Lewis Powell: The conspirator who was "different."

[HerbS]

Chess is fun but a very tough game!

[MaddieM]

...didn't Powell attend school and receive what was considered a proper education at that time? I think you also mentioned to me awhile back that Powell's mother attended an all girl school in Georgia?

Thank you Herb and Paige -

Yes Powell was taught by his father who was also the local schoolmaster. His mother attended a girl's academy in Georgia. Therefore, the old story that Powell was illiterate is a definite misconception. Powell made up this story when he related after his capture that he could "neither read nor write"; this do in reference to the handwritten statement on his Oath of Allegiance "To go North of Philadelphia and remain during the war...." He didn't want to let on to the authorities that he had read the notation!

Powell read medical books at the Branson house and played chess with the other boarders. Certainly not the past times of an uncouth booby....

I should think Powell was definitely smart enough to convince those who needed convincing that he was a dumb booby. I would too, if it might save my neck, save others, or achieve my goal.

[PaigeBooth]

Betty, one more thought on behalf of Mr. Powell......I believe he showed much kindness towards Mary Surratt. He did not want to see her hang. Is it true that he pleaded for her life on the day of the hanging?

[BettyO]

Powell considered himself guilty of implicating his landlady in the conspiracy. According to what was later said, Mrs. Surratt already knew about the conspiracy during it's planning stages. Still, because he was captured at her house, Powell blamed himself for her demise.

According to Dr. Gillette as well as Rath, Powell pleaded with anyone who would listen for Mrs. Surratt's life. Annie Surratt went to Powell's cell to ask him to plead as well - and he complied. He also spoke with Fathers Walter and Wiget about Mrs. Surratt's "innocence." I put this in quotes because even though Powell pleaded, I don't feel she was completely innocent. She knew more than was let on. She just didn't believe she would get caught, more or less due to her gender.

[HerbS]

CYA-Powell was dumb like a fox!

[LincolnToddFan]

William Seward himself made the most fascinating comment of all about Lewis. I can't remember it in detail, but it was something about when you are living in revolutionary times you have to expect assassination as part of the package. This guy was disfigured for life, almost lost his son and did lose his wife six weeks later as a result of Powell's actions but he seemed almost, if not understanding about it, he accepted it and bore no ill will. It just struck me, and stayed with me after I read it.

The exact comment in full was posted here on this Forum by Linda Anderson, but I don't remember which thread.

BettyO,

After reading your remarks it's the very first time I've ever allowed myself to believe that Mrs. Surratt might not have been as innocent as I've always believed she was. In fact when I first joined the Forum I made a very passionate and rather illogical defense of her, based mostly on her devout Catholic faith.

But now you have planted a seed of doubt....

[BettyO]

After reading your remarks it's the very first time I've ever allowed myself to believe that Mrs. Surratt might not have been as innocent as I've always believed she was. In fact when I first joined the Forum I made a very passionate and rather illogical defense of her, based mostly on her devout Catholic faith.

But now you have planted a seed of doubt....

Hello, Toia!

I simply don't believe that Mrs. Surratt was all that innocent. Powell, even though vocal about Mrs. Surratt's "innocence" told Father Walter, "She may have known something but I don't know how much."

There was Mrs. Surratt crying when the boys rode away during the kidnap venture; there was the business with Mrs. Surratt visiting Lew Powell at the Herndon House; and going to Surrattsville on the evening of the assassination (on Good Friday at that - couldn't she have waited a few more days?) which really looks suspicious.

I think and have always thought that she perhaps thought of herself as a "patriot" - doing what Rose O'Neal Greenhow did or Belle Boyd, but didn't consider the consequences - in her case, very grave. She was probably supporting or thinking she was supporting her son John, Jr.'s activities. She simply didn't realize how deeply she was getting embroiled in this mess.

Powell supposedly told Gillette, "She is a woman, and men do not make war on women."

[L Verge]

I'm director of Surratt House Museum, and it amazes people that I feel that Mrs. Surratt was involved in the early conspiracy plans. I think she sanctioned them, but did not realize when they turned to murder.

I might add that the museum does not take a stand one way or the other on her guilt or innocence - a good educational institution should always encourage people to read and study on their own. Our guides and staff give facts on both sides of the fence. If they have personal opinions, they may give them, but stress to the visitor that the opinions are strictly personal. Despite what some have accused us of, Surratt House is not a memorial to an innocent woman who was railroaded by the U.S. government.

