Lew Powell's Frostbitten Feet

[Natty]

(08-24-2012 05:16 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  perhaps they were talking about how strong people thought or perceived he was, and he related that tale as a balance to some misconceptions.. He seemed rather self effacing. It seems he showed a very vulnerable side in that cell, just before he died.

That sounds reasonable. Perhaps he was just trying to demonstrate that he was no different from other soldiers and was not the cold, hard individual many had him out to be. If that is the case, then this reference wasn't necessarily an indication of bad health, just the effects of malnutrition and enormous amounts of physical strain.

PS: I would really love to know more about the conversation so that I could see the exact context within which it was mentioned.

[MaddieM]

(08-24-2012 05:21 PM)Natty Wrote:  That sounds reasonable. Perhaps he was just trying to demonstrate that he was no different from other soldiers and was not the cold, hard individual many had him out to be. If that is the case, then this reference wasn't necessarily an indication of bad health, just the effects of malnutrition and enormous amounts of physical strain.

Who knows what you'd talk about in that extremity. Everything and nothing, the deep and the mundane? Didn't he leave his Bible with Dr Gillette? I wonder what became of that? Shame so many of these personal belongings didn't survive. For all we know, they could be locked up in someone's dusty old attic.

[Natty]

(08-24-2012 05:27 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 05:21 PM)Natty Wrote:  That sounds reasonable. Perhaps he was just trying to demonstrate that he was no different from other soldiers and was not the cold, hard individual many had him out to be. If that is the case, then this reference wasn't necessarily an indication of bad health, just the effects of malnutrition and enormous amounts of physical strain.

Who knows what you'd talk about in that extremity. Everything and nothing, the deep and the mundane? Didn't he leave his Bible with Dr Gillette? I wonder what became of that? Shame so many of these personal belongings didn't survive. For all we know, they could be locked up in someone's dusty old attic.

I think Dr. Gillette was supposed to send his effects to his family. I vaguely recall something about many artifacts from that time being destroyed in a house fire, but Betty would know for sure.
Yes, on that night Lewis might have purged himself of all kinds of thoughts and memories, particularly considering the limited amount of social contact he'd had during the previous months.
Perhaps he was just describing his time with the army to Dr. Gillette, recounting the old days and mentioned it in an offhand manner, not intending any significance.

I'd still love to see a transcript of the original conversation though, or at least the memoirs.

[MaddieM]

(08-24-2012 05:32 PM)Natty Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 05:27 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 05:21 PM)Natty Wrote:  That sounds reasonable. Perhaps he was just trying to demonstrate that he was no different from other soldiers and was not the cold, hard individual many had him out to be. If that is the case, then this reference wasn't necessarily an indication of bad health, just the effects of malnutrition and enormous amounts of physical strain.

Who knows what you'd talk about in that extremity. Everything and nothing, the deep and the mundane? Didn't he leave his Bible with Dr Gillette? I wonder what became of that? Shame so many of these personal belongings didn't survive. For all we know, they could be locked up in someone's dusty old attic.

I think Dr. Gillette was supposed to send his effects to his family. I vaguely recall something about many artifacts from that time being destroyed in a house fire, but Betty would know for sure.
Yes, on that night Lewis might have purged himself of all kinds of thoughts and memories, particularly considering the limited amount of social contact he'd had during the previous months.
Perhaps he was just describing his time with the army to Dr. Gillette, recounting the old days and mentioned it in an offhand manner, not intending any significance.

I'd still love to see a transcript of the original conversation though, or at least the memoirs.

I read it took Gillette a while to get over the whole episode. He had sleepless nights after Lewis died. You would though, wouldn't you?

Cynics might say that Lewis wept for himself, that he was merely sorry because he'd been caught and was paying the price. I don't think that's so at all. I think he wept more for his family, and his mum in particular. I think he realised the full impact of what a terrible ordeal he had caused them, and how they'd be when they found out. If he did cry for himself, I think he cried because he wanted his mother.

[Natty]

(08-24-2012 05:44 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  I read it took Gillette a while to get over the whole episode. He had sleepless nights after Lewis died. You would though, wouldn't you?

