Thomas Harbin

[Laurie Verge]

One spelling correction: Drop the "t" from Pliney's last name if attempting research on E. Pliney BRYAN. Those of you who receive the Surratt Courier may remember a short article on Bryan which we carried several months ago. He was born and raised at Bryan Hall, which once stood about a mile from Surratt House (as the crow flies).

My question for John Stanton is how much use Bryan made of his camp on the Quesenberry farm? He was arrested (along with Rose Greenhow and others) in the spring of 1862 and held in Old Capitol Prison until July of that year. There are letters from Gen. Robert E. Lee to CSA Secretary of War Seddon in February and March of 1863 complaining that one of his best scouts (Bryan) had been sent to General Beauregard in Charleston without Lee's knowledge. Bryan contracted yellow fever while in Charleston and died there in 1864.

This timeline would suggest that Pliney spent little time gathering intelligence and such along the Potomac. Did someone else step in to run the camp on or near the Quesenberry farm?

[SSlater]

One spelling correction: Drop the "t" from Pliney's last name if attempting research on E. Pliney BRYAN. Those of you who receive the Surratt Courier may remember a short article on Bryan which we carried several months ago. He was born and raised at Bryan Hall, which once stood about a mile from Surratt House (as the crow flies).

My question for John Stanton is how much use Bryan made of his camp on the Quesenberry farm? He was arrested (along with Rose Greenhow and others) in the spring of 1862 and held in Old Capitol Prison until July of that year. There are letters from Gen. Robert E. Lee to CSA Secretary of War Seddon in February and March of 1863 complaining that one of his best scouts (Bryan) had been sent to General Beauregard in Charleston without Lee's knowledge. Bryan contracted yellow fever while in Charleston and died there in 1864.

This timeline would suggest that Pliney spent little time gathering intelligence and such along the Potomac. Did someone else step in to run the camp on or near the Quesenberry farm?

Laurie. Pliney Bryan's camp was his Base Camp. He slept there, ate there, etc. but "penetrated the Union" to find intelligence of any worth. He communicated directly with Major Watson, in Maryland, probably to find out when it was safe to cross the river. He and Gen. Lee may have had plans for more skullduggery, but Pliney was transferred south, suddenly and contrary to Lee's wishes - that may have ruined a Grand Plan. (Lee didn't have the "Pull", that he had later in the war.
IMO - Someone in the South remembered Pliney's Camp and got the idea that the South had an entitlement to the space where Pliney's Camp was. Then in Jan 1865, a Navy Partisan Ranger "Band" was allowed to set up a camp here. If not on the exact site of Pliney's Camp, it was very close by. Their Camp was mid-way between Cawood, (Up river) and Brogden (Down river). The Navy guys were a happy go lucky group, and their activities attracted the attention of the Federal Navy. Thus, the hampered the activities of Cawood and Brogden. These two guys protested to Richmond, and the Navy Crew was moved away.
You know who E. P. Bryan was, and who was William Bryan (Booth's escort to Cleydael). This gives me a problem when we refer only to "Bryan". They both lived near here. E.P. had a small cabin, while William had the farm with horses, etc. When Oldroyd walked this area in 1907 +/-, he visited "Bryan's overgrown Cabin Site", while he was near "the Gambo Creek Bridge". The Navy would have camped here, to have access to the Potomac for their boats, and the Boonies - where they could hide the boats.
Does that answer your question? E.P. moved out, to spy, and the navy moved-in in 1865. In between there was no formal spy-site.
To encourage some thought, Did Jones send Booth to the Gambo Creek bridge, to be found by the Navy? Jones would not have known that the Navy was pulled out, for cause. This is ragged - I hope I told you what you need.

[Laurie Verge]

Thanks, John. It just seems to me that Pliney Bryan had little chance to do much from his camp near Mrs. Quesenberry between sitting in the Old Capitol and being sent elsewhere by his superiors.
I am especially interested in Bryan since he is a local boy, his family is listed in the Surratt account books for the tavern -- and it doesn't hurt that the President of the Maryland State Senate is a relative of his.

Another Surrattsville name to look for (more in the area of being a safehouse or part of the Doctor's Line) would be Dr. Wyvill of Burton Hall.

[SSlater]

Thanks, John. It just seems to me that Pliney Bryan had little chance to do much from his camp near Mrs. Quesenberry between sitting in the Old Capitol and being sent elsewhere by his superiors.
I am especially interested in Bryan since he is a local boy, his family is listed in the Surratt account books for the tavern -- and it doesn't hurt that the President of the Maryland State Senate is a relative of his.

