Boston Corbett

[RJNorton]

maharba, you asked about Boston Corbett's wife. As Craig wrote, it was Susan R. Corbit. This corresponds with information Steve Miller kindly sent me many years ago. The couple was living at the same address as another couple - George M. Robinson and family. If you have access to the census Craig referenced you will see that he is correct.

[Gene C]

(01-07-2016 07:10 AM)maharba Wrote:  The Lincoln experts say it can not be so? and they all agree for 40 years? Always good to a have universal consensus from the best researchers in the business. I can just throw away my original research notes, crumbling scrapbooks and old newspaper clippings on Judge Brown, other topics.

I can't say that I've ever bought a book on amazon or online. So, I look for useful reviews and compare with my research notes. With my diminished or really no access to new books by Lincoln experts, maybe another Symposium member can tell me if Cloud County KS judge Brown is ever mentioned in any of the new or old books on Boston Corbett?

Quote: Craig Hipkins wrote -
The newspapers contained tons of these kind of stories about Corbett. Some of the details are obviously spurious, and are made for good reading!

A lot of these stories are obviously embellished for the general public ,and it is hard for the historian to sift through them for the parts that are true.

I would tend to trust the historians over the newspaper reporters for the reasons Craig stataed
We've seen in the Book section "Life, Crime and Capture of John Wilkes Booth", how George Townsend, a well known reporter during the Lincoln and reconstruction era, made several mistakes in his reporting of the assassination and trial. He collected the news articles and made them into that book.
I'd keep your notebooks though, they do make for interesting reading.

Surratt House Gift Shop is an excellent and reliable source to purchase books on the assassination and related topics.
http://www.surrattmuseum.org/the-visitors-center

[maharba]

Thanks for the information, Roger. I'll look harder to find a marriage and the family of Susan R. Corbett. And now I know how to start a new thread, I'll try that this weekend on Lincoln. The Cloud County KS Probate Judge Daniel Leander Brown was apparently a bit of a rounder, himself. He had tried to get Corbett going on an apparent lecture circuit. Each time,
Boston Corbett never even got on topic, never caught up with
Booth or checked into Andersonville either. Instead, Corbett began his yelling gospel routine, and the audience would filter out. Daniel Brown had been a sheriff in LaPorte Indiana and likely knew how to use his guns, when necessary. His grandfather was a Capt. John Brown. He was the notary (and
perhaps more?) on Corbett's disability pension. The pension reads like Boston Corbett was all stove up and maybe not far from death. I wonder how enfeebled he really was, physically,
at that date.

[Jim Garrett]

I have read "The Madman and the Assassin" and while it's a fast entertaining read, it suffers the same fate that many writers that aren't historians first suffer and that is not knowing their topic inside out. In the very opening pages of "Madman". the author has Herold sleep staying at the Garrett farm, when he was actually at the Clark home.

[RJNorton]

There are many sides to Boston Corbett. I think I'll share a story that Steve Miller sent me many years ago. Corbett was a prisoner being sent to Andersonville when the following incident happened. It was told by a fellow prisoner of Corbett's named William Collins.

"At Macon there were about a thousand prisoners who had arrived ahead of us. The train we were on unloaded our thousand making 2000 in all. We were taken to an old pasture or common near the railroad tracks where a furrow was ploughed around it for a deadline. There was a small stream of water close to the guard line and the prisoners made a rush for it, most of them had no water for many hours, but the guards kept them back. One of the more venturesome than the rest got through the line and attempted to fill his canteen. He was immediately shot in the arm with buckshot by one of the guards. He was pushed back among our men and laid under a tree. The wounded man was suffering greatly and called for water to ease his pain, but none had any in his canteen. Boston Corbett stepped out of the ranks, having been unable to stand silent any longer. He crossed the deadline, filled his canteen in the stream and gave the wounded man a drink. The guards continually threatened him with death, but Corbett ignored them and went about his business. Despite their threats he returned unharmed and rejoined the ranks of prisoners. The cheers of the soldiers at this brave deed could have been heard one mile away, but Corbett seemed to think it was not out of the ordinary. It was the bravest deed that I had seen during the war. We arrived at Andersonville prison the next day."

[maharba]

After Corbett had shot the man in the back, he immediately began to prep and dress up his story, it appears. And his alibi's changed over time. According to Wiki, Corbet told Stanton that he shot in self-defense, that Booth would have shot him. I think Corbett had been court-martialed several times by now, and he was in real fear of being hanged this time. Corbett had another immediate story that he shot Booth because he thought Booth would shoot some other soldier. Then another version that he aimed to hit Booth in the body, but JWBooth had "bent over just that instant" and so Corbett's shot him in the head "at the exact same spot Lincoln was hit" and that God had directed his bullet. What we can be sure of is that the man in the barn was on crutches and offering a fair fight against 20 men, face on. Instead, some coward shot the man leaning on crutches in the back, from safe concealment in the dark. Corbett could taste that $100,000 as he pulled the trigger? We are told several times that Corbett's bullet had the same location as Lincoln's. But the man in the barn Boyd or Booth was shot not in the head, not behind the left ear, but in the back. Even before any trial, these claims of JWBooth's 'capture' are in conflict. Was there another man then that Corbett did shoot in the head, behind the left ear? I can't tell yet what Boston Corbett was shooting with. Was it a pistol or a rifle? Where did that weapon get to, when was it ever produced as evidence, where is it today?

