The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-05-13
THE AVENGER OF LINCOLN.
Boston Corbett. the Slayer Of j. Will
kes Booth, Located in CleVe-
land--The Ciroumstan-
ces Of the Assas-
sins Death,

Among those whose names became
Observation-Disclosures the country in con
sequence Of individual acts performed
during and Immediately succeeding the
war, Sergeant Boston Corbett, of the
18th New York cavalry, who fired the
shot that avenged the assassination Of
President Lincoln, will not soon be for
gotten.
Mr.. Corbett, who was hat fnisher
by occupation, is now in this city. en-
ployed In the factory of r. G. Barrett,
No. 223 Superior street. He came
here from Philadelphia, at the request
Of Mr.. Barrett, who Is an old friend.
Mr. Corbett is modest, courteous gen
tieman, rather below the medium size,
about 80 years old, of pleasing address,
and by no means disposed to be unduIy
communicative in relation to the occur
rences which viii always associate his
name with that sad event in our national
history. It IS rather his choice that the
mantle of silence should be permitted
TO rest upon that chapter in his life. It
is well known that he was q Methodist
minister, and he still retains the position
OF licensed preacher He was one of
those who did not yield to the demora
lizing influences of army life, but in
camp and field, throughout the entire
war, he maintained his Christian char
acter, engaging in his deadly work
from sincere convictions Of duty to his
country.
At the urgent request of a representa-
tive Of the Herald, Mr.. Corbett has writ
ten, much against his personal incIina-
ton, the following brief narrative of the
capture of Booth, which will be read
with interest by ali:
Our regiment, the 10th New York vol
1nteer cavalry, was stationed at Vienna,
Va, when we received the news OF the
assassination of President Lincoln. The
news reached US on Saturday, the 18th
day of April, 1866, and the regiment was
Immediately ordered out on a scout, and
it was not till we were advancing down
toward the Potamac that we heard who
the assassin was. The search for Boot,
was not successful at that time.
The next day Sunday detachment
was sent to Washington to be in readi-
ness to scour the country in pursuit
Soon afterward, think on Monday, the
entire regiment was ordered to Washing
ton where we remained some time. a
detachment OF the regiment took part in
the funeral procession, escorting the
Presidents body from the White House
to the rotunda of the Capitol building,
where 1t lay in state. On oW return
from that procession, and before we had
reached camp, Lieutenant Z. P. Doherty
was called upon TO go on another scout
after Booth, and calling for twenty-five
men, of whom I was one, We advanced
and followed three carriages containing
detectives, and crossed the eastern brancl
of the Potomac, by the Anacosta bridge
the very route that had been taken b,
Booth in his fight; but when we reach
ed the place in Maryland where it was
supposed he would be found, we learned
that he had already crossed into Virgins
and escaped. And SO the second scou
that we were Engaged in was as unsuo
cessful as the first.
H.
same officer who had led us on The sec
ond scout again took command, and this
time the errand was accomplished
Twenty-six enlisted men, Lieutenan.
Doherty in command, composed the par
tv until we reached the steam tug at the
Sixth street wharf. On the vessel we
found two detectives, who accompanied