Colonel Mosby helped Booth escape.

[TCC]

There seems to be little mention that Colonel Mosby successfully helped John Wilkes Booth to escape capture. By now, everyone should realize that soldiers did not kill Booth. Another man, James William Boyd, was killed in the barn, and those who planned the assassination falsely claimed Boyd's body was Booth's.

From the time Booth reached the Rappahannock River until he safely arrived at his farm in Harper's Ferry, John Singleton Mosby was in charge. Yes, Mosby was active in helping Booth survive. At his farm and with his wife's help, Booth recuperated. Izola Martha Mills Booth and John Wilkes Booth moved to India after his leg healed.

For those who believe Booth was shot at the Garrett farm, perhaps knowing that John Singleton Mosby helped with Booth's escape will convince them that Booth went on living with a new name and life.

 

[Joe Whitworth]

Getting to Harper's Ferry from D.C. by way of the Rappahannock River seems the long way around. Was it to Booth's or Mosby's farm, any more details?

 

[TCC]

Getting to Harper's Ferry from D.C. by way of the Rappahannock River seems the long way around. Was it to Booth's or Mosby's farm, any more details?

After shooting Lincoln, Booth headed south for the safety of the Confederacy. As he was traveling south, his horse stumbled and fell on top of his leg, breaking it. Booth did not break his leg at the theater. I would imagine his broken leg changed his plans. Mosby's men helped guide Booth to the Booth farm at Harper's Ferry. Booth's wife, Izola, was waiting and hoping for his return. She could take care of him while his leg healed.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

I was unaware that Booth ever married.

 

[BrianB]

Documentation? Claims that a certain "BOYD" was killed in lieu of Booth have been floated by conspiracy theorists for years. I know of no real evidence in support of such a claim. Assuming Booth did not die at the Garrett farm, what evidence do you have that he was ever at any "Booth farm"? Or that he was married to someone name Izola? or that he escaped to India?

 

[unionblue]

Don't forget about the aliens and time travelers who aided in his escape.

 

[JOHN42768]

One would think in a incident of this importance the body would have been brought back to D.C for a post-mortem..The soldiers reports he was shot in the neck and was paralyzed before passing. As a well known actor he would have been easily recognized.

 

[Desolu64]

If you're going to make startling claims which are not part of standard historical accounts, you should provide at least some evidence for your assertions.

 

[bayonet]

TCC what is it you drink? So I know to stay away from it and not touch it!

 

[TallTallMan]

I never thought these would return, but here I am.

 

[TallTallMan]

There seems to be little mention that Colonel Mosby successfully helped John Wilkes Booth to escape capture. By now, everyone should realize that soldiers did not kill Booth. Another man, James William Boyd, was killed in the barn, and those who planned the assassination falsely claimed Boyd's body was Booth's.

From the time Booth reached the Rappahannock River until he safely arrived at his farm in Harper's Ferry, John Singleton Mosby was in charge. Yes, Mosby was active in helping Booth survive. At his farm and with his wife's help, Booth recuperated. Izola Martha Mills Booth and John Wilkes Booth moved to India after his leg healed.

For those who believe Booth was shot at the Garrett farm, perhaps knowing that John Singleton Mosby helped with Booth's escape will convince them that Booth went on living with a new name and life.

Well...do you have any proof of this?

 

[TallTallMan]

Documentation? Claims that a certain "BOYD" was killed in lieu of Booth have been floated by conspiracy theorists for years. I know of no real evidence in support of such a claim. Assuming Booth did not die at the Garrett farm, what evidence do you have that he was ever at any "Booth farm"? Or that he was married to someone name Izola? or that he escaped to India?

Boyd really died in 1866. Unless of course Stanton wrote this diary instead

Riverside Cemetery, Madison County, Tennessee

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

Booth's body was examined and it was absolutely him.
History, like science, is based on evidence. Sometimes existing theories get changed or even discarded because of new evidence. The evidence for Booth being killed in the barn is there, and it's very strong. There is no evidence for this other dopy story .

 

[TCC]

If you're going to make startling claims which are not part of standard historical accounts, you should provide at least some evidence for your assertions.

This is where my information came from.

Colonel Mosby's final declaration

This is a statement made by Colonel John Singleton Mosby to Caroline Long Harper during an interview she had with him a short time before his death. The interview was conducted at a farm in Fauquier County near Warrenton, Virginia. The contents of this statement are not to be divulged until the hundred and twentieth anniversary of the surrender at Appomattox. The reason is that Col. Mosby has spoken of such things as occurred, and he wants to be certain that all participants are not around to be embarrassed by his revelations.
The original of this interview was notarized and duly signed and delivered for safekeeping to Judge Howard Smith of Alexandria, Virginia. It will be placed in safekeeping by him, and all other copies are put with people who will honor the confidentiality of the document.
The original statement was handwritten and was signed by Col. Mosby. It was copied by Caroline Long and later transcribed by Beth Rhoades. It was later retyped by Laura Smith and sealed in envelopes. Five (5) copies were made and so distributed. This is copy number 3. April 22, 1930
On February 10, 2025, Troy Cowan converted Laura Smith's typewritten papers into a Word document.

