Seward Attack

[Jim Garrett]

So how surprised do you think Lewis Powell was when he discovered that he was unsuccessful in his attack?

[Linda Anderson]

A New York Times article published May 12, 1865 states that Powell "says that when he fled from Mr. SEWARD's room he knew that he had failed, and expected to find the hall below full of men, summoned by the cries of murder raised by the colored boy, who had rushed into the street, which cries he himself had distinctly heard. But he was prepared, and determined to cut his way through them all, and was surprised to find himself unopposed."

Powell did run into State messenger Emerick Hansell whom he stabbed on his way down the stairs.

Betty, do you think Powell knew before he left the Sewards that he had failed? Seward had rolled off the bed while Powell was fighting with Robinson.

[MaddieM]

So how surprised do you think Lewis Powell was when he discovered that he was unsuccessful in his attack?

Why didn't Powell just stab Seward through the heart? It's the largest target one would have thought. Seems odd he stabbed him through the face.

[BettyO]

Linda -

I think Powell was so panic-stricken that he didn't think WHO was fatally injured; he simply wanted to do what he had been taught by Mosby - skedaddle! And if that meant that he would strike any male who got in his way, so be it....

He told Gillette that as soon as he mounted his horse he felt sick - knowing that he had just committed a terrible crime against God and man.

I think that at this juncture that he thought he had killed Seward. In court, it was said that he appeared "crestfallen" when he heard that he had not killed the elderly statesman. I think it was the other way around - he was ashamed of hearing his deed recanted in court. He was NOT a cold blooded killer as many a modern author describes him. Just my thoughts....

The room was dimly lit - Powell was panic stricken and didn't think. He had more or less never used a knife before and simply tried to cut Seward's throat - he apparently never thought of stabbing Seward in the heart - thank God. Apparently the kid had one ulterior motive - get in and get out quickly. When his gun missed fire, he lost it, apparently.....

[Rsmyth]

Was it a diamond stick pin?
As Booth lay dying on the porch of the Garrett farmhouse, Colonel Everton Conger searched his pockets. Conger removed a stone set in jet and gold stick pin from Booth’s undershirt. In 1863 Booth and black face comedic actor Dan Bryant exchanged gifts with Bryant receiving a flask. In all likelihood, this was the pin General Edward Davis Townsend received from General Thomas Eckert, Assistant Secretary of War, in August 1865.

[BettyO]

Was it a diamond stick pin?
As Booth lay dying on the porch of the Garrett farmhouse, Colonel Everton Conger searched his pockets. Conger removed a stone set in jet and gold stick pin from Booth’s undershirt. In 1863 Booth and black face comedic actor Dan Bryant exchanged gifts with Bryant receiving a flask. In all likelihood, this was the pin General Edward Davis Townsend received from General Thomas Eckert, Assistant Secretary of War, in August 1865.

That's the pin, Rich - the gold stick pin. What happened to it is anyone's guess. I, like Dave Taylor, believe that it's "lost" and misfiled in the NPS Vault - along with Powell's slouch hat and heaven knows what else....

[Rsmyth]

Betty. I do not live far from Eckert's home in NJ. Lets rip the walls down and we will probably find the pin, Powells clothes and possibly Corbett's pistol.

[BettyO]

Betty. I do not live far from Eckert's home in NJ. Lets rip the walls down and we will probably find the pin, Powells clothes and possibly Corbett's pistol.

Sounds good to me! I'll come up with a sledge hammer! HA!

John Elliott once broached a similar serious request to who ever owns the house and they were not amendable to doing that!

[Claudine]

[...] The room was dimly lit - Powell was panic stricken and didn't think. He had more or less never used a knife before and simply tried to cut Seward's throat [...]

Betty, I remember that you wrote on another thread (I don't remember where exactly, sorry!) that Powell was not much experienced in close combat. How is that possible after he had been a soldier for four years?

[BettyO]

[...] The room was dimly lit - Powell was panic stricken and didn't think. He had more or less never used a knife before and simply tried to cut Seward's throat [...]

Betty, I remember that you wrote on another thread (I don't remember where exactly, sorry!) that Powell was not much experienced in close combat. How is that possible after he had been a soldier for four years?

Hey, Claudine!

He was a foot soldier and then a cavalry soldier, meaning that he had not been in "hand to hand" combat. More or less as he told Dr. Gillette, he had stated that his army experience was simply shooting "rank and file" - i.e. from a distance, behind rocks, trees, buildings, fences, etc. No hand to hand up close and personal combat. Apparently also the same with Mosby in as much although he was mounted, they were shooting with pistols (Mosby did NOT use swords, although he carried one from time to time.) Powell had one or two engagements where they were chasing Union soldiers on horseback and another soldier (Syd Ferguson) managed to club the Union officer over the head with his pistol and knock him to the ground. So Powell was not used to close combat other than in that respect. He was not fighting hand to hand as he was at Seward's. Powell did not think that he would have to resort to using his knife at Seward's and that further confused and panicked him, I feel.

[Claudine]

[...] The room was dimly lit - Powell was panic stricken and didn't think. He had more or less never used a knife before and simply tried to cut Seward's throat [...]

Betty, I remember that you wrote on another thread (I don't remember where exactly, sorry!) that Powell was not much experienced in close combat. How is that possible after he had been a soldier for four years?

Hey, Claudine!

He was a foot soldier and then a cavalry soldier, meaning that he had not been in "hand to hand" combat. More or less as he told Dr. Gillette, he had stated that his army experience was simply shooting "rank and file" - i.e. from a distance, behind rocks, trees, buildings, fences, etc. No hand to hand up close and personal combat. Apparently also the same with Mosby in as much although he was mounted, they were shooting with pistols (Mosby did NOT use swords, although he carried one from time to time.) Powell had one or two engagements where they were chasing Union soldiers on horseback and another soldier (Syd Ferguson) managed to club the Union officer over the head with his pistol and knock him to the ground. So Powell was not used to close combat other than in that respect. He was not fighting hand to hand as he was at Seward's. Powell did not think that he would have to resort to using his knife at Seward's and that further confused and panicked him, I feel.

Thank you Betty! For your quick answer. I guess, that's why the Civil War is called the first modern war. You could simply shoot the enemy from a far distance.