Booth Photo's

[Gene C]

Dave Taylor on his BoothieBarn blog has some great photo's of John Wilkes Booth. Some I have never seen before. Thanks Dave.

http://boothiebarn.com/picture-galleries/jwb-photos/

[LincolnMan]

Dave: like Gene- I've never seen some of those photos. What was the occasion of Booth posing with the Union officer?

[J. Beckert]

Dave: like Gene- I've never seen some of those photos. What was the occasion of Booth posing with the Union officer?

I don't think much is known about the circumstances Bill, except that it was taken in St. Louis in late 1861 or early 1862. On the back of one copy, one man is identified as Major or Col. C.C. Campbell. I think I've seen this referred to as the "Idle Group" photo.

[LincolnMan]

Thanks Joe. Does it strike anyone as odd that he would pose with a Union officer?

[J. Beckert]

I don't think so, Bill. It seems Booth saved his animosity for the Union leaders. Whether it's true or not we'll never know, but a young Union soldier said he ran into Booth in Taltavul's on the afternoon of April 14th. He said Booth said "Soldier! Come have a drink with us!." Being only 15 or 16, the young man refused and he said Booth said "Well, you must have something." and pulled a cigar from his vest pocket and gave it to him. He also physically carried Adam Badeau, Edwin's close friend and a member of Grant's staff, into Edwin's home during the New York riots. He mentioned the irony in that in a letter to his sister.

[LincolnMan]

Fascinating accounts Joe. It makes sense to me that Booth would'nt have anger towards soldiers.

[L Verge]

Booth's anger was with the political system that was, in his mind, changing the principles on which our country was founded. He had no fight with the common man.

[LincolnMan]

Do you think Booth hated General Grant? If so, it was because Grant was the leader of the Union forces? There is that incident where he sort of "stalked" the Grant carriage in the street. I think Mrs. Grant made mention of it in retrospect after the assassination. Then there is the issue of Grant thinking that Grant would be with the Lincolns on the night of April 14th- because the papers had announced it. Did Booth plan on killing Grant too? Or was he prepared to do so if Grant (had he been present) tried to stop him from killing Lincoln. Which brings to mind another question: was Booth surprised that it wasn't Grant in the box? Or had the word spread that he would not be there that evening afterall?

[RJNorton]

was Booth surprised that it wasn't Grant in the box? Or had the word spread that he would not be there that evening afterall?

I cannot recall what book it was in, but I do recall reading that after Booth "checked out" the Grants' carriage as it went by he went to Willard's (where the Grants had stayed) and was told by folks there that the Grants were leaving town.

[BettyO]

It seems Booth saved his animosity for the Union leaders. Whether it's true or not we'll never know, but a young Union soldier said he ran into Booth in Taltavul's on the afternoon of April 14th. He said Booth said "Soldier! Come have a drink with us!." Being only 15 or 16, the young man refused and he said Booth said "Well, you must have something." and pulled a cigar from his vest pocket and gave it to him. He also physically carried Adam Badeau, Edwin's close friend and a member of Grant's staff, into Edwin's home during the New York riots. He mentioned the irony in that in a letter to his sister.

Interesting post! I would think however that Powell, being a Confederate soldier, would probably have had more animosity against those whom he perceived as "enemy combatants"; i.e. in the presence of Union soldiers. Although Booth blamed the Federal government and it's leaders; Powell would therefore have placed blame on both the government AND it's military.

Does anyone know if Booth ever voted? Is there any record that he did? I know that in his youth he was a member of the "Know Nothing" party - or so it was stated.