An Author Asks for a Second Look

A while back I commented on the poor quality of a two part article published in the Surratt Courier. Please feel free to see the original post here. Today I received an email from the author of the articles in question. I won't bore readers with the long author "bio" that was included but in fairness to the author here is his rebuttal.

Dear Robert

I am somewhat surprised that you have not updated and/or revised your February 10, 2010 blog post about your "Newsletter Review" of The Surratt Courier''s January and February 2010 issues. As I am sure you're aware, per the editorial staff of the Courier, there was a serious error as regards the printing of explanatory notes of my two-part article "There's Spirits Mingling In Heaven With The Godly" [an excerpt from my forthcoming book Dixie Reckoning: A Reassessment of the Lincoln Assassination and Lost Confederate Treasury published by Progressive Press] due to and thru no fault of my own.

Needless to say, I would appreciate it if you would be so kind as to rectify your aforesaid remarks as soon as possible. Thanks & Regards,

Rick

This being said I decided to research Mr. Stelnick's book further. As far as I can tell it is still not available on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. After that I looked up the publisher of the book on Google. Here's the information I was able to find. Have a look around the publisher site if you would like and then make your own determination.

Newsletter Review--The Surratt Courier

The Surratt Courier. The Surratt Society. Volume XXXVI No. 4, April 2011.

We all know the big news is the release of the film The Conspirator. However, every month the good folks at the Surratt Society put out their newsletter and keep the Surratt House Museum in Maryland going. CONGRATULATIONS to you wonderful people. I hope to visit you one day.

The April issue has the normal President's Message and upcoming events. The meat of this issue is devoted to an excerpt from a soon to be released book titled
Inside the Walls: The Final Days of the Lincoln Conspirators written by Barry M. Cauchon and John E. Elliott. I searched both Amazon and B&N and could find no reference to this title so I don't have a publication date, cover photo, or even publisher to share at this time. Hopefully there will be more information soon as the book looks promising.

The subject of the excerpt is who actually gave the signal to spring the traps on the condemned. In this brief discussion the authors compare eye witness accounts to the photographic evidence that is available. They conclude that General Hartranft gave approval to Christian Rath who, standing in front of the gallows, with a clapping motion directed soldiers to knock posts from under the traps on which the condemned were standing.

The newsletter wraps up with a short essay on the Pony Express and an April 1861 timeline. It has been often told that the Surratt's oldest son Isaac was a Pony Express rider. This is untrue and Isaac's name does not appear in any records. Isaac did however serve in the 33rd Texas Cavalry Co. A. According to the CWSS website he entered as a private and was discharged as a sergeant.

Newsletter Review--Surratt Courier

The Surratt Courier. The Surratt Society. September 2010, Volume XXX No. 9.

A nice brief issue this month with several interesting items. The main article questions the notion that if Thomas Eckert had accompanied Abraham Lincoln to Ford's Theatre that he would have been acting as a bodyguard. Author Frank Hebblethwaite makes the claim that there is no evidence to suggest such a role. Further even if Eckert were a bodyguard would it have prevented the events that transpired. John Stanton updates his efforts to locate information on alleged Confederate agent Sarah Slater and her role in the plot to kidnap President Lincoln. Joan Chaconas contributes a transcript of a letter written to President Lincoln from Jesse B. Wilson. Wilson owned a grocery store that was frequented by Mary Surratt. Surratt made over $100 in purchases at the store during 1864 and the last known purchase there by her was made on January 17, 1865.

Several other brief items of note are included. Robert Redford's movie The Conspirator has been chosen to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The election of officers for the upcoming year will take place on September 26. A reminder that membership dues for the coming year are due in September. A flier for the new book My Thoughts Be Bloody is also included. The Surratt House will be holding a book signing with author Nora Titone on October 23, 2010 from noon until 4pm. This looks like it is going to be a great book that will be examining the sibling rivalry between Edwin and John Wilkes Booth and it's role in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

For a mere $7 per year this is an organization worth being a member of.

Newsletter Review--The Surratt Courier August 2010

The Surratt Courier. The Surratt Society. Volume XXXV No. 8, August 2010.