Cynics might say that Lewis wept for himself, that he was merely sorry because he'd been caught and was paying the price. I don't think that's so at all. I think he wept more for his family, and his mum in particular. I think he realised the full impact of what a terrible ordeal he had caused them, and how they'd be when they found out. If he did cry for himself, I think he cried because he wanted his mother.

Yes, Dr. Gillette was deeply disturbed by Lewis' execution and suffered from nightmares for weeks afterward. I think Betty mentioned somewhere that he had been able to hear Lewis "gasping for breath" after the drop.

I can't even begin to think of how I'd reacted. My 21st century self would have broken down on the gallows and pleaded for their lives. I would probably develop a trauma for life after such an experience!

I agree with you that Lewis was not weeping for himself! He was plagued by remorse and concern over the perceived dishonor he had inflicted upon his family. He knew that it would break his mother's heart and he realized that he would never, ever see her again. Dr. Gillette was the only person he had that night and he must have felt utterly unwanted and indescribably sad.
Surely, his mother could not come due to the distance and time constraints, but still...... no one else did either. That must have been extremely hard.

[MaddieM]

(08-24-2012 05:59 PM)Natty Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 05:44 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  I read it took Gillette a while to get over the whole episode. He had sleepless nights after Lewis died. You would though, wouldn't you?

Cynics might say that Lewis wept for himself, that he was merely sorry because he'd been caught and was paying the price. I don't think that's so at all. I think he wept more for his family, and his mum in particular. I think he realised the full impact of what a terrible ordeal he had caused them, and how they'd be when they found out. If he did cry for himself, I think he cried because he wanted his mother.

Yes, Dr. Gillette was deeply disturbed by Lewis' execution and suffered from nightmares for weeks afterward. I think Betty mentioned somewhere that he had been able to hear Lewis "gasping for breath" after the drop.

I can't even begin to think of how I'd reacted. My 21st century self would have broken down on the gallows and pleaded for their lives. I would probably develop a trauma for life after such an experience!

I agree with you that Lewis was not weeping for himself! He was plagued by remorse and concern over the perceived dishonor he had inflicted upon his family. He knew that it would break his mother's heart and he realized that he would never, ever see her again. Dr. Gillette was the only person he had that night and he must have felt utterly unwanted and indescribably sad.
Surely, his mother could not come due to the distance and time constraints, but still...... no one else did either. That must have been extremely hard.

I think his dad did. I think he set off but bearing in mind the distance...and he got word that Lewis had already died. So he turned back. I guess, he knew that the body would not be released to him and had to get back to his family as soon as. How very sad. It pains me to think about it.

When I first read about this whole sorry situation, I thought perhaps his family had disowned him. But when you start reading deeper, you realise that he was very much loved. His poor mother. I don't know how she lived with that. It would have destroyed me.

[Natty]

(08-24-2012 06:24 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  I think his dad did. I think he set off but bearing in mind the distance...and he got word that Lewis had already died. So he turned back. I guess, he knew that the body would not be released to him and had to get back to his family as soon as. How very sad. It pains me to think about it.

When I first read about this whole sorry situation, I thought perhaps his family had disowned him. But when you start reading deeper, you realise that he was very much loved. His poor mother. I don't know how she lived with that. It would have destroyed me.

Yes, his dad did make a failed attempt to reach him in time, only to find out that he was too late. There was no point for him to continue onwards, since he probably did not expect a warm reception and, as you said, likely had no hope to claim the body.
The family moved around a lot after Lewis' execution, trying to escape the stigma of the situation, but they did not disown him. His father once said that Lewis had been hanged in a good cause and his mother apparently kept on her mourning clothes long after he had died. She had lost another son as well, so the poor woman must have been completely wracked with grief.
I don't know how she dealt with these emotions; it is something I can't even begin to conceive of. They had killed her baby boy in a most horrible way and she had been completely helpless to stop it. Many people would have gone mad. I wouldn't have been able to deal with it, that's for sure.

[BettyO]

Powell mentioned the fainting and falling to stress, according to Gillette why he joined the cavalry; in other words he stated that the "long marches were hard for him" - much as Wild Bill stated. He was also, I think talking about all aspects of his life to Gillette. This kid had a crying need (literally) to talk to someone; guess it kept his mind off of the coming inevitable and made facing death easier. He was extremely vulnerable in the death cell - according to Gillette and the guards as well who reiterated it to the journalists - he wept constantly - alternately crying and praying while talking to Gillette and later Stryker for about an hour before he walked to the gallows.

