Booth's Escape Route

[BettyO]

Quote:Powell certainly had time to think about the "orders" he was given, and he should have been aware of the political/military situation of the south (Lee's surrender). If he was engaged, he certianly had something to live for and to consider his future. Lewis's act was cold blooded. Do you have to be cold blooded all the time? Was he just a "follower" who could be easily misled?

Yes, Powell certainly did have time to think about his orders - as did Booth and the rest. He was not stupid. I'm certain Powell knew what was going on with Lee's surrender - it was the death knell of the Confederacy. Unfortunately we do NOT know the full scale of the conspiracy and just why it was instigated after the Surrender. It was always seemingly surmised that these plans were propelled forward to throw the Union government into a state of panic and cause mass confusion so that the tables could be turned. Remember Lee had surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia only. They were still fighting on the Western Theatre and Mosby himself never surrendered his men; but simply disbanded on April 21, 1865.

Yes a 20 year old boy has a LOT to live for. Yes, he was engaged to be married. He also thought that he was still following his orders. This does not make him out to be cold blooded. He was young, and more or less easily led. He was also a soldier. He saw himself as one who followed his orders and as he told Dr Gillette, as a "savior of the Southern people." Misguided, perhaps - but not cold blooded. I will not deny that the act itself was cold blooded. Very cold blooded. He himself realized this after he had committed the deed - but this in itself illustrates to me that the boy was not a murderer and not a cold blooded killer at heart. Only a soldier following his orders.