Powell & Herold

[richard petersen]

I know we have discussed Powell and Herold at the Seward house. After reading the latest Surratt Courier on the subject by John C Fazio, I have this question. On page 6 of the courier it is stated, " Granted that they were not fond of each other..."
Has there been any documented evidence that Herold and Powell did not get along? Was there any other animosity between the other conspirators?

[BettyO]

Supposedly, Powell had stated to Major Thomas T. Eckert that Herold was a "little blab. I did not care for him and so expressed myself to Booth."

As far as I know there was no animosity between the other conspirators except for Arnold telling Booth "Two can Play at that Game!" When Booth taunted Arnold at Gautier's Restaurant, stating that he should be shot for wanting to leave the "kidnap venture."

Surprisingly, Powell supposedly liked Atzerodt - but disliked Herold; more or less due to the other youth's possibly immaturity.

[Craig Hipkins]

Richard, I am not sure how the two men got along, but apparently Powell trusted Herold enough that he took his advice as to his approach in entering the house of Secretery of State Seward on the night of the assassination. It was probably Herold's idea to use the ruse of being a nurse/messenger of Dr. Verdi. Also, when Powell left the house he was seen by Mr. Bell walking his horse casually down the street. Why was he not at a full gallop? To me, this looks like he might have put more trust in Herold than he probably should have. Powell was almost certainly looking for Herold, perhaps expecting him to emerge from behind a tree and say something like "This way Lewis!"

Craig

[BettyO]

Sorry, Craig. But I don't believe the Herold/Powell escort story any longer. Other developments (and we've discussed them here in another thread) seem to point to the fact that Powell was alone. The ruse of posing as a doctor's delivery boy, he most certainly got from Herold, since Herold was a pharmacist's assistant. Mr. Benjamin Tayloe's servant claimed that he saw Powell arrive at the Seward home alone, tie his horse to the street lamp in front of the house, knock at the door and be admitted into Seward's home.

His slow retreat was obviously not to draw attention to himself as he was chased by Bell screaming "Murder!" I think he was attempting to pose as a simple passer-by on horseback. When he turned the corner, he put spurs to his horse, a pacer, and had a bit of trouble getting the old horse to gallop. A pacer is a horse trained to trot and usually trot only - not gallop.

[Craig Hipkins]

Betty, I have always believed that Powell could have left Washington D.C. without Herold's aide. I think that a lot of people erroneously assume that he was geographically challenged because he showed up on Mary Surratt's doorstep a few days after the assassination supposedly having slept in a tree,and other various places. As a former Mosby man and soldier he obviously knew how to get from point A to point B.
I could be wrong but didn't Herold make a statement as to his whereabouts on the evening of the assassination? The question I have relates to Herold. Did Powell actually have medicine that Herold provided for him?

Craig

[BettyO]

It was not actual medicine which Powell had -- at least one source (one of the arresting officers - I believe Roch) stated that Powell had on his person when captured, a little box of pistol cartridges with a paper with handwriting on it tied around the box. It was surmised that this was the "prescription" which he showed Bell to gain admittance to the Seward home.

[LincolnMan]

I had a thought occur to me that maybe Powell disliked Herold because he (Herold) wasn't a Confederate veteran (like Powell was). Were any of the other conspirators Confederate veterans?

[Gene C]

Arnold & O'Laughlin, Surratt had been a courier but did not serve in the regular army

[richard petersen]

The reply's got me thinking.
Powell was a warrior, part of Mosby's rangers. Seasoned in battle.
Herold was a "little blab" Did not have any combat experience.

Why did JWB have Herold accompany instead of Powell? If it was me, I would want Powell at my side.

[BettyO]

Personally, between you and me, I think it was Powell's possible idea. I think he was headed back up to Baltimore. I do not think that he had any plans to go to Virginia. Just my opinion -

[Jim Garrett]

Betty makes a valid point. Powell could have planned not to accompany Booth. Powells job was done. There is a certain thought that it would have been more difficult for three men traveling together to evade capture. Powell had managed to get around on his own. We may never know why he did not flee the city immediateley. Maybe he tried and already it was too risky. Booth needed Herold as a guide and lackey. Herolf fit that job.

[BettyO]

According to Powell himself as well as others, Powell's old one-eyed horse fell with him in his flight and Powell was thrown and knocked out momentarily. This impeded his "getaway" because he was now on foot. As far as having to have a guide to get to Seward's home on Madison Place, he sure was able on his own to get back to Mrs. Surratt's House on the 17th!

[Laurie Verge]

As for Powell accompanying Booth into Southern Maryland, he was not familiar with that area at all. Herold knew it like the back of his hand and knew many of the people. If I were Booth, that would be when Herold became the most valuable to me.

[LincolnMan]

Betty: Powell's family was in Florida at the time? How long had he been away from home?

[BettyO]

He left in May 1861 to join the Confederate Army and never returned.....the family remained in Florida, although they moved in 1865 further down the railroad away from Live Oak - they would end up in Orange County.....