The Mad Hatter

[Laurie Verge]

It has been my impression that Boston's own comrades "rolled" him and took the revolver within days of Booth's death. He then requested and was issued a new one so that it could be proudly displayed as he posed for pictures.

[Craig Hipkins]

(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?

Hey Bill, You bring up a good question about serial numbers. I still remember mine from Boot Camp and that was 26 years ago! There were so many weapons manufactured during the Civil War and by so many different companies. I believe that most weapons had serial #s, but I doubt if a particular weapon could be traced to a certain individual like they can today. Somebody probably owns Corbett's revolver today and has absolutely no idea of its historical significance.

Craig

---

(07-18-2012 09:21 PM)sandman Wrote:  

(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!

Tom,
That is some excellent info! I was unaware that the old building where Corbett was locked away was still in existence. I might actually have to plan another trip out there.

Craig

[sandman]

(07-19-2012 05:34 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  

(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?

Hey Bill, You bring up a good question about serial numbers. I still remember mine from Boot Camp and that was 26 years ago! There were so many weapons manufactured during the Civil War and by so many different companies. I believe that most weapons had serial #s, but I doubt if a particular weapon could be traced to a certain individual like they can today. Somebody probably owns Corbett's revolver today and has absolutely no idea of its historical significance.

Craig

---

(07-18-2012 09:21 PM)sandman Wrote:  

(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!

Tom,
That is some excellent info! I was unaware that the old building where Corbett was locked away was still in existence. I might actually have to plan another trip out there.

Craig

not sure it is the actual building, craig, but...as i recollect it is a 1) small two or three story building attached to the 2) rear of 'old main' (see link below, 1/12/07) in 3) native limestone in the 4) functional kansas architecture of the time....some minor snooping among the topeka city plats should suffice....the time we are hoping for should be pre-1888 or so.....

http://wildwestblogcom.blogspot.com/search?q=old+main

[L Verge]

I think we have a blogger on this forum who might be able to add more about Corbett's revolver. Wes Harris is working on a book on the "Tools of the Assassin." He spoke at the 2012 Surratt conference and had so much material that he only got half of it done in the time we allot. In fairness, we have invited him back to share Part 2 with us this coming March.

To be honest, I expected his talk to be a boring, man thing. It was VERY interesting! I think Part 2 deals with fakes, scams, etc.

[sandman]

(07-19-2012 03:21 PM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  It has been my impression that Boston's own comrades "rolled" him and took the revolver within days of Booth's death. He then requested and was issued a new one so that it could be proudly displayed as he posed for pictures.

laurie, it shows how desperate the feds were when they gave a gun to a man who invented the term, 'going postal.'

[Laurie Verge]

Tom mentioned earlier about speaking in the Washington, D.C. area while the Beltway Sniper was still on the loose. Today is probably an inappropriate time to bring this subject up because of what has just happened in Colorado, but the Beltway Sniper had several ties to the area around Surratt House.

His wife lived within a mile of our museum, his first shooting victim, who survived, was at a liquor store in the village of T.B. (about five miles south of us), and another one who survived was shot in the parking lot of a hometown Italian restaurant, also within a mile of Surratt House, that we often visited after Surratt meetings. The man who was shot had his arm permanently disabled and he ended up selling the restaurant and moving out of the area because of the trauma.

Memories bring back the thought of what the members of the Kansas state legislature must have felt like when Corbett threatened the room after hearing blasphemy from someone.

[Craig Hipkins]

(07-19-2012 06:25 PM)sandman Wrote:  

(07-19-2012 05:34 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  

(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?

Hey Bill, You bring up a good question about serial numbers. I still remember mine from Boot Camp and that was 26 years ago! There were so many weapons manufactured during the Civil War and by so many different companies. I believe that most weapons had serial #s, but I doubt if a particular weapon could be traced to a certain individual like they can today. Somebody probably owns Corbett's revolver today and has absolutely no idea of its historical significance.

Craig

---

(07-18-2012 09:21 PM)sandman Wrote:  

(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!

Tom,
That is some excellent info! I was unaware that the old building where Corbett was locked away was still in existence. I might actually have to plan another trip out there.

Craig

not sure it is the actual building, craig, but...as i recollect it is a 1) small two or three story building attached to the 2) rear of 'old main' (see link below, 1/12/07) in 3) native limestone in the 4) functional kansas architecture of the time....some minor snooping among the topeka city plats should suffice....the time we are hoping for should be pre-1888 or so.....

http://wildwestblogcom.blogspot.com/search?q=old+main

Tom,
Great Blog. Perhaps it was Corbett's ghost that created that vortex
Here is my blog incase you are interested.
Craig
http://crhipkins.blogspot.com

[sandman]

(07-20-2012 05:35 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  

(07-19-2012 06:25 PM)sandman Wrote:  

(07-19-2012 05:34 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  

(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?

Hey Bill, You bring up a good question about serial numbers. I still remember mine from Boot Camp and that was 26 years ago! There were so many weapons manufactured during the Civil War and by so many different companies. I believe that most weapons had serial #s, but I doubt if a particular weapon could be traced to a certain individual like they can today. Somebody probably owns Corbett's revolver today and has absolutely no idea of its historical significance.

