The Mad Hatter

[sandman]

I have been off into WWII, True Crime, divorces, fire ants, and survival for the past seven years or so, but..........

...has any new info on Boston Corbett surfaced in the interim? The last I had heard from this "nut case" (one of my favorite characters from that period, BTW) he had escaped the lunatic asylum in Kansas and was hiding from "Booth's Avengers" down in Indian Territory. The trail seems to end with someone trying to collect his pension in I.T., c. 1880's. Did BC end up at the bottom of a well? Since there was a report that Booth survived and was hiding in Enid, I.T., perhaps Corbett......no, that's just ridiculous!

Any love here?

[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

[sandman]

(07-17-2012 07:37 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  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

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(07-18-2012 09:51 AM)sandman Wrote:  

(07-17-2012 07:37 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  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

thanks a ton, craig.....it would be neat to pitch this idea to 'unsoved mysteries' or 'mysteries at the museum' or some other some such. truly, corbett's life needs to be highlighted. absolutely fascinating character, this 'assassin of the assassin.'

[Laurie Verge]

I agree that Boston Corbett would make a great subject of a TV special! Since the current thinking is that he may have perished in the Hinckley firestorm, they could incorporate several historic events under one show. Don't you have a pipeline to the media, Mr. Sandman?

[sandman]

(07-18-2012 01:42 PM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  I agree that Boston Corbett would make a great subject of a TV special! Since the current thinking is that he may have perished in the Hinckley firestorm, they could incorporate several historic events under one show. Don't you have a pipeline to the media, Mr. Sandman?

if you and craig would like, i do have an email address i can try. sounds like a really good program.

[L Verge]

I don't know about Craig, but I say go for it! Of course, I'm a publicity hound for Surratt House; and I ascribe to a previous boss' theory that even a bad program is good publicity if it draws people's attention to history and makes them visit. Once they're in the door, a good museum then teaches the correct story.

I can't remember where I saw this, but someone once used the line "The Man Who Killed the Man Who Killed Abraham Lincoln." That title works for me.

[Craig Hipkins]

I agree that this would make a great Unsolved Mysteries episode!

Craig

[sandman]

(07-18-2012 06:47 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  I agree that this would make a great Unsolved Mysteries episode!

Craig

i sent an email this afternoon. we'll see shortly if anyone bites. if you guys have ideas, go for it. BTW--off topic, but who was that wonderful lady who ran the montgomery county CWRT? she is deceased, but i think of her often.

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(07-18-2012 06:51 PM)sandman Wrote:  

(07-18-2012 06:47 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  I agree that this would make a great Unsolved Mysteries episode!

Craig

i sent an email this afternoon. we'll see shortly if anyone bites. if you guys have ideas, go for it. BTW--off topic, but who was that wonderful lady who ran the montgomery county CWRT? she is deceased, but i think of her often.

well, i should have checked my email before i sent the above: here is the reply:

Hi Tom-

Thanks for your note and the story lead.

Sounds intriguing… was there a murder weapon found, or might there be any relevant museum artifacts floating around that you’ve heard of?

i throw this out to you museum/artifact historians. what say ye?

[Craig Hipkins]

Tom,

I believe that the Cloud County Historical Museum in Concordia, Kansas has some artifacts that belonged to Boston Corbett. Corbett's guardian, George Huron donated some stuff to the Kansas State Historical Society. I believe there were some books and a suitcase, and some other stuff. I took a trip out to the Little Bighorn last summer and drove through Kansas. On the way I stopped at Corbett's dugout (out in the middle of a cow pasture) and attempted to visit the museum, but I am sorry to say I picked the wrong day because it was closed! I can shoot them an E-mail to see exactly what they have in their possession. I remember reading somewhere that a G.A.R. Post had somehow acquired Corbett's long gun that he used to shoot birds with out near his dugout. I don't know what merit there is in that story because it came from a news clipping. I will have to check my files. Corbett's Colt revolver was either lost or stolen shortly after he shot Booth.
All interesting stuff!
By the way, many compliments on your book "The Darkest Dawn." A great read.

Craig

[sandman]

(07-18-2012 07:59 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  Tom,

I believe that the Cloud County Historical Museum in Concordia, Kansas has some artifacts that belonged to Boston Corbett. Corbett's guardian, George Huron donated some stuff to the Kansas State Historical Society. I believe there were some books and a suitcase, and some other stuff. I took a trip out to the Little Bighorn last summer and drove through Kansas. On the way I stopped at Corbett's dugout (out in the middle of a cow pasture) and attempted to visit the museum, but I am sorry to say I picked the wrong day because it was closed! I can shoot them an E-mail to see exactly what they have in their possession. I remember reading somewhere that a G.A.R. Post had somehow acquired Corbett's long gun that he used to shoot birds with out near his dugout. I don't know what merit there is in that story because it came from a news clipping. I will have to check my files. Corbett's Colt revolver was either lost or stolen shortly after he shot Booth.
All interesting stuff!
By the way, many compliments on your book "The Darkest Dawn." A great read.

Craig

great stuff, craig....i'll forward it tomorrow. yes, i too have been to the 'cow pasture' site maintained by the local boy scouts. the wing of the statehouse where corbett went postal is still there and 'old main' at the lunatic asylum is a magnificent old relic (i believe the actual building where corbett was imprisoned sits to the rear of old main).....anyway, we shall see. thnx!

[Laurie Verge]

Tom,

The lady who was the guiding light of the Montgomery County (Maryland) CWRT for so long was named Vickie Heilig. Her death was a great loss to the Civil War enthusiasts. And, I especially miss her wonderful Southern drawl! One of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.

[sandman]

(07-19-2012 09:09 AM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  Tom,

The lady who was the guiding light of the Montgomery County (Maryland) CWRT for so long was named Vickie Heilig. Her death was a great loss to the Civil War enthusiasts. And, I especially miss her wonderful Southern drawl! One of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.

every word said, laurie, is true. she was a joy, for sure. i spoke two or three times to Vickie's group. that last was notable for the DC Sniper running loose at the time. the show went on but it was obvious that night that the minds of everyone inside was on what was taking place outside. next morning i saw people running from their cars to the local starbucks. two days later i was in ft. wayne, indiana doing research at the lincoln archive there and i actually saw a man hiding behind his car door as he pumped gas a convenience store. such is the power of terror.

[LincolnMan]

It's always been interesting to me also about Corbett's revolver. Where is it? I read at one point someone offered to purchase it from Corbett but he refused. Then, as the story goes, it was lost or stolen-as Craig mentioned. I wonder if it had a serial number? Was it issued to Corbett to use in service or did it personally belong to him?

[sandman]

(07-19-2012 10:47 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  It's always been interesting to me also about Corbett's revolver. Where is it? I read at one point someone offered to purchase it from Corbett but he refused. Then, as the story goes, it was lost or stolen-as Craig mentioned. I wonder if it had a serial number? Was it issued to Corbett to use in service or did it personally belong to him?

from what i know bill, the pistol was govt. issue since corbett--upon becoming famous--refused to sell it to souvenir seekers since he claimed it was uncle sam's, not his.

[LincolnMan]

Now that makes sense to me. I know being an army veteran myself-the weapons were assigned to me but not owned by me. I certainly could not have sold any of them.