Jerks in History

[J. Beckert]

It's a matter of perspective Craig, but it's better understood if viewed in context of the mores of the times and without any 21 st. century opinions. This was an era when soldiers were flogged for military disciplinary infractions. Tied to a post and whipped. (The practice was banned in 1862, but depending on the CO's willingness to take a gamble and get his own discipline for allowing it, it continued on a smaller scale). Soldiers were branded with a hot iron for violations of the military code of conduct. "T" for theft, "C" for cowardice and "D" for deserter. The brand was usually placed on the forehead, cheek or hip. Certainly extreme by our standards today, but not in the 1860's. Soldiers were executed for merely falling asleep on picket duty. Shot. Dead. For falling asleep. You said Sumner "may have been a little overbearing and perhaps condescending". He wasn't overbearing or condescending - he was downright rude and insulting. To publically insult a man or his family in public in those days was an insult that had to be addressed. Brooks felt Sumner's lack of civility precluded the invitation to a duel, which may have lead to his death, so he did the next best thing - walked up to him, explain his transgression and told him he would be punished for it.