The Mad Hatter

[Craig Hipkins]

We still do not know anything of Corbett's whereabouts after he escaped from the nuthouse. He was last seen at the residence of his old army comrade Richard Thatcher in Neodesha Kansas about a week after his escape. After this it is all conjecture. I have been looking for a death record, but have thus far come up empty handed. I suspect that (and this is only speculation on my part) that Corbett was dry-gulched either down in Mexico where he might have been going, or somewhere in the southwest. If this is the case we will probably never find a death record. One thing that I have found in my research is Corbett's testimony in the trial of Andersonville Commandant Henry Wirz. Interesting to say the least.

I am currently doing research for a book on the impostor John Corbett who attempted to pass himself off as Boston Corbett to try and collect his pension. I wrote an article for the Surratt Courier that Laurie Verge included in the June issue. I can send it to you in a file if you want. Steven Miller has done a lot of genealogical research on Boston Corbett and the 16th N.Y. Cavalry.

Corbett was definitely an interesting character!

Craig