Boston Corbett

[maharba]

That's close research and good logic. I was going to speculate further and say that if Boston Corbett reverted back to Thomas Corbett, it might be because he had again become a drunk --letting both his (oddball brand of) religion fall away and his sober habits. But that doesn't likely to me, that would have happened. Whether from mercury, tertiary syphillis, war trauma, being hounded by letter-writing-hucksters, or whatever reason, Boston Corbett was nuts and only getting nuttier. But never tending toward being less religious, only more so. I made a close search of Corbett's in and
around Pine county MN, before and after the 1894 Fire, but don't see where I put my records. Nothing there, really, was promising towards finding Boston Corbett. He was last seen at or going to a KS train station, with the comment of 'going on to Mexico". That was June 1, 1888 in Kansas. He had recovered some of himself physically I think in the insane asylum in Topeka, was able to steal a pony and ride well and fast to escape. Yet, his 1880 invalid pension application had made out like he was very broke down and not far from death. So, there at the first of June in Kansas, he surely was not going to die of exposure or hypothermia anytime soon.
I think the reason he came out to there in Kansas was from corresponding with other 'invalid' soldiers who advised him how to get a (fake) pension, whom to talk to, maybe pay the man a dollar or two extra for his advice. Corbett was networking with others and when he stole the pony, he knew just where to go to. Another man he'd been in the army with. Most sources say Richard Thatcher, but I believe it was instead Irwin DeFord. After just a couple days (of listening to Corbett rant and routine), he made it clear to Corbett: goodbye but don't ever come back here. My guess is that Corbett traveled to the home(s) of others he had known in the service.
Perhaps listed on Pensioner lists. The 1883 pensioners roll for Cloud county, KS looks exceptionally long, to me. We know the 1890 census was burned up. As you say, if he was really trying to hide, it would be under another name. So, the 1900 census might show a white man, age 68, born england, perhaps a preacher, maybe a hatter, widowed, perhaps (still) listed as war pension --though not drawing it any longer. If he still was alive in 1900, he might have been staying with or near another pensioner. For instance, if I was living in Nebraska and had him "my old comrade in arms" on my place, I'd have him a good quarter mile off in a shed and take away his guns, as a condition of staying there.