The National tribune., 1905-11-23
c. THURSDAY
BOSTON CoRBETT.
An Army Comrade Tells Of His Service
In the War.

BOSTON CORBETT.
An Army Comrade Tells Of His Service
In the War.
Editor National Tribune: Two aues-
tons have been asked in The, National
Tribune lately about Boston Corbett,
the first by Comrade III. B. Van Vefsor,
OF Co. I, 18th n. 7. s. NJ, and Co. H..
I'd n. j. three years. The first Ques-
ton is: Was Boston Corbett drunmed
out OF the U. s. service while serving
in Co. /, 18th n. Y. s. M, in 1871
The second question was by Capt. Henry
BARCLAY, Co. x, 18th N. Y. S. NJ, 1852.
to ascertain. il possible. the final camp
Of my Sergeant, Boston Cor
bett. l knew Boston Corbett well, and
Comrade Van Velsor is mistaken. Cor
bett was never drummed out Of the u.
s. service while serving in the 18th N
7. S. NJ. but served three terms with
that regiment and received three hon.
cradle discharges. He then re-enlisted
in the 18th n. Y. v. c., and served to
the close of the war. His name was
John Corbett until he reached mans
estate. Just before the civil war he was
working in Boston, Mass, and attend
Ing the Methodist Episcopal Church at
Brookline, where he was converted.
When he came up to be baptised or
christened he became confused when
he saw he was the only grown person
at the altar rail, the others being chill
dren in arms, and when the minister
asked him what name Corbett thought
he asked where from. and answered
Boston, aid the good man promptly
christened him Boston, and ever after
wards he would be known only as Bos-
ton COrbett. He was considered by the
boys in the regiment as religious
fanatic. and they used to annoy him
considerably. Capt. Barclay writes
about his shooting a comrade while
coming down from Winchester. That
Is correct, and in SO, when the regi-
ment was ordered to the front again.
we opened a recruiting office in the
armory, corner Fourth street and
broadway. New York City. Corbett was
by the desk. I started out
when / met the comrade he had shot
sneaking up the stairs. I said: Hello,
Dan" He answered: Get out Of the
way" and rushed by me. followed,
and saw him run at Corbett and hit
him flush blow on the chin, knocking
him senseless. We grabbed Dan, and
him over to the police, and
then started to bring Corbett to. He
revived after while, and when asked
II he was hurt he answered: mot very
much. I have been expecting this for
some time" The next morning we
started for Harrisburg. On reaching
Harrisburg we crossed the Susquehanna
River and marched to Marysville, where
we intrenched. After Gettysburg we
to Carlisle, then to Shippens-
burg. where we threw away our KNAPP
sacks and began a forced march after
Lees army. On entering Chambers
burg We were ordered to close up ranks.
A Sergeant Of Co. c, holding the left Of
his company line, did not please his
Second Lieutenant, who ordered him to
keep the line more steady. He said he
could not on account Of the ruts In the
road. The Lieutenant said he would
help him, and grabbed him by the neck
and pushed him up in the road. The
Sergeant turned and knocked the Lieu
tenant down. For this he was placed
under arrest and ordered to be taken
In front Of the regiment at dress pa
rade, his stripes ripped off, and be held
for court-martial. This duty fell to Bos-
ton Corbett, he being Sergeant Of the
guard. He asked the officer OF the
guard 20 relieve him, as he could not
do 1t. The officer Of the guard refused
his request. Then Corbett went to Col.
Ward. The Colonel told him 1t was his
duty, and he would have to do 1t. He
said: Colonel, I cannot humiliate a
that way. There is a way out
Of 1t. I will tear my own stripes off
first" and he took out his knife to do
It. The Colonel said: Hold on, Cor
bett; II you feel SO bad about 1t as all
that will have you relieved" and he
did. We next got into the Scotland
swamps. south Of Chambersburg. as
nasty O hole as I ever was in. We
neither had tents over US or blankets
under us; muck and rain, with q large
squad Of prisoners to look after. We
built campfires with fence rails to dry
the ground enough to lie on. Corbett
q Apo To pnf 1vySv,
down he got on his knees, in prayer.
Some OF the boys had loaded up with
whisky at Chambersburg, and were ripe
for fun, and began bombarding Corbett
with muck. He never resented 1t, but
continued or his knees until he fin
shed then huddled up to the fire and
went to sleep. When we got out of the
where we received orders to return to
New York City on account Of the draft
riots. After the riots we were mustered
out OF the service. Corbett was taken
prisoner OF war twice; first by Stone
wall Jackson, while with the 18th N.
T.. at Harper's Ferry. In 1852, and
again by Mosby, while serving with
After the war Corbett worked for
the halter. on Nassau
street, between Beekman and Ann
streets, New York City, for a couple Of
years; then went West, but did not re-
main there long. The last time I met
Corbett was at the Methodist camp
meeting at Sing Sing, now Ossining, N.
Y. This was about 1872. He had be-
come an evangelist preacher, and short
~ after this time he was given charge
Of Methodist Mission at Camden, N.
]. He held that charge for several
years. I heard that he died while in
that service.--Jacob A. Johntry, Co. A,
18th N. Y. 1925, City Island, New
York City, N. Y.
Picture OF Boston COrbett.
Mr.. Henry Barclay, Of Jefferson, Iowa,
has sent The National Tribune q photo
graph Of Boston Corbett, which the lat
ter presented to his father, Capt Henry
e.
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