Today's mail brought the new issue of The Surratt Courier newsletter. A very nice issue this month with several interesting things.

The main article this month deals with Elizabeth Keckly. Keckly was born a slave in 1818. After the death of her owner Keckly was able to borrow the money to purchase freedom for her and her son. She was soon able to repay the loan through money earned as a seamstress and dressmaker. Keckly soon was sewing for the wealthy and powerful including Mrs. Stephen A. Douglas, Mrs. Robert E. Lee, and Mrs. Jefferson Davis. Keckly declined an offer to move south with the Davis family preferring to stay in Washington D.C. By fortunate chance she became the dressmaker for Mary Lincoln. Keckly and Mrs. Lincoln were to become close friends with Keckly attending to Mrs. Lincoln in the days after her husbands death. Later Keckly published the book Behind the Scenes or Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House. The publication of the book cost her the friendship of Mrs. Lincoln who felt betrayed by some of the material disclosed.   The tie to the Surratt Society is the efforts put forth to find and mark the lost grave of Elizabeth Keckly.

Also included is a brief article reprint dealing with the story of the boots Abraham Lincoln was wearing on the night of his assassination and how they came into the possession of the National Park Service. An announcement of a new book, My Thoughts Be Bloody, which is a new John Wilkes Booth biography written by Nora Titone is included. Did sibling rivalry lead Booth to murder President Lincoln? We'll have to read the book and find out. The Surratt society is on the verge of turning 35. An announcement concerning a sternwheeler cruise to celebrate is included. Join members on board the Cherry Blossom for a Potomac River cruise. Scheduled for Sunday September 26 this looks like it would be a fun event. Cost is $40. Also, a dues reminder for the upcoming year is included. For $7 this is a great membership.

Newsletter Review--Surratt Courier

The Surratt Courier. The Surratt Society. Volume XXXV No. 4. April 2010.

This issues starts off as always with the President's Message and a listing of upcoming events.

The main article this month is titled The Old Capitol Prison by Joan L. Chaconas. The article is adapted from a speech given at the 2009 Surratt Society Conference.

Interestingly enough the building was originally built in 1815 to house Congress after the British burned the Capitol in 1814. I find this funny since many believe all in Congress should be in jail. Just my odd humor I guess. Anyway...The building then became a school and was then used as a hotel before sitting empty for a decade. The government confiscated the building in 1861 and turned it into a feared prison. Later the building was torn down to make way for the Supreme Court Building.

A wide variety of prisoners from muggers to counterfeiters to northern soldiers to "prisoners of state", both men and women, Union and Confederate, were housed here in various rooms. Most were housed on the first floor but if you were deemed a political prisoner you went to Room 16 on the second floor. Accomodations were poor with cramped quarters, vermin filled bedding, and bad food. The article also provides a listing or persons associated with the Lincoln murder conspiracy who were held there.

Overal an interesting article. A future issue is to contain an article on William Wood who was the superintendent of the Old Capitol Prison. I'm looking forward to it.

Newsletter Review: Surratt Courier Jan. & Feb. 2010

The Surratt Courier. The Surratt Society. Volume XXXV Issues 1 and 2, January and February 2010.

A brief update on the last two issues from the Surratt Courier.

In my mind these issues could have been combined as a double issue. The heart of the issues is a two part excerpt from an upcoming book Dixie Reckoning written by Rick Stelnick. (As an FYI, this book does not show on Amazon as being available for purchase or preorder) According to the February issue "...this new work is said to contain documentable evidence that persons in New York had ties to the Lincoln kidnap plot." The article runs to 12 pages over the two issues and has a section of "end notes". I only call them end notes because that is how they are cited in the February issue. The problem is many are not real end notes at all nor do they really seem to correspond to the text. An example: The text for number 3 "James Hall"...the corresponding note number 3 "Henrietta Elizabeth Demill {1821-1881}" I kid you not when I write that note 94 says "Yes, that Cecil B-of stage and screen!" The text associated with 94 is "Thomas Hindman". Confused? Me too. The documentation doesn't get any better either. By the end of article the end note numbers are up to 155 but the notes end at 102. I started to read this once the February issue arrived so that I could do it at one sitting. After starting and finding this mess I didn't even bother. Poor editing? Poor writing? Who knows. Maybe the March issue will clear it up. Gotta say though I don't hold out hope. Very disappointing as I expect better.

