A lot has been said on this thread with regard to the crimes of Powell and Booth. A lot of effort has been expended to defend Powell's motives and sympathize with his circumstances. And the underlying current is that he was a good and honest southern gentleman that was doing his duty and was genuinely sorry for his actions after the fact and that history has given him a bad rap by not accounting for what a good guy he was prior to or after his crime.

In my opinion, this is a very romanticized view of Powell. History has it right, in my opinion, by remembering him with contempt for his crime. He was a soldier that attemted to murder a defenseless civilain in a cold-blooded manner--in his house, surrounded by his family, and unable to defend himself by any means. Their may have been some military objective behind the crime but that does not, in my opinion, justify it.

Terrorists have a quasi-military objective in mind when they commit their crimes. But their methods are cold-blooded acts against civilians. They may be viewed by some as good god-abiding citizens who are loved by their families and friends; but when they fly airplanes into buildings, it is nothing short of cold-blooded.

Certainly Powell's crime does not rise to the atrocity of 9/11 but it is on the same continuim and should be viewed with similar contempt.

Interesting comment, wsanto. I am wondering if the South considered Lincoln their Bin Laden and Seward his top aide. I saw "Zero Dark Thirty" recently and I thought of Powell and his assault on the Seward family.

By the way, I am not romanticizing or defending Powell; I'm just trying to understand his actions. That's why I love Roger's forum; there are so many different points of view.

I agree with you Linda, but I also have to disagree. I don’t think I am romanticizing Lew Powell when I say that he was a good boy – yes, by our standards he committed an atrocious crime. But in his own day and time and more or less in war time, he was a soldier simply following orders – no matter how horrendous. His orders were to assist in a plot to wipe out the Federal government. I don’t feel that it is romanticizing someone to attempt to look at them through their own eyes in an entirely different era, or compare 19th Century Victorian people to 21st Century people. We are only looking at motives here as to why. Powell was a soldier. He was following orders. What he was involved in was most certainly NOT commendable in any way; but to compare him to those who fly planes into buildings and kill literally thousands is perhaps a bit dramatic -

And that is the beauty of Roger's forum. We can agree to disagree.

Let's start investigating the actions of John Brown to even out this debate.

(02-04-2013 01:29 PM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  Let's start investigating the actions of John Brown to even out this debate.

I feel the same about Brown. In my opinion, he was further along the continuum toward terrorism.

I know it has been said before but I have to say BettyO's book on Lewis is excellent! I believe she was able to give us the both good and dark side of Mr. Lewis . I also agree with her on Lewis only following orders as a soldier in the time of war. He did at times show a kinder and protector side of his personally. I have not finished the book yet but so far what a great read. What I not checked yet and maybe Betty or someone else can tell me is there a book about David Herold that they would recommend?

Thanks ever so much for the kind words, Gary!

I'm currently working on a second revised edition of Alias with even more info -

Lindsey Horn is currently working on a much needed biography of Davey Herold. I have been PUSHING Daniel C. to work on a biography of George Atzerodt!

(02-04-2013 01:40 PM)wsanto Wrote:  

(02-04-2013 01:29 PM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  Let's start investigating the actions of John Brown to even out this debate.

I feel the same about Brown. In my opinion, he was further along the continuum toward terrorism.

I'm glad to hear that. I was beginning to think that I was back in the 1850s abolitionist movement OR watching Betty and Powell being strung up by a military court once again. BTW: At least the U.S. government viewed the assassination and Powell's attempt on Seward as a MILITARY ACTION!

(02-04-2013 01:40 PM)wsanto Wrote:  

(02-04-2013 01:29 PM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  Let's start investigating the actions of John Brown to even out this debate.

I feel the same about Brown. In my opinion, he was further along the continuum toward terrorism.

I agree 100%

(02-04-2013 11:44 AM)wsanto Wrote:  A lot has been said on this thread with regard to the crimes of Powell and Booth. A lot of effort has been expended to defend Powell's motives and sympathize with his circumstances. And the underlying current is that he was a good and honest southern gentleman that was doing his duty and was genuinely sorry for his actions after the fact and that history has given him a bad rap by not accounting for what a good guy he was prior to or after his crime.

