Description:

Boston Corbett
Washington, DC, May 13, 1865
Boston Corbett Twice Mentions "Shooting Booth" and Collecting His Reward, Just Weeks After Booth's Capture and Death
ALS

Extraordinary content autograph letter signed in full regarding Corbett's military career, and three times mentioning John Wilkes Booth! "Lincoln's Barracks", Washington, May 13, 1865. In response to a letter from "Brother Eddy," possibly an old friend and churchgoer from the Albany/Troy area where Corbett lived. "Brother Eddy" almost surely congratulated Corbett on his recent exploit which made him an instant celebrity, and Corbett - clearly relishing his new role as the "Avenger of Lincoln" -- proudly writes back. He mentions, among other things, doing God's work while surviving the hell of Andersonville and his portrait being displayed at an upcoming Fair of the Sanitation Commission as well as, Booth. Folds are very slightly weakened and bear two tiny pinholes at intersections. Otherwise, very good to near fine condition. 4pp. 5" x 8".

In part: "…Dear Brother Eddy, for that is the old familiar name. Your kind and welcome letter is received. I am glad, you may be sure, to hear from you again. God Bless you and yours.

I enlisted first in the 12th NY State Militia for 3 months service, and afterwards served two more short terms in the same Reg't. and when that was over I enlisted for 3 years in the Cavalry Service of which I have not served nearly two years. I cannot now tell you in detail all that I have passed through during the War. But I have fought the Rebels more than once and the last and hardest fight previous to shooting Booth, was on the 24th of June last [at Culpeper, VA], I faced and fought against a whole column of them, all alone none but God being with me to help me. My being in a large field and they being in the Road with a high fence between us enabled me to hold out against them as long as I did. But after driving back some that came out from their Column to take me they finally had the fence torn down and then closed around me. And when my pistol gave out giving no more fire I was captured by them, and sent to Andersonville Georgia.

There God was good to me sparing my life while only another and myself lived to return out of 14 men who were there of my own Company. But bless the Lord a score of souls were converted right on the spot where I lay for 3 months without any shelter, and hundreds were converted in that place for many meetings were held in different parts of the Bull Pen.

I was exchanged at Savannah on the 19th of November, making my Imprisonment 5 months all but 5 days. After being in the Hospital at Annapolis awhile I had a furlough home for 30 days. And then returned to duty with my Regt. I am still with it and do not know how long I may have to stay. As I did not get my Discharge from the Secretary of War I asked for after shooting Booth.

The Fair of the Sanitary Commission coming off on the 30th at Chicago will have a life size picture of me I expect on Exhibition. They wrote for it and the Revolver with which Booth was shot but that has been stolen from me since and I have only another in place of it…

I have not yet received any part of the Reward as the Trial is occupying all the attention of the authorities who have the matter in hand. Your Old friend and Brother in Christ…"

Boston Corbett (1832-disappeared 1888) was a Sergeant in the 16th New York Cavalry Regiment in late April 1865. A devout Evangelical Christian, Corbett found himself under constant fire from his superiors for reading aloud from his Bible or holding clandestine prayer meetings. At one point, he went so far as to reprimand Colonel Daniel Butterfield for taking the Lord's name in vain and, after refusing to apologize, was court-martialed and sentenced to be shot. This sentence was commuted, and Corbett was discharged, only to re-enlist shortly after. He was captured by Confederate troops led by John S. Mosby in 1864 and was sent to Andersonville Prison, where he remained for five months. Upon his release in a prisoner exchange, he was promoted to sergeant.

At the time of Lincoln's assassination, Corbett's unit had been tasked with apprehending suspected assassin John Wilkes Booth and his accomplice David Herold, both on the run. The two conspirators were holed up in a tobacco barn at Richard Garrett's farm in Port Royal, Virginia. Herold surrendered to Union troops, but Booth resisted, and the barn was set on fire to smoke the fugitive out.

The troops had strict instructions from Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to bring Booth back alive, yet in the chaos, Corbett shot Booth through the head and neck, later explaining that "Providence directed me." Booth, whose gunshot injury rendered him paralyzed, died two hours later of asphyxia.

Corbett was initially arrested and court-martialed for disobeying orders. However Stanton later released Corbett with his thanks, and the awkward hero was widely praised as "Lincoln's Avenger."

Corbett's mental instability has been attributed to a host of possible causes, including religious fanaticism and past exposure to toxic hat-making chemicals. By the late 1870s, he was in Kansas where he was a homesteader and preacher. The troubled ex-veteran disappeared in 1888 after escaping from the Topeka Asylum for the Insane.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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