Lewis Powell: The conspirator who was "different."

[Jim Garrett]

If you try to put yourself into the 1860s and understand the "minds of the times". For your Southern soldier, they were usually from a rural area and have deep religious roots. Their age is late teens to early twenties and more often than not, have experienced the loss of family members and friends to one of the many illnesses, (think of either the Lincoln or Booth families losing multiple children). So by the time they enter the war, they have seen death, accepted it, and understand that life is eternal, but short here on earth.

Now your typical Southern soldier is in camp, in units composed of family and friends, that because of their rural lifestyles, are easy targets for mass outbreaks of everything from chick pox, to social desease. They now witness people they have known all their lives, dropping like flies. Then compound the devastating wound created by the ordinance of the time, and your either numb to death, or just accept the odds.

Young Lew Powell had seen more than his fair share, as a participant in battle, and as a caregiver as a POW hospital steward. After "the deed", he recognized that his own death was inevitable, but it was at least going to be quick with limited suffering compared to what he had seen.

Brave and stoic, he accepted his lotte, knew he was forgiven his sins, and that the life ahead would be better than the life he was leaving behind.