In my opinion, this is a very romanticized view of Powell. History has it right, in my opinion, by remembering him with contempt for his crime. He was a soldier that attemted to murder a defenseless civilain in a cold-blooded manner--in his house, surrounded by his family, and unable to defend himself by any means. Their may have been some military objective behind the crime but that does not, in my opinion, justify it.

Terrorists have a quasi-military objective in mind when they commit their crimes. But their methods are cold-blooded acts against civilians. They may be viewed by some as good god-abiding citizens who are loved by their families and friends; but when they fly airplanes into buildings, it is nothing short of cold-blooded.

Certainly Powell's crime does not rise to the atrocity of 9/11 but it is on the same continuim and should be viewed with similar contempt.

I've asked it before and I'll ask it again... who was responsible for the thousands upon thousands upon thousands of deaths in the Civil War? Certainly not Lewis Powell.

(02-04-2013 01:49 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Thanks ever so much for the kind words, Gary!

I'm currently working on a second revised edition of Alias with even more info -

Lindsey Horn is currently working on a much needed biography of Davey Herold. I have been PUSHING Daniel C. to work on a biography of George Atzerodt!

Thanks Betty, I look forward two your next venture with Mr. Paine! I will look forward to Miss Horns book on Herold. Also Betty as I am sure you know this past issue of the Surratt Courier had another great chapter on Paine's life. What a great paper it is to read. Thank you again Betty.

Opinions are opinions and we all have our own, but I'm feeling a lot of love here for the red headed She Rebel! Almost all of what we know of Powell comes from Betty's years of research. She makes no apologies for his actions and a lot of things, such as Confederate involvement, have no tangible evidence. It is our history, however and hopefully we'll understand more as more is discovered.

Quote:It is our history

Indeed it is Our History!!

Thanks ever so much, ya'll for putting up with me! HA!

I'm digging even deeper so as to give you all perhaps a better, clearer picture of Powell and what transpired - I'll be bringing out more information in the coming months -


Again, thanks for all! Love 'ya!

(02-04-2013 09:42 PM)GARY POPOLO Wrote:  

(02-04-2013 01:49 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Thanks ever so much for the kind words, Gary!

I'm currently working on a second revised edition of Alias with even more info -

Lindsey Horn is currently working on a much needed biography of Davey Herold. I have been PUSHING Daniel C. to work on a biography of George Atzerodt!

Thanks Betty, I look forward two your next venture with Mr. Paine! I will look forward to Miss Horns book on Herold. Also Betty as I am sure you know this past issue of the Surratt Courier had another great chapter on Paine's life. What a great paper it is to read. Thank you again Betty.

I take my hat off to anyone who takes the time and trouble, dedication and self sacrifice to research history. We should be grateful they do it.

(02-04-2013 09:11 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  

(02-04-2013 11:44 AM)wsanto Wrote:  A lot has been said on this thread with regard to the crimes of Powell and Booth. A lot of effort has been expended to defend Powell's motives and sympathize with his circumstances. And the underlying current is that he was a good and honest southern gentleman that was doing his duty and was genuinely sorry for his actions after the fact and that history has given him a bad rap by not accounting for what a good guy he was prior to or after his crime.

In my opinion, this is a very romanticized view of Powell. History has it right, in my opinion, by remembering him with contempt for his crime. He was a soldier that attemted to murder a defenseless civilain in a cold-blooded manner--in his house, surrounded by his family, and unable to defend himself by any means. Their may have been some military objective behind the crime but that does not, in my opinion, justify it.

Terrorists have a quasi-military objective in mind when they commit their crimes. But their methods are cold-blooded acts against civilians. They may be viewed by some as good god-abiding citizens who are loved by their families and friends; but when they fly airplanes into buildings, it is nothing short of cold-blooded.

Certainly Powell's crime does not rise to the atrocity of 9/11 but it is on the same continuim and should be viewed with similar contempt.

I've asked it before and I'll ask it again... who was responsible for the thousands upon thousands upon thousands of deaths in the Civil War? Certainly not Lewis Powell.

I guess either the seccessionists for fracturing the Union or Lincoln for defending it. It is a matter of perspective.

Powell was responsible for entering Sewards house and viciously attacking every defenseless civilian that confronted him inside on his way to murder Seward.