---

(08-24-2012 05:27 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 05:21 PM)Natty Wrote:  That sounds reasonable. Perhaps he was just trying to demonstrate that he was no different from other soldiers and was not the cold, hard individual many had him out to be. If that is the case, then this reference wasn't necessarily an indication of bad health, just the effects of malnutrition and enormous amounts of physical strain.

Who knows what you'd talk about in that extremity. Everything and nothing, the deep and the mundane? Didn't he leave his Bible with Dr Gillette? I wonder what became of that? Shame so many of these personal belongings didn't survive. For all we know, they could be locked up in someone's dusty old attic.

Supposedly that bible was left with Gillette to send to his parents. It never reached them through the war torn South....

---

(08-24-2012 05:44 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 05:32 PM)Natty Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 05:27 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 05:21 PM)Natty Wrote:  That sounds reasonable. Perhaps he was just trying to demonstrate that he was no different from other soldiers and was not the cold, hard individual many had him out to be. If that is the case, then this reference wasn't necessarily an indication of bad health, just the effects of malnutrition and enormous amounts of physical strain.

Who knows what you'd talk about in that extremity. Everything and nothing, the deep and the mundane? Didn't he leave his Bible with Dr Gillette? I wonder what became of that? Shame so many of these personal belongings didn't survive. For all we know, they could be locked up in someone's dusty old attic.

I think Dr. Gillette was supposed to send his effects to his family. I vaguely recall something about many artifacts from that time being destroyed in a house fire, but Betty would know for sure.
Yes, on that night Lewis might have purged himself of all kinds of thoughts and memories, particularly considering the limited amount of social contact he'd had during the previous months.
Perhaps he was just describing his time with the army to Dr. Gillette, recounting the old days and mentioned it in an offhand manner, not intending any significance.

I'd still love to see a transcript of the original conversation though, or at least the memoirs.

I read it took Gillette a while to get over the whole episode. He had sleepless nights after Lewis died. You would though, wouldn't you?

Cynics might say that Lewis wept for himself, that he was merely sorry because he'd been caught and was paying the price. I don't think that's so at all. I think he wept more for his family, and his mum in particular. I think he realised the full impact of what a terrible ordeal he had caused them, and how they'd be when they found out. If he did cry for himself, I think he cried because he wanted his mother.

You are right, Maddie. Lew was extremely remorseful, according to Gillette and the guards. He cried a lot and he particularly "wept bitterly" for his mother, according to Gillette. He was all alone. He could hear the others mourning for their brothers, husband, mother. He had no one. I think hearing the cries of Annie Surratt for her mother, Atzerodt's mother's cries for her son and the wailing of Davey's sisters struck him as just how alone he really was. It only added to his own grief for his parents - particularly his mother.

[Natty]

(08-24-2012 06:44 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Powell mentioned the fainting and falling to stress, according to Gillette why he joined the cavalry; in other words he stated that the "long marches were hard for him" - much as Wild Bill stated. He was also, I think talking about all aspects of his life to Gillette. This kid had a crying need (literally) to talk to someone; guess it kept his mind off of the coming inevitable and made facing death easier. He was extremely vulnerable in the death cell - according to Gillette and the guards as well who reiterated it to the journalists - he wept constantly - alternately crying and praying while talking to Gillette and later Stryker for about an hour before he walked to the gallows.

Ah, thanks Betty. Are these conversations with Dr. Gillette anywhere online or in print? I have only found the appendix in Alias Paine where Gillette's son discusses a few elements of that night.

Poor Lewis. I've already poured my heart out on this subject many times, so I'll let it suffice to say that at least one person was there that night to hear what he had to say.

[MaddieM]

(08-24-2012 06:57 PM)Natty Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 06:44 PM)BettyO Wrote:  Powell mentioned the fainting and falling to stress, according to Gillette why he joined the cavalry; in other words he stated that the "long marches were hard for him" - much as Wild Bill stated. He was also, I think talking about all aspects of his life to Gillette. This kid had a crying need (literally) to talk to someone; guess it kept his mind off of the coming inevitable and made facing death easier. He was extremely vulnerable in the death cell - according to Gillette and the guards as well who reiterated it to the journalists - he wept constantly - alternately crying and praying while talking to Gillette and later Stryker for about an hour before he walked to the gallows.