Otherwise, the issues contain the normal President's Message, Mark Your Calendars, and new member listing. The January issue also contained an announcement of a presentation called "The Birth of the Banjo" presented by George Wunderlich, executive director of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. This event will be held March 20, 2010 from 6-9:30pm which coincides with the Surratt Society's Annual Conference.

Newsletter Review--The Surratt Courier

The Surratt Courier. The Surratt Society. December 2009, Volume XXXIV No. 12.

The December issue of the Surratt Courier arrived in the mail today. Included is the normal brief President's Message, Mark Your Calendar for upcoming events, New members listing, and a brief update on "cosmetic surgery" going on at the Surratt House and surrounding buildings.

The main article this month is a six page article titled "The Missing Confederate Gold: Raid at Chennault, Georgia, May 24, 1865" written by Marshall P. Waters III. The article briefly discusses what happened to the Confederate treasury that left Richmond with Jefferson Davis and his cabinet. An interesting article that doesn't seem to have a direct relation to the Surratt family or the Lincoln assassination.

The book linked to below deals with the Confederate treasury after the war. I have not read the book so I have no comment as to whether it is good or not. The Amazon reviews are positive for whatever that is worth.

Newsletter Review--Surratt Courier

The Surratt Courier. Volume XXXIV No. 11 November 2009.

The Surratt Society has issued it's latest monthly newsletter. The issue starts off with the normal monthly items such as the President's Message and Mark Your Calendars. This month also includes a letter to the editor which is really a followup by Guy Moore to the October article dealing with how authorities came to suspect the Surratt Boardinghouse.

S. J. Ackerman writes an article titled The Navy Yard Bridge and the Lincoln Assassination. This nearly 3 page article discusses the history of the bridge and how security surrounding it helped change Booth's plan from kidnapping to murder. This is a nicely endnoted article for those interested in following up on sources.

Lowell Edminster follows with a somewhat confusing article titled A Penny For Your Thoughts. This deals with the Lincoln cent coin. I say confusing because he discusses the 1909 minting and claims there are 6 versions. I only count 4 that he discussed.

Patrick Dunigan and Rick Smith close out the issue with an article titled Points on Powell To Ponder--Apparel Wise. This goes over clothing worn the night of the attempt on Secretary of State William Seward's life.

Overall a better issue than has been printed lately. Good to see more articles showing up. Hopefully a sign of future issues. If you are a member don't forget dues are due!

Newsletter Review--The Surratt Courier

The Surratt Courier. The Surratt Society. October 2009.

This issue of the Courier begins with the President's Message where Mary Kauffman announces that Tom Buckingham has been elected as the new President. There is also a list of upcoming events at the Surratt House. A brief listing of new books that are available through the Museum and a short word on the upcoming Robert Redford film The Conspirator wrap up the announcements.

The first article, written by Jim McKee, deals with the role that Fort Anderson State Historical Site played in the Lincoln assassination story. During the long bombardment of Fort Anderson several navy gunboats took part including the Montauk. After this battle the Montauk returned to the Washington Navy Yard for refitting where it was visited just hours before President and Mrs. Lincoln went to Ford's Theatre. After the assassination many of the conspirators were held aboard navy ships including the Montauk. Once John Wilkes Booth was found and killed at Garrett's Farm on April 26 his body was returned to Washington D.C. where it was taken to the Navy Yard and was placed where? You guessed it...on the Montauk.

