The Mad Hatter

[Laurie Verge]

Regarding how Corbett should be seen in history - hero or lunatic - I agree with Craig. I would not classify him as either. I consider him a religious fanatic with the self-castration being a product of that. To me, his "religious medicinal" actions are much the same as the men (and women) today who cover their bodies with multiple tattoos and all sorts of body piercings in order to make their "statements" to society. Boston thought he was making his to God. I have much the same thoughts on his terrorising the Kansas legislature - it was done in the name of God.

At Garrett's farm, I believe he declared that God directed him to save his comrades as well as to avenge Lincoln's death. James O. Hall, Michael Kauffman, and Steve Miller (all experts on what happened at the last) have said that they have found no evidence that orders were given to take Booth alive. In fact, Steve has said that such an order is somewhat ridiculous because it places the law enforcement officers in grave danger when involved in a shoot-out.

I feel that Boston Corbett was another soldier following orders - just like Powell. If his superiors had thought that he was a lunatic, he would have been drummed out of the corps long before the assassination.