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Sgt. Boston Corbett |
Boston Corbett: Hero or Madman?
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Sgt. Boston Corbett |
Thomas
"Boston" Corbett, who shot and mortally wounded John Wilkes
Booth in the early morning hours of April 26, 1865, was born in England in
1832. As a child he emigrated with his family to the United States where they
settled in New York City. He later moved to Troy where he married and worked as
a hatter. His wife died in childbirth.
Corbett moved to Boston (from whence he took his name) and became a devout
Christian, wearing his hair long in the style of Jesus. To avoid temptation, he
castrated himself with a pair of scissors.
On August 8, 1863 Corbett enlisted in Company L, 16th New York Cavalry. He was
captured on June 24, 1864, and sent to Andersonville Prison. He was eventually
exchanged and rejoined his unit.
After shooting Booth, Corbett was initially arrested for disobeying orders but
on the instructions of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, he was released and
treated as a hero. Following his discharge in August, 1865, he lived in
Connecticut and New Jersey. In 1878 he had a complete mental breakdown and was
found living in a dugout near Concordia, Kansas.
In recognition of his celebrity status, Corbett was appointed assistant
doorkeeper of the Kansas House of Representatives. On Febuary 15, 1887 he opened
fire in the legislature hall with a revolver. Corbett was arrested, declared
insane and sent to the Topeka Asylum for the Insane. On May 26, 1888 he escaped
from the asylum and was never heard of again.
The
issue of Harper’s
Weekly dated May 13, 1865
Sergeant
Corbett, the soldier who shot Booth,
belongs to Company L, Sixteenth New York Cavalry. He was born in London,
England, in 1832, and came to this country when seven years of age. He has lived
in Troy, New York, where he learned his trade as hat-finisher, and subsequently
worked in Albany,
Boston, Richmond, and New York. He enlisted in the latter city in the Twelfth
New York State Militia. While residing in Boston he joined the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Never having been baptized, he was at a loss what name to
adopt, but after making it a subject of prayer he believed himself instructed to
take the name of Boston, his place of conversion. Last June a detachment of the
Sixteenth was sent to the vicinity of Culpepper, where they were hemmed in by
Mosby,
and nearly all compelled to surrender except Corbett,
who stood out manfully, and fired his revolver and twelve shots from his
breech-loading rifle at his assailants before surrendering, which he did after
firing his last round of ammunition. Mosby,
in admiration of the bravery displayed by Corbett,
ordered his men not to shoot him, and received his surrender with other
expressions of admiration. He was taken to Lynchburg and thence to Andersonville,
where he experienced, during five months of imprisonment,
One
of the most remarkable characteristics of Corbett is his fervent religious enthusiasm. In a letter to his pastor last February he
wrote :
"Do
try and lead him" [speaking of an acquaintance] " to Jesus. Brother
Irvine is here with me, and we often kneel together and besiege the throne of
grace, and bless God He makes us happy in His love. We do not forget our pastors
and churches and brethren ; and we feel that we are not forgotten by those whom
we have left for a while. Last night another brother who belongs to our regiment
had a season of prayer with us, after reading the Word; and we three were just
as happy as in a Big Meeting. Brother Corbett shouted, and nobody was hurt by it. Glory to God!"
Sergeant
Corbett is well known in this city. He was a
constant attendant of the Fulton Street Meeting, and greatly annoyed it by what
was considered his fanaticism. He took part frequently, and in his prayers was
in the habit of adding "er" to all his words, as O Lord-er, hear-er
our prayerer." When any thing pleased him he would shout, "Amen,"
" Glory to God," in a sharp, shrill voice, to the great horror of the
official who controls the meeting. All remonstrance was in vain, and he shouted
to the very last. He enlisted in the Twelfth Regiment, and made conscience his
guide there. He was perpetually in hot water because he would follow the order
of his conscience rather than the military order. He prayed in the corner of his
tent regularly night and morning, nor could the taunts or jeers of his
associates turn him aside. He was often seen in the guard-house, with his
knapsack full of bricks as a punishment, with his Testament in his hand, lifting
up his voice against swearing, preaching temperance, and calling upon his wild
companions to " seek the Lord."
One day, at a dress parade in Franklin Square, opposite our office, Butterfield cursed and damned the regiment for something he did not like. Corbett stepped out of the ranks and reproved the Colonel for breaking God's law. He was, of course, put under arrest. He made up his mind that the time for which he enlisted expired at twelve o'clock at night on a certain day. He gave notice that he should go home when his time was out. He was put on picket duty, and as the hour of midnight was sounded he laid his gun down on the line and marched off. He was tried by a court-martial and sentenced to be shot. The order was not executed, but he was drummed out of the regiment.