Quoting from Mosby's statement. I am not presenting the entire document. The three dots mean that I did not copy the entire paragraph.
"He (Booth) was guided by men of my command from the time he crossed the Rappahannock River and was passed from one partisan group to another." …
"He was taken through Rockingham County by men of the partisan rangers headquartered at Broadway and guided to the home of his former wife at Harper's Ferry, where he recuperated." …
"Booth died in India in 1883 while I was in Hong Kong as consul there. I notified General Lomax who was much relieved by the news." …

 

[Stryker65]

There seems to be little mention that Colonel Mosby successfully helped John Wilkes Booth to escape capture.

Because it didn't happen.

By now, everyone should realize that soldiers did not kill Booth.

Nobody realizes -- or even thinks about this.

Another man, James William Boyd, was killed in the barn, and those who planned the assassination falsely claimed Boyd's body was Booth's.

Already debunked, and to h*ll with your "government behind the assassination" theories

From the time Booth reached the Rappahannock River until he safely arrived at his farm in Harper's Ferry, John Singleton Mosby was in charge.

Mosby was not with Booth or his party at any time.

Yes, Mosby was active in helping Booth survive. At his farm and with his wife's help, Booth recuperated. Izola Martha Mills Booth and John Wilkes Booth moved to India after his leg healed.

Booth was not married nor was any such woman present.

For those who believe Booth was shot at the Garrett farm, perhaps knowing that John Singleton Mosby helped with Booth's escape will convince them that Booth went on living with a new name and life.

Even if it was true, it wouldn't. Adding another unreliable narrator doesn't reinforce anything.

This is where my information came from.

Colonel Mosby's final declaration

This is a statement made by Colonel John Singleton Mosby to Caroline Long Harper during an interview she had with him a short time before his death. The interview was conducted at a farm in Fauquier County near Warrenton, Virginia. The contents of this statement are not to be divulged until the hundred and twentieth anniversary of the surrender at Appomattox. The reason is that Col. Mosby has spoken of such things as occurred, and he wants to be certain that all participants are not around to be embarrassed by his revelations.
The original of this interview was notarized and duly signed and delivered for safekeeping to Judge Howard Smith of Alexandria, Virginia. It will be placed in safekeeping by him, and all other copies are put with people who will honor the confidentiality of the document.
The original statement was handwritten and was signed by Col. Mosby. It was copied by Caroline Long and later transcribed by Beth Rhoades. It was later retyped by Laura Smith and sealed in envelopes. Five (5) copies were made and so distributed. This is copy number 3. April 22, 1930
On February 10, 2025, Troy Cowan converted Laura Smith's typewritten papers into a Word document.

Quoting from Mosby's statement. I am not presenting the entire document. The three dots mean that I did not copy the entire paragraph.
"He (Booth) was guided by men of my command from the time he crossed the Rappahannock River and was passed from one partisan group to another." …
"He was taken through Rockingham County by men of the partisan rangers headquartered at Broadway and guided to the home of his former wife at Harper's Ferry, where he recuperated." …
"Booth died in India in 1883 while I was in Hong Kong as consul there. I notified General Lomax who was much relieved by the news." …

Wow! Naturally, nobody other than you has this "information," it's never been published, it was "written" many, many years after the war on yet another "deathbed" encounter, and "suddenly" comes to light. So trustworthy!

 

[Sheltowee]

Retirement can be a tough gig….. did a little weedeating today….thought Taco Tuesday was gonna be the highlight.

And this glorious piece pops up.

I'm strapped in folks, let the ride begin.

 

[Kearny The Magnificent]

Even the Apple TV show Manhunt featuring Detective Secretary of War Beardless Stanton hunting down Booth with Patton Oswalt makes more sense than what I just read.

Without nitpicking every wrong detail, the easiest way to bust the whole theory up is by pointing out John Wilkes Booth was far too dramatic to live silently in exile. All you need to do is read American Brutus, his freely accessible transcribed diary/letters that are posted online, or any written account of him by anyone who knew him. If Booth has survived, it is guaranteed he would have spent the rest of his life by getting back into the public eye as opposed to moping around in Hong Kong for 20 years then dying anonymously.

 

[Pollaco]

When and where did Booth's wedding take place?

 

[R. Porter]

Retirement can be a tough gig….. did a little weedeating today….thought Taco Tuesday was gonna be the highlight.

And this glorious piece pops up.

I'm strapped in folks, let the ride begin.

Wait, you were at Taco Tuesday? What time? And is there more than one Taco Tuesday in Georgetown?

 

[R. Porter]

When and where did Booth's wedding take place?

Hmmm… I take it you weren't invited?