What would Booth and Davis say to each other?

[LincolnMan]

In the final pages of The Civil War, Vol. 3, author Shelby Foote mentions that there was a rumor in the South that John Wilkes Booth and Jefferson Davis (both on the run)- were on board a vessel together with a storehouse of gold heading for South America. I had never heard tell of this rumor before, but it stirred my imagination towards the kind of conversation the two might have had if it actually were to have happened. What do you all think? Would it be of a friendly tone? Would Davis condemn Booth's actions? What are the speculations?

[Jim Garrett]

Good question Bill. IMO, a humble one, I think Judah Benjamin probably shielded Davis from the clandestine ops. But would Davis had said, "Don't want to know the details". With the Dahlgren raid,would he have supported a political assassination? Davis seemed to be pretty well bent on not surrendering the South. But Davis had a famously short fuse for blunders.

I think he would have been angry for being out of the loop. Maybe Jeff Davis would have said, "Next time, let me know."

[J. Beckert]

I have a photo copy of a newspaper article from the era that supposedly recalls a meeting between Booth and President Davis by an observer. I'll try and dig it out tomorrow.

[Gene C]

I think Davis would look for an opportune time to push him over the rail.
"John, watch our for that slipery spot on the deck. Oops, to late!"

[LincolnMan]

I have a photo copy of a newspaper article from the era that supposedly recalls a meeting between Booth and President Davis by an observer. I'll try and dig it out tomorrow.

Wow, I hope you find that!

[J. Beckert]

I'll keep looking, but it's not where I thought it was. Basically, it was a recollection of a former CSA War Dept. officer who stated he was present when Booth and another party were in Davis' office. He stated Booth laid out his plan and Davis really showed no interest one way or another. He stated Booth ended the meeting by saying "He must die", referring to Lincoln. After he left, the man stated Davis said the plan was not serious and those two men were merely in Richmond "to see the sights".

[BettyO]

OMG - Yes, Joe if you do find this article, please let me know - I'd love to see that as well.....

Thanks!

[J. Beckert]

Found it. Here's how it reads:

Davis and Booth. J. B. Van Dien, who says he was a clerk in the rebel War Department, writes to the Cincinnati Commercial that last February he was present at an interview between Davis and Booth in Richmond. Benjamin introduced Booth to Davis, and two other young men were in his company. Booth commenced by saying a plan was on foot, formed by parties in the Northern States and Canada to capture or assassinate Mr. Lincoln, and that all they desired was an official recognition by the Confederate authorities, when the project would certain.....(1 line unreadable)...Davis and Breckinridge, says this Van Dien, condemned the plot, and advised Booth to think no more of it. They were willing to leave Mr. Lincoln "to the Providence of a just God to suffer for his great crime." (What pious and conscientious scoundrels!) Benjamin said nothing. Booth's last words on retiring were, "He must die." After he had gone, Davis said "Those fellows came here merely to see the Richmond sights, and their assassination plot is a mere fudge." - Breckinridge and Benjamin laughed, the latter saying "I think so."

Maybe someone who has access to one of those sites that carries old papers can find the original article.

[BettyO]

Found the article, Joe.....thanks a bunch!

Let me see if I can get Roger to post the PDF file -

[RJNorton]

Here is the article.

[J. Beckert]

Thanks, Betty. You found the entire article. I only have a portion. It sounds fishy, but if it occurred, I'm wondering if Mr. Van Dein was tweaking the conversation (ala John Surratt) to protect the higher ups.

[BettyO]

Thank YOU, Joe for bringing this interesting article to our attention!

Yes, the entire article sounds very fishy...."fudge" indeed! I think it's more or less fabricated by Mr. Van Dein....

It is taken the Cleveland Daily Leader for July 22,1865.

[Laurie Verge]

Didn't Hall and Tidwell find evidence of John Surratt being in Judah Benjamin's office in February of 1865?

[LincolnMan]

Sounds fishy to me too- but sure is an interesting piece of history. Just when you think you heard it all.

[RJNorton]

Didn't Hall and Tidwell find evidence of John Surratt being in Judah Benjamin's office in February of 1865?

Also, in the trial, Weichmann testified that John Surratt had told him he had seen Benjamin and Davis. (From Poore) - Weichmann is being asked about a conversation he had with John Surratt:

Q. Did you have any conversation with him, as he passed through,
about the fall of Richmond ?
A. Yes, sir. He told me he did not believe it; that he had seen
Benjamin and Davis, and they had told him that Richmond would
not be evacuated.
Q. He said that they had told him so while he was in Richmond?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. On his arriving here, the intelligence of its fall was received,
and you communicated it to him?
A. Yes, sir: I communicated it to him, and he seemed to be incredulous.