The second article, written by Randal Berry, is titled "That Was A Night of Horrors" and deals with the question of how did detectives end up at the Surratt Boardinghouse within hours of the fatal shot being fired. By 2a.m. on April 15 detectives were knocking on the door looking for John Wiles Booth and John Surratt, neither of whom were there. The author provides five possible "tipsters" who might have led police to the the Surratt home. All five however are given reasons that they were most likely NOT the reason police arrived quickly. Another theory is put forth that the War Department already had information on the boardinghouse but the author believes this to have been "unsubstantiated paranoia" on the part of conspirators. Unfortunately the author fails to provide his reason that detectives were so quick to land at the Surratt Boardinghouse. For some reason the article concludes by telling us that the Surratt House now houses a Chinese restaurant. A brief series of end notes is included all of which are from secondary sources.

Membership in the Surratt Society is a bargain at $7 per year. For the price of a fast food meal you can help this organization continue providing it's services.

Newsletter Review--The Surratt Courier

The Surratt Courier. Volume XXXIV, Number 7, July 2009.

I just received the latest copy of the Surratt Courier from the Surratt Society yesterday and I have to say for the second month in a row it's a bit of a disappointment. Maybe submissions are low though if that was the case perhaps a call for articles could be included in an issue.

The issue starts as always with the President's Message which mentions the passing of long time member Elysebeth Mays. On the front page is also a listing of upcoming events. There is a small article on the finding of an unknown note believed to be written on April 14, 1865 by Abraham Lincoln. The main "article" of the issue is a listing of people and places that are tied to both the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and to Gonzaga College in some way. The listing contains good endnotes and I suppose is of interest to some but I didn't get anything out of it and have quickly filed the issue away.

Newsletter Review--The Surratt Courier

The Surratt Courier. Volume XXXIV No. 6 June 2009.

The June 2009 issue of the Surratt Courier begins with the President's Message which discusses the Thomas S. Gwynn Jr. Memorial History Award. This award is given to a student who has created an impressive record in the study of history. This year two students were awarded to two students. I'm not sure what the award really is because nowhere is it mentioned. Is it a scholarship, a trohpy, a certificate, who knows.

A brief article titled "The Financial Page" discusses the value of the dollar today in comparison to the 1860's. For example in the calculations used a dollar in 1862 would be the equivilant of $22.08 today. Overall not a lot of relvance in my opinion. The newsletter also includes an article titled "On the Road Again..." which details museum guide Rick Smith's travels to places associated with the Lincoln Assassination. This month he discusses an attempt to locate the Adam House Tavern in Newport, MD.

Certainly not the best effort I have seen from the Surratt Society. This issue was pretty light on anything with real meat to it or anything of real historical interest in my view. Overall though the society is still well worth joining if you have an interest in the Lincoln Assassination.

Newsletter Review--The Surratt Courier

The Surratt Courier. Volume XXXIV No. 5 May 2009.

The Surratt Courier is a monthly publication of The Surratt Society .The Surratt Society has the goal of preserving and interpreting the Surratt House and the role it played in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The monthly issued Courier is available as a benefit of membership in the Society. Memberships run as low as $7 which is quite a bargain.

The May issue begins with the President's Message which includes notice of the recent death of historian Steven Lee Carson. The front page also has a listing of upcoming and ongoing events at the Surratt House. Also included is a listing of new items available through the society bookstore. Included are three new titles dealing with assassination and those implicated. Also included is a brief article titled "Music About Abraham Lincoln" written by Charles Becker.

The feature article this month is titled "A Response to the Kate Thompson Theory" written by Carman Cumming. Cumming is noted for his work on Confederate operations in Canada during the Civil War. Cumming argues that it is highly unlikely that Jacob Thompson, a Confederate commissioner in Canada during the war, traveled to Washington under the guise of Kate Thompson. While it is possible that Jacob did receive an invitation to Washington it appears that he did not meet with anyone of importance and possibly did not go at all. The alleged purporse of the visit was to try and end the war with a program of continental expansion with the Union taking over Canada and other British areas while the Confederacy would move on Mexico and/or the Caribbean. While it is possible the Seward and Stanton MIGHT have had an interest in expansion there appears to be no evidence that any real discussions on such a plan took place. As Cumming himself says this whole thing probably doesn't much matter except to show the importance of the Confederate Canadian operations.