[Wild Bill]

What Courts Martial? What shot in the back? I guess the neck bones on display at the Medical Museum belong to someone else?

Stanton saw a great benefit in making Corbett a hero--the man who shot the man who shot Lincoln. If Corbett changed his story, it merely reflected what an unbalanced person this self-castrated nut was. No one else fired a shot at the barn. Admittedly Conger and Luther argued which of them did it before Corbett came forward.

The Orlowek thesis that someone else died has not stood the passage of time nor has the John St. Helen story, be it the touring carcass or the man in Texas or Oklahoma. Most of this stuff came from Henry Ford's personal newspaper, the Independent.

There is some argument whether the Cavalry was armed with revolvers or carbines But this can be solved by the assertion that Rick Smith and I assert--namely, that Booth committed suicide, We got a lot of nay-saying over this, but I invite you to read it at “Could John Wilkes Booth Have Committed Suicide?” in SURRATT COURIER, 38 (May 2013), 3-8.

[L Verge]

Amen, Bill!

Despite the wild accusations made against Corbett over the years, good researchers have determined that (despite his definitely religious-oriented eccentricities), the man was a good soldier fighting for what he thought was God's cause. Sounds like millions of other good soldiers over the centuries. And during the 19th century, who was going to argue with a man who claimed that God had directed him to shoot?

One of the best researchers in the field, Mike Kauffman, used to narrate many of the Surratt bus tours over the Booth escape route, and I have heard him repeat many times the following scenario of how Booth came to die: The unit was stationed at certain intervals around the barn, and once the fire was lit, it was like putting a spotlight on the assassin. Soldiers in the darkness outside could easily see between the gaps in the barn's siding.

Booth had been taunting the soldiers to come in and get him, draw back and give him a chance to defend himself, etc. They could see his agitation as the flames came closer to him. It was reported that he looked around and decided to throw aside his crutch and position his carbine to "come out shooting." The scenario has Corbett recognizing what could happen and responding by taking a shot to bring him down. Mike used to say that Corbett aimed for Booth's shoulder in order to make him drop the rifle at the same time that Booth tried to walk without support. Booth limped down on his left side, and the bullet went through his neck instead of the shoulder. BTW: when the dying man was brought outside, identification began immediately with photographs of Booth that the unit had carried with them. No degrading of the body had occurred at that time except for the neck wound causing paralysis.

Bill mentioned the Henry Ford newspaper reports. They came about when Ford was debating the mummy theory and whether or not he should believe that it was Booth and acquire it for his museum in Dearborn. He had one of his best investigative correspondents, Fred Black, do thorough research on the Bates' claims. The result was that neither Ford nor Black gave credence to the mummy story.

As for the suicide theory, Bill and Rick's article really proves that Booth COULD have committed suicide, not that he DID. They were challenging the diagnosis of Dr. John K. Lattimer who had previously published a book in which he asserted that there was no way that Booth could have inflicted such a womb on his neck. It is still a contention among many others that that was a very awkward position in which to commit suicide...

[RJNorton]

(01-09-2016 03:14 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Bill mentioned the Henry Ford newspaper reports. They came about when Ford was debating the mummy theory and whether or not he should believe that it was Booth and acquire it for his museum in Dearborn. He had one of his best investigative correspondents, Fred Black, do thorough research on the Bates' claims. The result was that neither Ford nor Black gave credence to the mummy story.

Blaine sent a very interesting letter on this topic which I posted here.

[maharba]

The fabulous (fake) narratives of Corbett have him a brave exemplary soldier. The facts are that he was courtmartialed one or two times, and sentenced to be shot, but which was never carried out. I tend that Boston Corbitt enlisted once or twice for the sign-up money. Corbett clearly shot the man in the back whether he aimed for his foot or whatever other claim. It was extraordinarily cowardly. He lied to Stanton that he had to shoot Booth who would otherwise have shot him. He lied about Booth/Boyd going to shoot another soldier. And Corbett, the supposed born-again Christian had no compunctions about lying, even claiming that God directed him to shoot, and that the bullet had the same path (behind the left ear) as Lincolns wound. I think there is a term for a supposed Christian who both lies about a murder and who switches the blame to 'the will of God'. Where have we heard a long pious speech where a man "blames it all on the will of God and not his fault at all"? I have old scrapbook clippings with conflicting on the murder weapon. One man in Kansas bought Corbet's pistol for $5. Another in VA claims to have located the rifle that Boston Corbet shot Booth with. When Corbett went missing in action, and was captured by John Singleton Mosby, he supposedly fought it out to the last before giving up --shooting 12 times with a rifle...but hitting nothing. When Corbett had his last (known) mayhem episode in Topeka at the statehouse, again he supposedly shot 12 times, and again missed every time. After the Booth debacle, I believe Corbett's weapons were immediately taken from him, and he was brought back to DC expecting to be court martialed and likely hanged. That when he was released, he likely was given his weapons back to him. The same ones, or did someone realize the value of the Booth/Boyd murder weapon and give Corbett similar weapons back? Corbet was robbed later of both his weapons and his reward money. The equally unbalanced Ed Stanton ran the investigation almost like the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain, with closing comments similarly off-hand and bizarre, The rebel is dead, the patriot lives. Stanton appropriated the rocking chair in which Lincoln was shot. I wonder if Stanton also saw the intrinsic historical value of Corbett's murder weapon and secured that for his odd relics collection? If not, why not. And we still do not know the murder weapon --pistol or rifle-- that Corbet used in back-shooting the man on crutches there in the barn.

