One of the first books that I read on the Lincoln Assassination was Hanchett's Lincoln Murder Conspiracy. However, I can remember watching various programs on TV back in the days before cable that got me hooked.

Craig

Happy birthday Boz!

Well, I don't know about a cookbook. Perhaps a Dr. Mudd Home Remedy book?

On a more serious note, besides Steve's Corbett bio, and Rob Wick's Conger bio, there might be room for bios on some of the other conspirators like George Atzerodt, or Sam Arnold. I doubt that there is enough primary source material for a bio on O'Laughlin or Spangler. I could be wrong.

Craig

I agree with Steve. Besides Booth, John Surratt was the one conspirator that the government wanted. If he had been captured in Montreal it would have taken a lot of heat away from his mother. He would have been swinging with the others on July 07th. However, I am dubious whether or not Mary would have gotten off that lightly. Perhaps a life sentence like Dr. Mudd and Arnold.

Craig

Randal,

That one is on my list of books to get. In fact, probably next. After my wife gives me my allowance

Craig

This is a good question. I have always been skeptical of this letter that Booth supposedly gave to Matthews. Who in their right mind would burn such a letter. I can understand Matthews reluctance to come forward with it after witnessing the mass arrests. He might have believed that he would have been held complicit in the murder as a confidant of Booth. He must have been aware of the importance of the letter so why not just hide it? Didn't King Charles hide in a tree? Or was that Bonnie Prince Charlie? Surely he could have sealed the letter in a bottle and his it somewhere (in the cavity of a tree?) until a safer date in time.
To answer the question I believe that if Matthews had mailed the letter the newspapers would have published it without a doubt. However, I am doubtful that such a letter ever existed.

Craig

Looks like a good book to have in the library. I am always fascinated by some of the newspaper articles that appeared in the weeks following the assassination.

Craig

I have never read a biography of Seward. This one looks like it might be interesting.

Craig

To me, terrorism is a relative term. One would actually have to examine the context in which the term is applied, and also the time period. I would also say that the term is a specious one. Would the British have considered the Americans terrorists during the Revolution? Firing behind trees and stone walls guerilla style. I took classes on terrorism when I was in the Marine Corps and I recall that terrorism had to involve the element of "fear."
I guess that Booth could be considered a succesful terrorist, but so could Sherman, Custer, Mosby and John Brown for that matter.
Good topic!

Craig

I believe that Mary Surratt would have received the same punishment as Dr. Mudd, but she would not have been sent to the Dry Tortugas. More than likely she would have spent her time in some local prison. Perhaps she would have remained at the Old Capitol Prison. I agree with Randal as far as the ill-timing of Powell's visit having a future effect on Mrs. Surratt's guilt. She would likely have escaped the gallows if she had not been caught in a blatant lie.

Craig

Would this be considered a personal interest? I would say yes if Booth were on trial, since he viewed the body, but he was dead. Not sure if Holt had any "personal interest" in the rest of the conspirators.

Craig

Just a little info here. Daniel Day Lewis is listed as being born in 1957 which would make him 55 years old. Lincoln was 56 when he died. A pretty good match I would say.

Craig

American Gothic...one of my favorite Books on the Booth's. I just saw him interviewed on a documentary of the Lincoln Assassination.

Craig

That is a good question. If Lincoln had been captured and taken south I believe that it would have been looked upon by the voters as another Lincoln debacle. They would have lost faith in the Commander-in-chief and anyone associated with him. Little Mac was still loved by the Army of the Potomac, maybe not so much by the general public, but I believe it would have been enough to vault him into the Presidency.
If Lincoln had been killed, I don't see the Union north electing the southern Johnson as President. There probably would have been an outcry for justice, but I think that Little Mac would have been elected anyway. Remember, before Sherman took Atlanta the election was still pretty much up in the air. It was that victory, and like Joe said "don't change horses in mid-stream" that got Lincoln reelected.

Craig

I did not know he reserved a box at Grover's. I thought that Booth had talked with the stage manager at Grover's and asked him if the President was going to be attending the play that evening. The stage manager, Hess, told Booth that Mrs. Lincoln had changed her plans.
The only thing that I can recall about Booth renting a box is when he rented the Presidential box at Ford's a month before the assassination. That was when John Surratt, and Lewis Powell took Honora Fitzpatrick, and Apolonia Dean to the theatre to familiarize themselves with the box. At the time they were still talking about the kidnapping scheme.

Craig