Another Surrattsville name to look for (more in the area of being a safehouse or part of the Doctor's Line) would be Dr. Wyvill of Burton Hall.

Laurie. I have some info on Wyvill - just enough to do some more searching. I need to dig in my files to find his involvement in the "Doctor Line". He was educated to be a Doctor but did not practice.
Dr. Edward H. Wyvill (1812 - 1894) 12002 Thrift Rd. Clinton, MD. (It's down a dirt road.) Orig. house burned , rebuilt 1894. Married Caroline M. Hawkins. There is a Diary extant, written by Harietta Patience Ward, ed. by James Waner Bellah, contains household activity in the 1860's. Current house owner Ms Nancy Wolfe. box 218, Notley Hall, Chaptico, Md. Farm was known variously as "Appledoor", "Wheeler's Hope", "Edelen's Rest", and "Montpelier"
Caution: This info is "old", ownership, etc. may have changed. In your capacity as DIRECTOR, in the Md. Parks Organization, you may be able to update it. PLEEZE!

[Laurie Verge]

I have seen the information that Ms. Wolfe has - I actually grew up with her and introduced her to Mr. Hall and Gen. Tidwell. Hopefully, you will find something else on Dr. Wyvill that we don't know about. BTW: I believe the old Burton Hall Farm has finally been sold.

[Rick Smith]

Thanks, John. It just seems to me that Pliney Bryan had little chance to do much from his camp near Mrs. Quesenberry between sitting in the Old Capitol and being sent elsewhere by his superiors.
I am especially interested in Bryan since he is a local boy, his family is listed in the Surratt account books for the tavern -- and it doesn't hurt that the President of the Maryland State Senate is a relative of his.

Another Surrattsville name to look for (more in the area of being a safehouse or part of the Doctor's Line) would be Dr. Wyvill of Burton Hall.

Laurie. I have some info on Wyvill - just enough to do some more searching. I need to dig in my files to find his involvement in the "Doctor Line". He was educated to be a Doctor but did not practice.
Dr. Edward H. Wyvill (1812 - 1894) 12002 Thrift Rd. Clinton, MD. (It's down a dirt road.) Orig. house burned , rebuilt 1894. Married Caroline M. Hawkins. There is a Diary extant, written by Harietta Patience Ward, ed. by James Waner Bellah, contains household activity in the 1860's. Current house owner Ms Nancy Wolfe. box 218, Notley Hall, Chaptico, Md. Farm was known variously as "Appledoor", "Wheeler's Hope", "Edelen's Rest", and "Montpelier"
Caution: This info is "old", ownership, etc. may have changed. In your capacity as DIRECTOR, in the Md. Parks Organization, you may be able to update it. PLEEZE!

John,

I have walked all over that piece of ground; no house there now. Also, Thrift Road is now Macadamized. The young woman who worked for Dr. Wyvill as a governess had many interesting things to say about people who would come and go to and from Burton Hall during the War years.

Rick

---

One spelling correction: Drop the "t" from Pliney's last name if attempting research on E. Pliney BRYAN. Those of you who receive the Surratt Courier may remember a short article on Bryan which we carried several months ago. He was born and raised at Bryan Hall, which once stood about a mile from Surratt House (as the crow flies).

My question for John Stanton is how much use Bryan made of his camp on the Quesenberry farm? He was arrested (along with Rose Greenhow and others) in the spring of 1862 and held in Old Capitol Prison until July of that year. There are letters from Gen. Robert E. Lee to CSA Secretary of War Seddon in February and March of 1863 complaining that one of his best scouts (Bryan) had been sent to General Beauregard in Charleston without Lee's knowledge. Bryan contracted yellow fever while in Charleston and died there in 1864.

This timeline would suggest that Pliney spent little time gathering intelligence and such along the Potomac. Did someone else step in to run the camp on or near the Quesenberry farm?