[LincolnToddFan]

I agree with you and Laurie. Maybe she was simply told she would be helping the Southern cause like Rose Greenhow, and not told the details of what was going to happen. Maybe she carried out tasks that they asked her to, without knowing it involved the murder of the president.

I still struggle to accept that she would knowingly involve herself in an assassination plot.

Thanks BettyO and Laurie!

[Gene C]

Makes you wonder when she asked Wiechmann to pray for her intentions?

On the other hand, we know she withheld the information from Booth on where that realy bad pothole was, and we all know how that turned out.

[RJNorton]

On the other hand, we know she withheld the information from Booth on where that realy bad pothole was, and we all know how that turned out.

Yes, his head was up looking for the pickets that Mary knew had already departed. Just as in golf - if your head is up you might miss something.

[Eva Elisabeth]

William Seward himself made the most fascinating comment of all about Lewis. I can't remember it in detail, but it was something about when you are living in revolutionary times you have to expect assassination as part of the package. This guy was disfigured for life, almost lost his son and did lose his wife six weeks later as a result of Powell's actions but he seemed almost, if not understanding about it, he accepted it and bore no ill will. It just struck me, and stayed with me after I read it.

The exact comment in full was posted here on this Forum by Linda Anderson, but I don't remember which thread.

Yes, me, too, struck such admirable attitude and strength when I read about this!!!

Linda, if there's an original quote by Seward, I missed it, and would love to read it. Do you still recall it or where you posted this? I've only read what I posted here:
http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...age-2.html
Thanks!

[Linda Anderson]

William Seward himself made the most fascinating comment of all about Lewis. I can't remember it in detail, but it was something about when you are living in revolutionary times you have to expect assassination as part of the package. This guy was disfigured for life, almost lost his son and did lose his wife six weeks later as a result of Powell's actions but he seemed almost, if not understanding about it, he accepted it and bore no ill will. It just struck me, and stayed with me after I read it.

The exact comment in full was posted here on this Forum by Linda Anderson, but I don't remember which thread.

Yes, me, too, struck such admirable attitude and strength when I read about this!!!

Linda, if there's an original quote by Seward, I missed it, and would love to read it. Do you still recall it or where you posted this? I've only read what I posted here:
http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...age-2.html
Thanks!

Hi Toia and Eva,

It was from the "Something I've Wondered About" thread.

"He has no impression of seeing a knife, and yet his reflections at the moment would indicate that the purpose of the shadow (for he deemed it to be such) had been conveyed to his mind. These were as follows: 'We are engaged in a gigantic revolution. I have accepted it. Those who are attempting to overthrow the Government will shrink at nothing. Assassination has always attended revolution. There must be sacrifices of this nature in every revolution.' From this his mind turned to a contemplation of the face leaning over him, and he said to himself: 'That is a handsome face. How clean it is shaven! It is a very pleasant and attractive face.' Those who know Mr. Seward's habits, will at once perceive how natural it was that such thoughts should come into his mind. In regard to keeping himself close shaven, he is very particular, never allowing any sign of a beard to appear."

Cincinnati Daily Gazette - 2/6/1866

http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...t+overcoat

Seward also said the same thing in April 1865.

"Said, or rather wrote, Governor Seward yesterday, 'This is only history repeating itself - all great revolutions have their assassins as well as their heroes.'"

Age (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) "Mr. Seward's Opinion of the Assassination - Mrs. Lincoln and Her Family" 4/21/1865
[Correspondence Commercial Advertiser.]

---

Every person has a mixture of positives and negatives of varying degree and scope. Have you ever read James L. Swanson's book Manhunt, which portrays him in a worse light?

Yes, Powell panicked at Seward's house. As a Mosby Ranger, he was used to fighting outside; not in close quarters. There were also women present. This also threw him off. And yes, he seriously injured five people in the house that night. It is my opinion that he simply panicked. I also wonder what affect his being in the army from age 17 on had to do with this. Could he have had PTS Syndrome which could account for some of the violence? We don't know. A lot of researchers today are now thinking that PTS may have had a lot to do with the actions and reactions of a lot of young Civil War Soldiers. Many of them committed suicide after the war or turned to a life of crime. Take Jesse James for instance - same scenario. Went into the Confederate Army at the age of about 16. Look how he turned out.

Here is an article titled "PTSD and the Civil War" from the New York Times Disunion series.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/201...egion=Body

[Eva Elisabeth]

Many thanks, Linda!!!

[L Verge]

Hadn't Seward said something earlier in the war, however, about assassination not being in the American nature of politics?