"I HAVE ONE OF THESE FROM THE BOOTH FAMILY"
.... Mrs. Ella Mahoney
For five years, I have sought the photograph Asia described, the ephemeral yet enduring witness of her brother, John Wilkes Booth in uniform with his fellow antebellum Richmond Grays defending Virginia. Visually, it avows the very moment when he himself traced this fealty which would remain constant throughout his remaining life.
“When the John Brown raid occurred, Booth left the Richmond Theater for the scene
of strife in a ‘picked company with which he had affiliated for some time.
From his connection with the militia on this occasion he was wont to trace his fealty to Virginia.”(1)
of strife in a ‘picked company with which he had affiliated for some time.
From his connection with the militia on this occasion he was wont to trace his fealty to Virginia.”(1)
Ironically, the most promising picture found to date that fits her description has become the most iconic and widely recognized group photograph representing the American Civil War, Richmond Grays (RG) #1.
Richmond Grays (RG#1)
Seen in positive orientation as a print (photograph)
VHS 2010.1.38 (Virginia Historical Society)
Seen in positive orientation as a print (photograph)
VHS 2010.1.38 (Virginia Historical Society)
Asia’s photograph would bring her 21 year old brother before us in a way her words alone could never do. Ideally, finding a print of RG#1 with a documented provenance to John Wilkes Booth would conclusively “unlock” RG#1 as the picture Asia described. Absent such a finding, the next best thing would be to find another description of a photograph of John Wilkes Booth taken while at Charles town containing additional information consistent with what is seen in RG#1 and a provenance leading to John Wilkes Booth.
“Glimpsing a Shadow from Richmond,” documents an additional description of just such a photograph, confirmed in writing by Mrs. Ella Mahoney, whose close association with the Booth family is uncontested.
(1) Townsend, George Alfred. The Life, Crime and Capture of John Wilkes Booth. New York: Dick & Fitzgerald, 1865.Page 22
“Glimpsing a Shadow from Richmond,” documents an additional description of just such a photograph, confirmed in writing by Mrs. Ella Mahoney, whose close association with the Booth family is uncontested.
(1) Townsend, George Alfred. The Life, Crime and Capture of John Wilkes Booth. New York: Dick & Fitzgerald, 1865.Page 22