JWB and Company and Atrocities Against Southern Citizens

[J. Beckert]

Was Powell influenced by these atrocities in his attack on Seward? We'll probably never know, but it's not too difficult to speculate.

I can't help but think that if he wasn't influenced by them, he certainly was hardened by them. I don't think Booth saw much of the South towards the end of the war, but his sister did say that she felt if he started to come unhinged, it was after the fall of Richmond.