Ah, thanks Betty. Are these conversations with Dr. Gillette anywhere online or in print? I have only found the appendix in Alias Paine where Gillette's son discusses a few elements of that night.

Poor Lewis. I've already poured my heart out on this subject many times, so I'll let it suffice to say that at least one person was there that night to hear what he had to say.

I find it quite extraordinary how deeply this affected me personally. And from reading your posts, you feel the same, as do others. Yes, he was a good looking lad, but then lots of people with sad or tragic stories are. I think it's his whole personality, the intriguing mixture of maturity and vulnerability and the utter waste of what was clearly a very special person with so much potential and promise. One might wonder what he would have become had the war not taken him on the pathway it did. No doubt a loving husband and father, working the land or following in his dad's footsteps. He was clearly a born healer, and may well have pursued that path.

I truly believe in the workings of karma. Things don't happen for no reason, but also that we have choices. I think Lewis seriously had an opt out from this pathway to destruction in the Seward house when the gun failed to fire. From accounts in American Brutus, he seemed hesitant when he was unable to gain access to Seward's bedroom, walking back down the stairs for a short while. I truly believe he was being guided out of there, but then his own free will took over and back he went and sealed his fate. Also, he took a wrong turn on his escape route and ended up in the cemetary. Perhaps we just can't fight our destiny.

[Gene C]

Didn't Eckert spend some time with Lewis?
Before you feel to sorry for Lewis, read Fanny's Seward's diary of that night at
http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?p...&Print=436

A horrific night
(I learned about this from Linda Anderson of this forum, she's the Seward expert)

He was a young man, but he made some poor choices. He grew up in a Christian home and knew better than to do what he did. He hurt a lot of people, and not just the ones he attacked. Mr Seward's wife and daughter Fanny would both be dead within a year of the attack, and they were not even injured that night.

[Natty]

(08-24-2012 07:15 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  I find it quite extraordinary how deeply this affected me personally. And from reading your posts, you feel the same, as do others. Yes, he was a good looking lad, but then lots of people with sad or tragic stories are. I think it's his whole personality, the intriguing mixture of maturity and vulnerability and the utter waste of what was clearly a very special person with so much potential and promise. One might wonder what he would have become had the war not taken him on the pathway it did. No doubt a loving husband and father, working the land or following in his dad's footsteps. He was clearly a born healer, and may well have pursued that path.

I truly believe in the workings of karma. Things don't happen for no reason, but also that we have choices. I think Lewis seriously had an opt out from this pathway to destruction in the Seward house when the gun failed to fire. From accounts in American Brutus, he seemed hesitant when he was unable to gain access to Seward's bedroom, walking back down the stairs for a short while. I truly believe he was being guided out of there, but then his own free will took over and back he went and sealed his fate. Also, he took a wrong turn on his escape route and ended up in the cemetary. Perhaps we just can't fight our destiny.

(08-24-2012 10:37 PM)Gene C Wrote:  Didn't Eckert spend some time with Lewis?
Before you feel to sorry for Lewis, read Fanny's Seward's diary of that night at
http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?p...&Print=436

A horrific night
(I learned about this from Linda Anderson of this forum, she's the Seward expert)

He was a young man, but he made some poor choices. He grew up in a Christian home and knew better than to do what he did. He hurt a lot of people, and not just the ones he attacked. Mr Seward's wife and daughter Fanny would both be dead within a year of the attack, and they were not even injured that night.

I think there is no wrong perspective in looking at this situation and there is no need to feel caught between two fences, either. I have enormous sympathy and understanding for both parties and even though I primarily concerned myself with matters pertaining to Lewis' life, I know that, objectively speaking, Lewis doesn't emerge from this story with a white vest. He cannot, however, be simplified and reduced to this one event and it should be possible to talk about him, even in a positive light, without having to make constant apologies for his actions.

