Was there an assassin on Grant's train?

[John Fazio]

(07-22-2015 12:06 PM)Rosieo Wrote:  

(07-21-2015 02:10 PM)BettyO Wrote:  

Quote:I am against the death penalty, but Herold, Booth, and the rest, they were criminals. They chose to take big chances. They ought not be romanticized.

No one is romanticizing anyone that I know of. We, as scholars, (and yes, there is that word again!) simply like to investigate, study and analyze these folk. I wouldn't call them criminals; political zealots, perhaps. The fact that they were southern, with southern beliefs did not make them criminal. They simply saw "their" country attacked and disagreed with the political stance of the day. Victorian Americans were totally different from today's mindset - and today's mindset doesn't belong in Victorian heads.

Laurie wrote: "Who in the hell said anything about romanticizing the conspirators? I resent the fact that you are trying to put me in the category of some old Southern lady who still believes in moonlight and magnolias!

It might interest you to know that I have letters (primary source - originals) from my great-grandfather Huntt to his fiancee written from Baltimore in April of 1861, describing the Baltimore Riots. He ends with a sentence that basically says that he will love her forever -- unless he finds out she is a secessionist! I also have ancestors who fought on both sides.

We're not analyzing a Civil War romance novel here. We are trying to understand our country's history from all angles. "

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Rosieo here:
MerriamWebster.com
• Romanticize: to think about or describe something as being better or more attractive or interesting than it really is.

• Criminal: relating to, involving, or being a crime; guilty of crime; also: of or befitting a criminal <a criminal mind

I am not new in CW studies. I know about Maryland and the war - I get it. I understand patriotism and war-related killing. But killing is killing. It takes tough, rough people to do what Booth and company did. Personally, I do not hold them in high regard. JMO.

I selected this thread to see what scholars say about Grant and an assassin. I would feel very proud if I came up with some small contribution.

Laurie’s long post confused me as to its purpose. You guys are off topic all over the place on this forum! That is your way and I respect it. Probably new members let themselves get acclimated and do not post so quickly as I did upon signing up. I have been okay on Civil War scholar blogs and research is fun. I love the hunt. I love to talk about it. So I plunged in. It has been pretty choppy for me, I have to say. Not really working out.

Rosieo:

Hang in there. Don't throw the towel in yet. We have all been through the choppy waters, but if you persevere, things will get smoother, you will get to know everyone's style, their pluses and minuses, and you will therefore have a better handle as to when and how to proceed. We need you too.

John