The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-06
Boston COrbett.

Boston Corbett is a character, and no
mistake. When, contrary TO orders he
sent q bullet vhizzing through Wilkes
Booths skull the Lord directed the shot;
when the hound in pursuit. of him after his
escape from Andersonville came so near as
to "rub his nose" the animal was prevent.
ed from biting him by 'the same Power
that kept the lions from tearing Daniel in
pieces, the same Power in whom / trust,
We reckon the Commission trying Wirz
are not far out Of the way in deciding to
throw out Boston's testimony on the ground
that he is q monomaniac upon the subject
of the cruelties prscticed at Andersonvllle.
These who have known him from the time
he used to staTtle the Methodist prayer
meetings with his 'tsntics," have been
kind enough to suppose him smonomani-
&C on almost every subject. More proper
ly speaking, Corbett ia 8 religious enthusi-
asst, who entered the service from purely,
conscientious motives, but unfortunately
with the impression that q religious duty
duty devolved upon him TO shoot some.
body, friend or foe, white man or black. 70
Like Senator Chandler, he believed that
a "little blood-letting" was needed, and
that Divine Providence called upon him
especially to get q 'crsck" at soma one,
and that right speedily. He accordingly
distinguished himself long before the sssss-
sinstion occurred; even when q militismsp,
as far back as the summer Of 1852, Boston
had made his mark among his felloW.soE-
diers. He wss ut that time on duty at
Hsrpers Ferry in the Twelfth Militia
regiment from this, city. One sultry sun
day afternoon, Boston CHANGED to be on
picket duty near thersilrosd, half q mile
or so beyond Bolivar Heights. Owing to
the intense heat, the officers and soldiers
found it uncomfortable to stay in the en-
csmpments, and accordingly ssuntered out
into the fields and woods, the various pick
cts sIong the line permitting them o pass.
without hindrance. Not So however with
Corbett. he looked upon, the proceedings
as q. dissertation of the Lords day. Ac-
cordingly, when Captain Herrick, of an
Ohio militia regiment and a member ofthe-
Twenty second New York Colonel Aspin.
walls) came up TO his beat, he brought
them to- an abrupt halt Like g. second,
Cromwell, of whom he is 8 great admirer,
Boston, withs musket in one hand anda,
Bible in the other, struck q defiant atti-'
tude on the railroad track and asked,
@where sre you goingTJ ITO pick some
blackberries,D was the ans wer. edo you.
not know he replied, tthst you are Yiolat-
ing Gods law2 does this book not tell you
Cooking down at his Bible) to remember
the Sabbath-asyI and Eesp it holy2p Tie
captain, who was himself 8 Christian, re-r
torted, 81 guess we know as much about
the Bible IS you, = and the two passed on.
This was too much for Boston. 'uQuicklv
finging the Bfble upon she grouddJ he
brought his musket to his shoulder. and
leveling it at the breast of the Twenty
second soldier, he exclaimed, at you 90 q
step further you are 3 dead man, This.
Of course was an efFectaal argument. The
two turned back very fortunately for
themselves, for, as events hsYe since
proved, Corbetts fingers were not pressing
A few weeks subsequently the enemy
began TO show themselves up the yslleyJ
and d~etachments of the TGelfth and
TWenty-second were sent toguArd the rail-
road to Winchester. CorbeIt was of the
number. One day difficulty occurred be.
tween him and another soldier. Boston
soreiy aggravated; sfor nearly three
months he hsd been cooped up on Boliyer
Heights, firing blank cartridges and per.
q target. Here was an opportu.
1ity to make q telling shot and perhaps
Tubserve the ends oforder and Justice, So
his MIME he discharged adose of
old lead into the offenders thigh.
This little feat OF course sent Boston In
he guArd.house, with bread and water
are. What punishment was subsequently,
neted out 10 him we never heard. JACK.
On, soon after, captured the piece, and We
'st sight of Corbett until he turned m in /,
onnectin with the Booth tragedy.
That he is possessed of strong religions
and emotions admits Of no do0Ht +
We would advise people, to hespss Fcspect-
Die distance when he has his shooting Z
ons" ahont him. :