Lewis made poor choices, yes, but he was not a fundamentally bad person and he might have, as Maddie said, led a completely different, decent life if he had not been caught up in this crowd of people. It is a classic case of the "road not taken". He was 20 years old at the time of his crime, had just endured four brutal years of war and carried a completely different mindset when it came to taking orders and questioning authority than we do today. Beyond his existence as a dutiful soldier, he was a sensitive, soft spoken soul, who cared for the sick, loved music and read medical books, possibly with dreams of becoming a doctor. Once you get beyond the label "Seward's assassin" and take a closer look at the man himself, it is easy to see the potential that was lost that day on the gallows, even despite the repulsive nature of his crime. The little details that make up his person are fascinating, shedding an entirely different light on someone his contemporaries wanted to "erase from memory". Lewis is a giant bundle of "what ifs?" and it is perfectly natural to speculate on what they could have been.
Lewis was, however, only the secondary victim of his own mistakes; as Gene pointed out, his actions led to horrible suffering and trauma on part of the Sewards. Seward's injuries would leave him scarred for life and his wife and daughter were left severely traumatized from the assault, possibly weakening their constitutions to the point of death. Fanny was also Lewis' age - a sensitive soul with literary talents, whose life was cut short a year later by tuberculosis. Shortly before, her mother had died of a heart attack, possibly brought on by the anxiety she suffered during and after the attack. Looking at Fanny, one could see the same lost potential and possibilities, enhanced by the undue suffering brought upon her by that horrible night. If it had never happened, would she have lived? She was an avid writer and kept detailed diaries - perhaps she would have published something later on in life? Yet another "what if?"

It is true that Lewis' great mistake left nothing behind but tragedy and broken lives. Ultimately, he was to blame for these misfortunes and his own. But it is possible to reconcile an understanding for Lewis and the Sewards, particularly when each subject is examined separately as persons of interest and all aspects of their lives are taken into account. An objective evaluation of Lewis or the Sewards cannot be made if one lingers solely on the night of the assassination. There is no understanding of either party to be found in such an event, nor should finding sympathy with one side exclude the capacity of finding understanding with the other.

PS: Gene, yes! I think Eckert was the one who slipped Lewis some chewing tobacco through his hood, after trying to get him to talk on the monitors. During one of the photos sessions, Lewis tried to obstruct the process by shaking his head and it was Eckert who stepped in and intervened when another officer struck him. I believe Lewis ended up giving him his pen knife, so there must have been some fondness there.

[LincolnMan]

Really nice summary Natty. It is always humbling to me personally when I realize the importance of choices we make in life-and sometimes certain choices can have such life-changing consequences.

[Gene C]

Thanks Natty! You are one of those talented people we have here who makes history come alive. You help us to see these folks as real people. Living, breathing, and feeling. They are more than just words on the page or screen. I sometimes forget that, and just make them items to study and enjoy learning about, as if they were fictional characters in a book. We are fortunate to have someone like you to help us see this additional side of history. We have a lot of people who are better than I am about expressing this. Thanks to you all - and especially Roger, who has made this fantastic forum for us to share our knowledge and thoughts.

[MaddieM]

(08-25-2012 05:45 AM)Natty Wrote:  

(08-24-2012 07:15 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  I find it quite extraordinary how deeply this affected me personally. And from reading your posts, you feel the same, as do others. Yes, he was a good looking lad, but then lots of people with sad or tragic stories are. I think it's his whole personality, the intriguing mixture of maturity and vulnerability and the utter waste of what was clearly a very special person with so much potential and promise. One might wonder what he would have become had the war not taken him on the pathway it did. No doubt a loving husband and father, working the land or following in his dad's footsteps. He was clearly a born healer, and may well have pursued that path.

I truly believe in the workings of karma. Things don't happen for no reason, but also that we have choices. I think Lewis seriously had an opt out from this pathway to destruction in the Seward house when the gun failed to fire. From accounts in American Brutus, he seemed hesitant when he was unable to gain access to Seward's bedroom, walking back down the stairs for a short while. I truly believe he was being guided out of there, but then his own free will took over and back he went and sealed his fate. Also, he took a wrong turn on his escape route and ended up in the cemetary. Perhaps we just can't fight our destiny.