[Gene C]

(01-09-2016 07:42 PM)maharba Wrote:  I tend that Boston Corbitt enlisted once or twice for the sign-up money.

What tends you to believe that?

Quote:I think there is a term for a supposed Christian who both lies about a murder and who switches the blame to 'the will of God'

I'm unfamiliar with that specific term. What is it?
Is there a similar term for a supposed non Christian who both lies about a murder and who switches the blame to someone else?

[L Verge]

Mr. or Ms. Maharba - I really wish that you would stop reading spurious newspaper clippings and other sloppy research and read some of the excellent works that have been written on the Lincoln assassination by men and women who have spent decades doing their homework. You could learn so much from them.

P.S. I believe that John Brown organized his "cause" to wipe out slave holders under the assumption that he was doing God's will also.

[maharba]

I tend that Boston Corbitt enlisted once or twice for the sign-up money.

What tends you to believe that? >

Mr. or Ms. Maharba - I really wish that you would stop reading spurious newspaper clippings and other sloppy research>

Interesting thoughts, and thanks both. Gene I said in my post Jan 5 "A hatter he worked with in NY said that he recruited Boston Corbett to sign up"

That sounded like an oblique reference, and the term "he recruited" him, makes me think Corbett was a recruit in the place of the other hatter (for money).

And, L. Verge, you may be right. The probate judge Daniel Leander Brown in old newspaper articles may never even have existed --after decades he has yet to appear in those Lincoln experts books. Have you gotten a chance to look at the original pension application of Boston Corbett? I see Brown notarized his invalid application, but I think Brown did a bit more than that, and will try and detail that in a future post/reply. You bring up another interesting allusion, LVerge,

I believe that John Brown organized his "cause" to wipe out slave holders under the assumption that he was doing God's will also. >

I had given that some thought, in parallel to Boston Corbett. And considering that this 'born again' Christian had no problem lying repeatedly and swearing in God's holy name. (Lying to Stanton that Booth would have shot him, lying to say that God
directed his bullet..identical as Lincolns wound behind the ear, lying at lectures about his heroics, etc.) So the parallel to ponder is this: Why did Corbett the 'Jesus clone with hair and renewed peaceful Christianity', what reason did Boston Corbett have to sign up and zealously wish to go South and shoot those folks living there? If Corbett was true to himself or Christianity he now professed, he would certainly never have done that. While John Brown wanted to end slavery, Boston Corbett did not say any such thing. The invigorated new christian, Corbett, did not enlist because he wanted to end slavery. So the parallel you suggest is interesting.

[RJNorton]

(01-09-2016 07:42 PM)maharba Wrote:  When Corbett had his last (known) mayhem episode in Topeka at the statehouse, again he supposedly shot 12 times, and again missed every time.

Can you post a source for this? From what I have read I think he threatened others in the statehouse but did not fire his weapon at all, let alone 12 times.

[Gene C]

I am so glad you find interesting parallels.

Try this idea, maybe Corbett's mind wasn't working rationally, and hadn't for many years

You may find this food for thought, a quote from an article found on the internet.
"Corbett was arrested, declared insane, and committed to the state hospital in Topeka. In May 1888, while taking a walk on the grounds with other patients, Corbett saw a horse hitched near the entrance and used it to make his escape. He rode south to Neodesha, stayed with a friend for a couple days, then said he was leaving for Mexico.

A few years later a man claiming to be Corbett surfaced, trying to collect his pension. He was found to be an impostor. No further official record of Corbett exists."

Unlike many of your posts, here is my source
https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/thomas-p...bett/15134

Quote: Why did Corbett the 'Jesus clone with hair and renewed peaceful Christianity', what reason did Boston Corbett have to sign up and zealously wish to go South and shoot those folks living there? If Corbett was true to himself or Christianity he now professed, he would certainly never have done that. While John Brown wanted to end slavery, Boston Corbett did not say any such thing. The invigorated new christian, Corbett, did not enlist because he wanted to end slavery.

This isn't the place for this type of discussion, but you have an unhealthy lack of knowledge regarding the Bible and what it has to say about Christianity, and the relationship between God and man.