Craig

---

(07-18-2012 09:21 PM)sandman Wrote:  

(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!

Tom,
That is some excellent info! I was unaware that the old building where Corbett was locked away was still in existence. I might actually have to plan another trip out there.

Craig

not sure it is the actual building, craig, but...as i recollect it is a 1) small two or three story building attached to the 2) rear of 'old main' (see link below, 1/12/07) in 3) native limestone in the 4) functional kansas architecture of the time....some minor snooping among the topeka city plats should suffice....the time we are hoping for should be pre-1888 or so.....

http://wildwestblogcom.blogspot.com/search?q=old+main

Tom,
Great Blog. Perhaps it was Corbett's ghost that created that vortex
Here is my blog incase you are interested.
Craig
http://crhipkins.blogspot.com

Craig.....what a marvelous, well-written, well thought out blog....dude, that is good, personal and up close writing.....believe i will be a regular...

http://crhipkins.blogspot.com/

[Craig Hipkins]

Tom,
Thanks for the nice comments! I pretty much write about anything that crosses my mind during the day. Some of it just flows in a stream of consciousness. By the way, on my blog there is a picture of my library found in the Introduction. Your book Darkest Dawn sits on the second shelf about halfway down wedged between Steers' Lincoln Legends, and Goff's bio of R.T. Lincoln.

Craig

[L Verge]

Craig,

That is a great blogspot! I especially liked the cherries and milk speculation on Zachary Taylor. I had heard that story before, and it always reminds me of a cousin of my grandmother who died in our Huntt home. I was always told that he climbed the cherry tree and ate too many cherries. His death came quickly also and was diagnosed as a ruptured appendix from eating too many cherries - some of which were not ripe enough.

[LincolnMan]

Fellow Forum members-do you view Boston Corbett ultimately as a "hero" or lunatic or something of a combination of both? I think I read Stanton "decided" to make him a hero- but wasn't happy that Booth was killed. Or-was Stanton inwardly pleased Booth was dead?

[Craig Hipkins]

(07-22-2012 12:07 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Craig,

That is a great blogspot! I especially liked the cherries and milk speculation on Zachary Taylor. I had heard that story before, and it always reminds me of a cousin of my grandmother who died in our Huntt home. I was always told that he climbed the cherry tree and ate too many cherries. His death came quickly also and was diagnosed as a ruptured appendix from eating too many cherries - some of which were not ripe enough.

Laurie,

That's a great story! He must have ate a ton of them. I wonder if he washed them down with milk I always wondered if Taylor might have gotten sick from the unpasteurized milk. I can remember reading another story about unripe fruit. During the American Revolution, General Horatio Gates men on the march in South Carolina were not provided with proper rations. Therefore, along the way they stopped at various apple orchards and consumed large quantities of unripe apples. A lot of them became sick so that when they met Cornwallis and the British at Camden the army was routed.

Craig

---

(07-22-2012 02:06 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Fellow Forum members-do you view Boston Corbett ultimately as a "hero" or lunatic or something of a combination of both? I think I read Stanton "decided" to make him a hero- but wasn't happy that Booth was killed. Or-was Stanton inwardly pleased Booth was dead?

Bill,
That's a good question. In my humble opinion I wouldn't consider Corbett to be a "hero" or a "lunatic" as the term applies itself. He was a complicated individual, and he definitely had issues! He castrated himself with a pair of scissors. Obviously no one in their right mind would do this. However, he seemed to always have possession of his faculties even if he was doing something irrational like holding the Kansas State Legislature at gunpoint. I am no doctor, and certainly not qualified to give an expert opinion on his illness, but I suspect that it might have been some sort of genetic thing, perhaps a form of schizophrenia. His father, who's name was Bartholomew Corbett was found in his house in England sleeping among walls of birdcages, old clothes and other junk. The only way that he could move around the house was by way of a cleared path to his bedding. I guess that today he would be a prime candidate for one of those reality TV shows where people live in trashed houses (I forget the name of the show.)
As far as Corbett being a hero. He never considered himself one. To him, he was just a soldier doing his duty. By shooting Booth at Garrett's farm he stated many times that he believed that Booth was going to shoot at his comrades. I don't believe that there is any evidence that Stanton ordered anyone to bring Booth back alive. If he did, I think that Corbett would have been court martialed. There has been some speculation that Stanton was happy that Booth was dead because "dead men tell no tales" But that is another subject

Craig

[RJNorton]

I wholeheartedly agree with all the other comments and highly recommend Craig's blog.

I noticed mention of Chamberlain on one page; we have a member here, Jim Dohren, who is using Chamberlain for his avatar.

You are a real pro, Craig. The breadth of topics you cover blows me away! Kudos on the work you are doing!

[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.

[LincolnMan]

Yes, I realize that when I asked if Forum members thought of Corbett as a hero or fanatic- I should have included a "neither" option. I appreciate the great input from both Craig and Laurie. I personally view Corbett as a hero. I take him at face value that he shot Booth in effort to protect his fellow troopers. Was he mentally ill? Perhaps. Have there been articles-books addressing the possibility? Also, didn't he get committed to an asylum?