** NEW DISCOVERY REGARDING BOOTH AUTOPSY PHOTO

[L Verge]

I have contacted the collector/dealer who supposedly acquired much of the Ostendorf collection. Hopefully, he will respond this time. The previous time, it was sheer curiosity on my part that caused me to try and make contact.

This time, I specifically asked if he had or knew the whereabouts of the ORIGINAL Wardell letter. Typed transcripts don't cut it with me unless they leave a trail or description of where the original is or where it went to.

Mention was made earlier of how Gardner fit all of his equipment in Eckert's carriage. I suspect that Gardner and son rode in the carriage and O'Sullivan and/or other assistants followed in the transport that carried the equipment? Lawrence likely wouldn't make mention of that since it was likely standard operating procedure for his father.

[SSlater]

Everybody. Wardell said that he appeared before "a Commission". Does anyone know what Commission he was talking about?

Wardell mentioned "a Patrolman Camp". I found a "H. P. Camp -clerk- in the Provost Marshal's Office. (1865 and 1866). This may be the person he mentioned.

I can not pin down a James A. Wardell, Detective, in Washington, or in Alexandria, after the War.

I am not discouraged. It was his job to stay hidden and he did his job well.

{If Wardell appeared before a Commission, he had to give his name. If it was not "Wardell" then we will have his true name. I need that commission - HELP!}

[L Verge]

Other than THE military commission of 1865, there's the Boutwell report that Bill Richter is expert with. Also, didn't Ben Butler conduct an inquiry? Anyone else?

[John E.]

(07-15-2013 10:54 PM)SSlater Wrote:  I can not pin down a James A. Wardell, Detective, in Washington, or in Alexandria, after the War.

I am not discouraged. It was his job to stay hidden and he did his job well.

You should feel a little discouraged. Osborn Oldroyd found him and he apparently divulged some pretty classified information that the War Department felt compelled to deny.

There's really no telling what "Commission" is being referenced. Although it does make the letter sound important. Did he voluntarily appear before a commission to divulge classified information about the photograph?

Lafayette Baker supposedly went under cover and yet we are all very familiar with his name and braggadocios comments.

This all sounds a little absurd doesn't it? It is fun though.

---

(07-11-2013 11:05 AM)Gene C Wrote:  I'd be interest to know if Andrew Potter is on that list.

Has anyone read Fishel's Book?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0395901...EF4CMMS3MN

There is a John Potter but not an Andrew Potter listed in the book.

[Gene C]

(07-16-2013 08:16 AM)John E. Wrote:  There is a John Potter but not an Andrew Potter listed in the book.

Must be an alias. Trying to throw us off track by using the same last name, hoping we'd think it's two separate people ...clever

[L Verge]

I wish that Ed Steers would chime in here. Other than James O. Hall, I know of no one else that has tracked the elusive Potters as much as Ed - to no avail. I recently ran across mention of an Orrin Potter who went from upstate New York into Canada around this time. I immediately thought of the Canadian Confederacy connection and asked Ed if he had anything on Orrin Potter. It didn't ring a bell with him, but he promised to go back into his files at some point.

Gene, you make a good point about people and their use of aliases. It would seem that some people might use them to hide their misdeeds??? Or, just plain enjoy trying to bamfoozle people.

[John E.]

(07-16-2013 09:19 AM)L Verge Wrote:  Gene, you make a good point about people and their use of aliases. It would seem that some people might use them to hide their misdeeds??? Or, just plain enjoy trying to bamfoozle people.

There's still a lot of that going around to this day.

[barryssentials]

The debate on whether the Booth autopsy illustration in Harper's Weekly was based on Gardner's photo or not is a great one.

I have spent a lot of time collecting Civil War illustrations and drawings for my own enjoyment. The talent of these artists were excellent. Practiced professional artists didn't need to work from photographs (but they certainly did at times).

The Harper's artist who sketched the autopsy image would have had lots of reference material from life and other sources (including other monitor photos and illustrations).

Monitors were fascinating ships and had been in the public eye since the famous battle between the USS Monitor and the Merrimack (March, 1862). So for over three years, photographs and illustrations were plentiful...as was the visibility of the real things around Washington.

The people shown on the deck were mostly the celebrities of the day and the renderings of the few key players that can be recognized in the Harper's illustration could have been taken from many other sources. If I remember rightly, there were many people on the dock watching the events unfold and if the Montauk was just 100 yards off shore, this artist could have been among them. With the naked eye, it would have been possible to see the general positions of how Booth's body was placed and how the other people stood. As this was only an illustration, it didn't have to be exact. Gardner was one of the attendees and the artist chose to show him in the artwork as well...which begs the question, if a photo really had been taken, then who should have gotten the real credit for it?

All of this is speculation of course and there will always be arguments that can support the theories from both sides. Some will be stronger than others, but one thing is certain, it is fun to hear everyone's viewpoint on the matter. Because one day, these 'debates' will spark an idea that will lead someone to find the absolute truth. Barry

[L Verge]

There is another book out there on Gardner besides the one that Katz did. I think the title is something like Gardner's Sketchbook of the Civil War. Has anyone seen it? Is there any mention in there about the supposed autopsy photo?

[J. Beckert]

Funny you should mention that, Laurie. Amazon just sent this to me today.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486227...il_1p_0_ti

[L Verge]

I'm amazed I haven't gotten the ad yet. I thought they considered me one of their best customers! Anyhow, I did the search inside for Booth Autopsy and for Wardell. No results, darn it.

[J. Beckert]

Amazon must be run by Yankees. They must know how you lean. Damn Yankees.

[SSlater]

Gene C. Post 139. Are you aware that the Neff-Guthridge papers are on the Internet - with the Potter Papers, etc. As only Neff could do it. http://library.indstate.edu/about/units/...scape.html (with tons of "Andrew Potter" (Birth -Life-death-burial)
(I bet that no one will read the whole thing - with more coming)
P.S. Laurie. Post 138. I have the Boutwell Report, but I do not see Wardell in it. There is an interesting statement from Fowell - that "Slater and Howell are up before this committee" - but they are not shown in the report.

[Gene C]

SSlater - yes, I've read some of it. One of my favorites is how Mike O'Lauglin got off Ft Jefferson.

http://odin.indstate.edu/about/units/rbs...f-idx.html
(bottom of the page)

[BettyO]

This has probably been approached here in this discussion before, but I recently re-read the Seaton Monroe recollection with emphasis on Booth's autopsy. Monroe does NOT mention a photo taken but does mention that right after the autopsy that Herold was photographed....




Hope ya'll can read this....