Useless, useless

[BettyO]

Quote:I thought I probably read it in "Alias Paine", but I couldn't find it there. I did find this though:

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994...s-thornton

I'm familiar with this article.

I have heard of this quote from Powell's father - it's from a newspaper article. I'll have to locate it. I believe that what Reverend Powell meant (and his young son also) by having "died in a good cause" was that the father meant that Lewis had given his life for the Confederacy and what he believed in.

Lewis was more or less acting with the Confederate Secret Service.

Quote:"Train up a child, in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" - Provebs 22:6

I agree with Linda. lI think Powell's stong baptist upbringing, the time alone to meditate over what he had done, and the consequences of his actions certainly had an impact on him. He took his punishment with respect and dignity. I think his religious upbringing kicked in. Hopefully he was able to find some spiritual peace from God's love and forgiveness for what he had done.

I also agree with Gene and Linda. Powell was extremely remorseful as he said "From the time he jumped into the saddle he was miserable and horrified at what he had done." Powell had more or less never participated in "hand to hand combat" before. This is basically what he perpetuated - and it was a cowardly crime - attacking an elderly bedridden man and his family. Powell realized this - and therefore knew what he had done was wrong. One of his last words was a statement of regret and apologies to Mr. Seward and his family.

I'm not apologizing for his crime, but stating the fact that yes, he was very regretful of what he had done and how it would be viewed, particularly by his family. He was deeply concerned by the damage he knew that this would bring to his parents and their good name.

[KateH.]

To quickly jump back to the previous page, Booth saying "tell mother I died for my country" ironically seems to connect back to the story of Mary Ann Booth seeing the word "country" in the fireplace. I believe Asia Booth writes something about it in her memoir. John Wilkes probably heard that story a lot growing up and maybe flashed back to it as he lay dying outside the burning barn. That doesn't mean he was deeply thinking about that particular memory. It could have been subconscious. Maybe seeing the fire was the memory element that made him briefly recall the story in his brain. Even if the mind subconsciously has a moment of recognition, it can be an influence. That trigger could have had a minor influence on his words. Of course, we'll never know the whole truth.

Betty, I completely agree with what you wrote above about Powell. I also love the way you worded it I’ll leave it at that.

[My Name Is Kate]

I am content to give Powell the benefit of the doubt and believe that his remorse was genuine, and not just for himself and his family. But it certainly seems that all those people who goaded and deceived him into thinking that assassinating the President and Cabinet members, when the war was already virtually lost, would be not only an honorable thing to do, but was actually his duty, should have had to pay for their part in the crime. I don't know how they could live with themselves.

[BettyO]

Very interesting thought, KateH !

You are very correct in that JWB's fading memory in it's dying moments may have reverted back to that old family story he had probably heard countless times -- the fire; memories of his mother - could very well be! I believe that he was also considering the uselessness of his blighted hopes at his own hands for the Confederacy -

And thanks ever so much for your very kind words, KateH.

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I agree with you also, My Name is Kate. Powell was young - very young. Experienced as a soldier, yes. But, I don't believe he was as "hardened" as most folk believe. His youthful naivety and lack of worldly sophistication more or less made him a "tool" for older, wiser heads who thought that sacrificing a young man for their own means would glorify themselves and be an end to their means. Shame on those who think that a young life - any life - is expendable.

[Jenny]

Quote:I'm not apologizing for his crime, but stating the fact that yes, he was very regretful of what he had done and how it would be viewed, particularly by his family. He was deeply concerned by the damage he knew that this would bring to his parents and their good name.

That was a beautiful post, Betty.

Quote:But it certainly seems that all those people who goaded and deceived him into thinking that assassinating the President and Cabinet members, when the war was already virtually lost, would be not only an honorable thing to do, but was actually his duty, should have had to pay for their part in the crime. I don't know how they could live with themselves.

Maybe I need to read Alias Paine again or maybe I am misunderstanding, but didn't everyone pay for their part in the crime? John Wilkes Booth, Lew Powell, and three others who were connected but did not actually raise their hands in violence paid with their lives. If there were others involved like the Confederate Secret Service, then I understand the statement and agree - I just don't recall details.