John Wilkes Booth's A Southern Maryland Agent's Account. During the Civil War, Southern Maryland's Confederate sympathies facilitated secret service operations. Thomas A. Jones, the author, was one such agent. Booth, though unofficially, also worked for the Confederacy. In 1865, Booth planned to kidnap Lincoln, using the Southern Maryland 'mail route' to transport him to Richmond. After Lee's surrender, Booth altered his plan to assassinate Lincoln and key cabinet members. Lincoln's assassination and Booth's subsequent flight down the 'mail route' are well-known. Jones, significantly involved in Booth's escape, provides a captivating account of the aftermath. Ironically, Jones was never charged or tried.