Lew Powell's Frostbitten Feet

[BettyO]

(08-24-2012 12:13 PM)Natty Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 11:30 AM)BettyO Wrote:  I wondered about that myself, Natty! Powell had the reputation of being the "Terrible Lewis Powell". I don't know what they meant here other than this - from what I heard.

Lewis had, along with Syd Ferguson and Cab Maddox single handedly in close hand to hand combat, captured Captain Richard Blazer and took him to Richmond to Libby Prison. Powell, at the Conspiracy Trial was remembered being seen by another officer at Libby when he was there. This was also about the same time that he was more or less meeting with officials in Richmond regarding his induction into the kidnap plot. It was stated that after the Blazer affair, that Powell did not go on many raids (probably because he was being coached by the Confederate SS) - at any rate, this could be why he didn't go on a raid; but apparently he did go on this a couple of raids and participated boldly! It was said that he was very quiet and thoughtful when he returned from Richmond. Mike Kauffman claims in American Brutus] that he thought Lew Powell was possibly "love sick" over the Branson girls -- this could be quite true as well, because he sure turned up on their doorstep right after he left Mosby!

Ah, yes - that would make sense. If he was receiving special training from the SS, his comrades would have gotten used to the idea that he was not going to be fighting.
The only thing that irritates me is the timeline. Blazer was captured in November of 1864, whereas the Dranesville incident occurred in February earlier that year. How could Lewis have been training for the CSS at that time already? Was he? He had just joined the Rangers the fall of the previous year, if I recall correctly - was he already chosen for the CSS in February of 1864?

Oh! Lewis as lovesick! That is a particularly endearing prospect - is it possible that he might have been a bit "lovesick" when he first joined the Rangers, perhaps seeming a bit distant and initially lacking enthusiasm?

Lewis could have been ill at Dranesville and did not fight -- I don't know....I do know that he was ill quite a bit with bouts of unspecified sickness. On June 30,at the battle of Gaines Mill he fought for one day and then was carted the 12 miles to Richmond where he spent over 3 months in the Florida Hospital (still standing) with illness. He was there until mid November 1862. The anthropologist who discovered Lew's noggin stated that he suffered apparently from chronic sinusitis. We do know that he had an attack of measles when he enlisted and was sent to the Camp of Instruction (boot camp) at Jacksonville, FL at the beginning of the war. This childhood illness turned ultimately into pneumonia from which he almost died. This could have also weakened his constitution. We don't know....He apparently began recruitment for the SS in November 1864 and then left for Baltimore on January 1, 1865. For all his hearty appearance, he appears to have been a somewhat frail lad constitutionally.

As for those girls -- we have yet to see. I know a bit more but can't divulge it yet. He also had a girlfriend in VA - so he DID get around a bit! Boys will be boys!