Laurie. Pliney Bryan's camp was his Base Camp. He slept there, ate there, etc. but "penetrated the Union" to find intelligence of any worth. He communicated directly with Major Watson, in Maryland, probably to find out when it was safe to cross the river. He and Gen. Lee may have had plans for more skullduggery, but Pliney was transferred south, suddenly and contrary to Lee's wishes - that may have ruined a Grand Plan. (Lee didn't have the "Pull", that he had later in the war.
IMO - Someone in the South remembered Pliney's Camp and got the idea that the South had an entitlement to the space where Pliney's Camp was. Then in Jan 1865, a Navy Partisan Ranger "Band" was allowed to set up a camp here. If not on the exact site of Pliney's Camp, it was very close by. Their Camp was mid-way between Cawood, (Up river) and Brogden (Down river). The Navy guys were a happy go lucky group, and their activities attracted the attention of the Federal Navy. Thus, the hampered the activities of Cawood and Brogden. These two guys protested to Richmond, and the Navy Crew was moved away.
You know who E. P. Bryan was, and who was William Bryan (Booth's escort to Cleydael). This gives me a problem when we refer only to "Bryan". They both lived near here. E.P. had a small cabin, while William had the farm with horses, etc. When Oldroyd walked this area in 1907 +/-, he visited "Bryan's overgrown Cabin Site", while he was near "the Gambo Creek Bridge". The Navy would have camped here, to have access to the Potomac for their boats, and the Boonies - where they could hide the boats.
Does that answer your question? E.P. moved out, to spy, and the navy moved-in in 1865. In between there was no formal spy-site.
To encourage some thought, Did Jones send Booth to the Gambo Creek bridge, to be found by the Navy? Jones would not have known that the Navy was pulled out, for cause. This is ragged - I hope I told you what you need.

John,

Just to afirm what Laurie has said about E. Pliney Bryan & William Bryant; they had differing surnames. Also, I found some small evidence which suggests that William Bryant was a man of color.

Rick

[SSlater]

I need to title this post as BRYAN/BRYANT? The 1860 Census of King George County shows 2 William L. Bryan. 1#. Wm. L. Bryan, b 1801, PO Edge Hill. There was Wm. 59, Elizabeth 23, Martha 20 and Susan McGee, housekeeper, (Mulatto) 2#. Wm L. Bryan b 1801, PO Edge Hill. His family Wm. 49, Nancy 45, Va. 23, Elizabeth 18 Mary 10 Susan 8

Oldroyd: tells us about Wm. Bryan who had a housekeeper Susan Mc Gee. (See 1#)

CR. Offers Wm. Bryant, living near Mrs. Quesenberry, using a cite from M-599 reel 4.

AB. Offers; the Wm. L. Bryant. at Cleydael was described as the "old" man. (1# was 64 in 1865)

I think we can rule out 2#. The other fits better. All the info, favors 1#. All cites are referring to the same man. But, who is right? I favor spelling it "BRYANT", but pronouncing it "BRYAN".
I suggest that, while researching this man, don't ignore either spelling.
PS. There is no specific race shown in the Census for BRYAN/BRYANT, then I assume he was white.

[Laurie Verge]

My two cents worth: I have never seen the gentleman who lived near Mrs. Quesenberry listed as anything but BRYANT and pronounced with the "T" evident at the end. I have also assumed that he was white. Steers refers to him as "one of Harbin's men." That would indicate to me that he was part of the underground in that area.

[SSlater]

Laurie. I do have some information on Dr. Edward H. Wyvill, that you may not want to hear, since he is a "local boy". First off. He was not a Doctor. His father was, as was a brother. He was qualified, but he was not a Doctor - with patients to visit every night. Next, He was arrested April 27, 1865 and taken to prison. He must have been arrested in the round-up of suspects. On May 3, he took the Oath and was released. This came from Civil War Prisoners of War Records Page 5041 of 54896 (zowie!) The names are not alphabetically listed. (So, I found only one) The Release included the Comment "see Remarks Roll 503R" I could not find that. (But , I am looking) the release stated further - "Released unconditionally, by order of Gen. Augur". To me that's a look out! Something is fishy. It suggests that his release is in "repayment" for something he did for the Feds, such as "he is a Federal Agent." Compare this to Thomas Nelson Conrad who became a Union Agent, late in the war, and received payment from Wood (the Warden). Conrad says in his book, he was arrested and put in jail WITH the conspirators. He heard the guards talking about "giving them a fair trial - and hang them." BUT, Conrad was allowed to go home for the weekend. He was loaned Wood's horse, and Conrad returned on Monday morning. It's obvious that Conrad was put in with the guilty to listen. They all knew him and trusted him. Conrad does not tell us what he heard. Back to Wyvill. He was a Federal Spy. He was brought in to Listen and report, then released. Gen. Augur then instructed everyone to leave this guy alone. We need him in the field to Listen I've read many "Arrest reports", and this one is different. Wyvill was "involved" in some way that we are not aware of.

