort Bunker Hill, a horseman was heard galloping past, apparently attempting to jump from an embankment across a high ditch down onto the road below. Shortly thereafter, there was heard the sounds of a man moaning or groaning loudly as if in distress. Several pickets at the fort attempted to check on the source of the sounds when they ceased; they then gave up the quest. When the groaning sounds had faded, the horse was heard running off in another direction. The Evidence; Edwards and Steers, pp. 532-536


   

[Dennis Urban]

(09-25-2017 11:43 AM)BettyO Wrote:  

Quote:Help me out here. I know I read that Powell's coat was found in the northeast area near Bladensburg, MD. I understand the fall from the horse which makes sense with his injuries (unless Stanton had something to do with that), but I was unaware of his being knocked out. What is the attribution for that? I do believe he was trying to find his way to Baltimore where he had friends and acquaintances and could make good his escape through that city.

Dennis -

All indications appear to show that Powell was indeed thrown from his one-eyed horse and thrown hard. The Daily National Republican for May 22, 1865 claims that it was reported by Powell that "his horse fell and pitched him headlong in the road. When he had recovered his senses, he crept from the road...."

Lieutenant John Toffey, who found Powell's horse, claimed that the animal was lame and had a cut and bruised shoulder as if he had fallen hard. Daily National Republican May 18, 1865.

Powell also apparently stated that "...his horse stumbled and partly fell upon him and he then abandoned him and took to the fields." Daily National Republican - May 23, 1865 "Sketch of Payne"

Colonel John A. Foster stated that on the night of April 14, 1865, near Fort Bunker Hill, a horseman was heard galloping past, apparently attempting to jump from an embankment across a high ditch down onto the road below. Shortly thereafter, there was heard the sounds of a man moaning or groaning loudly as if in distress. Several pickets at the fort attempted to check on the source of the sounds when they ceased; they then gave up the quest. When the groaning sounds had faded, the horse was heard running off in another direction. The Evidence; Edwards and Steers, pp. 532-536

Betty, I was unaware of the three newspaper quotes and will be looking for the complete articles. Thanks. I have the Inside the Walls booklets and was familiar with the Powell injury pics. I have previously read the Col. Foster report as well. Thanks for the research. This is why I love this site.