April 27, 1865: Now, Navy Turns Attention to Preventing Jefferson Davis' Escape

APRIL 27TH, 1865:  Secretary Welles informed Commander F.A. Parker (he had also been at Fort Fisher) of the Potomac Flotilla that the "special restrictions relative to retaining vessels are removed."

He advised Parker that "Booth was killed and captured with Herold yesterday, three miles southwest of Port Royal, Va.."  With the search for President Lincoln's assassin ended, further south the Navy focused its attention to another end.

This date, Rear Admiral Dahlgren ordered nine ships of his South Atlantic Blockading Squadron to patrol along the Southern coast to prevent the escape of Jefferson Davis and his cabinet.

--Old B-Runner