[SSlater]

Laurie. More on Dr. Wyvill, that proves that he was part of the system - at the very beginning. I find nothing that says that he stayed to the very end. The man named "G. Donnellan", referenced below, (George) was the first courier who carried mail from the Greenhow Ring in Washington, to Beauregard at Manassas. This put him in charge of the first "Secret Line". George Dent, mentioned below, was the last agent in Maryland, and put info across to Virginia. Mr. Grymes was the first agent on the Virginia side.The following report is shown in the O. R. Series II, page 865.

George Dent was arrested and in his papers was found a letter from G. Donnellan, Headquarters, Brooks' Station, July 21, 1861. (Brooks' Station, on the RR, was General Daniel Ruggles' Headquarters. ((Father of Mortimer Ruggles)). to George Dent, inclosing a letter addressed to Dr. Wivill(sic), as stated, to be forwarded without delay, instructing him (Wivill) how to connect with the "courier line", to be established the next day, from Grymes' house
on Mathias Point, to the Headquarters of General Ruggles at Brooks' Station. Dispatches of an important character, he said, were to come this week, to General Beauregard. He says to Dent. Please keep this on the qui vive and all expenses incurred shall be made satisfactory to you or other persons rendering service. Please inform our friends and also Dr. Wivill. General Ruggles, who knows of my authority, has stated herein to the same effect as I represent.
Unfortunately, the Greenhow ring was broken up with mass arrests. We know that another "Secret Line" was created, but I haven't accumulated enough dates to establish when it began. For example. Cawood was a main feature in the line, but he didn't set up his Camp until June 1864. More to come!

[bob_summers]

For those who may not have already seen it, I have posted an 1884 article by George Alfred Townsend that contains extensive info by Thomas Harbin about the assassination, at:

http://www.samuelmudd.com/831884-george-...ation.html

- Bob Summers

[RJNorton]

Thanks for posting the link, Bob.

"Indeed, Booth had obtained a powerful control over Mrs. Surratt by encouraging in her mind the idea that he might marry her."

Possibly someone who is a better reader than me can answer my question - is this Harbin's opinion or Gath's?

[L Verge]

I can only surmise that it was really Gath inserting a little Victorian "gossip." Personally, I have always felt that Mrs. Surratt welcomed Booth into her home as a friend of her son - a friend who could offer a bit more sophisticated influence on the family - and as a potential suitor for Anna Surratt, who had just turned 22 on New Year's Day and was certainly of marriageable age.

The notion of a love interest between Booth and Mary Surratt was expounded on years ago by Pamela Redford in a trashy pseudo-history entitled The Woman Who Loved John Wilkes Booth. Be prepared to be nauseated as you read it...

Much has also been made about Mary supposedly nicknaming Booth "Pet." I have always viewed that two ways - a motherly habit and/or a Southern woman's way of making young people feel welcome in their home.

[Rhatkinson]

For those who may not have already seen it, I have posted an 1884 article by George Alfred Townsend that contains extensive info by Thomas Harbin about the assassination, at:

http://www.samuelmudd.com/831884-george-...ation.html

- Bob Summers

This was a very interesting article. Thanks for sharing it.

[Jim Garrett]

I can only surmise that it was really Gath inserting a little Victorian "gossip." Personally, I have always felt that Mrs. Surratt welcomed Booth into her home as a friend of her son - a friend who could offer a bit more sophisticated influence on the family - and as a potential suitor for Anna Surratt, who had just turned 22 on New Year's Day and was certainly of marriageable age.

The notion of a love interest between Booth and Mary Surratt was expounded on years ago by Pamela Redford in a trashy pseudo-history entitled The Woman Who Loved John Wilkes Booth. Be prepared to be nauseated as you read it...

Much has also been made about Mary supposedly nicknaming Booth "Pet." I have always viewed that two ways - a motherly habit and/or a Southern woman's way of making young people feel welcome in their home.

I concur with the sage of Clinton. While Mrs. Surratt may have been smitten with the attention of such a popular, handsome and charming man. However anything deeper is very wild speculation.

After Dr. Blaine's presentation at the conference regarding Mrs. Surratt's health....Don't think she would have been thinking much about romance.