(08-24-2012 10:37 PM)Gene C Wrote:  Didn't Eckert spend some time with Lewis?
Before you feel to sorry for Lewis, read Fanny's Seward's diary of that night at
http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?p...&Print=436

A horrific night
(I learned about this from Linda Anderson of this forum, she's the Seward expert)

He was a young man, but he made some poor choices. He grew up in a Christian home and knew better than to do what he did. He hurt a lot of people, and not just the ones he attacked. Mr Seward's wife and daughter Fanny would both be dead within a year of the attack, and they were not even injured that night.

I think there is no wrong perspective in looking at this situation and there is no need to feel caught between two fences, either. I have enormous sympathy and understanding for both parties and even though I primarily concerned myself with matters pertaining to Lewis' life, I know that, objectively speaking, Lewis doesn't emerge from this story with a white vest. He cannot, however, be simplified and reduced to this one event and it should be possible to talk about him, even in a positive light, without having to make constant apologies for his actions.

Lewis made poor choices, yes, but he was not a fundamentally bad person and he might have, as Maddie said, led a completely different, decent life if he had not been caught up in this crowd of people. It is a classic case of the "road not taken". He was 20 years old at the time of his crime, had just endured four brutal years of war and carried a completely different mindset when it came to taking orders and questioning authority than we do today. Beyond his existence as a dutiful soldier, he was a sensitive, soft spoken soul, who cared for the sick, loved music and read medical books, possibly with dreams of becoming a doctor. Once you get beyond the label "Seward's assassin" and take a closer look at the man himself, it is easy to see the potential that was lost that day on the gallows, even despite the repulsive nature of his crime. The little details that make up his person are fascinating, shedding an entirely different light on someone his contemporaries wanted to "erase from memory". Lewis is a giant bundle of "what ifs?" and it is perfectly natural to speculate on what they could have been.
Lewis was, however, only the secondary victim of his own mistakes; as Gene pointed out, his actions led to horrible suffering and trauma on part of the Sewards. Seward's injuries would leave him scarred for life and his wife and daughter were left severely traumatized from the assault, possibly weakening their constitutions to the point of death. Fanny was also Lewis' age - a sensitive soul with literary talents, whose life was cut short a year later by tuberculosis. Shortly before, her mother had died of a heart attack, possibly brought on by the anxiety she suffered during and after the attack. Looking at Fanny, one could see the same lost potential and possibilities, enhanced by the undue suffering brought upon her by that horrible night. If it had never happened, would she have lived? She was an avid writer and kept detailed diaries - perhaps she would have published something later on in life? Yet another "what if?"

It is true that Lewis' great mistake left nothing behind but tragedy and broken lives. Ultimately, he was to blame for these misfortunes and his own. But it is possible to reconcile an understanding for Lewis and the Sewards, particularly when each subject is examined separately as persons of interest and all aspects of their lives are taken into account. An objective evaluation of Lewis or the Sewards cannot be made if one lingers solely on the night of the assassination. There is no understanding of either party to be found in such an event, nor should finding sympathy with one side exclude the capacity of finding understanding with the other.

PS: Gene, yes! I think Eckert was the one who slipped Lewis some chewing tobacco through his hood, after trying to get him to talk on the monitors. During one of the photos sessions, Lewis tried to obstruct the process by shaking his head and it was Eckert who stepped in and intervened when another officer struck him. I believe Lewis ended up giving him his pen knife, so there must have been some fondness there.

Well said, Natty. Lewis Powell wasn't evil. I don't believe any of the conspirators were. War brings out the worst in people and also the best. I would imagine all them, Powell more than most, suffered because of that war. Was it revenge? A desire to stop further suffering? Bit of both probably.

From another perspective, you could say Lincoln and his decisions cost the lives of hundreds of thousands. Lewis Powell's mistake was a drop in the ocean compared to the suffering this man's decisions caused. Not that he deserved to die, but it's just my take on it.

The conspirators more than paid for their actions. In fact, I believe none of them deserved to die. Lewis Powell knew he'd perpetrated the worst crime of the four, and he was repentant, and genuinely so it seems.

Was Lincoln genuinely sorry for all the men who died on the battlefield? Did he weep over all those lives lost, that he and all the other higher ups involved in the war engineered? As the saying goes, all's fair in love and war. Is war a necessary evil? Is war ever worth it? But then someone might argue that all those lives were worth the end of slavery and the suffering caused by that.

The conspirators were victims just like every other soldier or civilian that suffered in the civil war.