Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.
As thoroughly examined as the Civil War and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth have been, virtually no attention has been paid to the life of the Union cavalryman who killed Booth, an odd character named Boston Corbett. The killing of Booth made Corbett an instant celebrity who became the object of fascination and of derision. Corbett was an English immigrant, a hatter by trade, who was likely poisoned by mercury. A devout Christian, he castrated himself so that his sexual urges would not distract him from serving God, which he did as a street evangelist and preacher. He was one of the first volunteers to join the US Army in the first days of the Civil War, a path that would in time land him in the notorious Andersonville prison camp. Eventually released in a prisoner exchange, he would end up in the squadron that cornered Booth in Virginia. The Madman and the Assassin is the first full-length biography of Boston Corbett, a man who was something of a prototypical modern American, thrust into the spotlight during a national news event. His story also encompasses tragedy—his wife died when he was young, and he struggled with poverty and his own mental health—as it weaves through some of the biggest events in nineteenth century America. Scott Martelle is a professional journalist and the author of The Admiral and the Ambassador, and Detroit: A Biography, and is an editorial writer for the Los Angeles Times.
Here is the third edition of the history of a group of men who valiantly fought to preserve the Union during the American Civil War. The first edition was published in 2010 to wide acclaim. An updated second edition was printed in 2013. Now, seven years later, this third edition expands on the previous ones with a new chapter and many more stories, burial locations, maps and photos. The men of the 26th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry were among the first to answer their country’s call to duty, and among the last ones to finally be mustered home. The “Old 26th” fought in numerous western theater campaigns and battles; including: Shiloh, Corinth, Stones River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Kennesaw, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville. After the war’s end, the veterans yearned to publish their regiment’s proud history as so many other units had done. Regrettably, the high cost of publishing proved too steep for the aged veterans, and their dream died with them. The descendant of three veterans of the 26th Ohio, Jeffrey A. Hill resurrected their dream and brought it to fruition. Meticulously researched, their history is based on over five hundred primary source documents including letters, diaries, military and pension records, regimental and company records, and other first person accounts. Their narrative conveys their omnipresent sense of duty and loyalty. This book chronicles the involvement of the 26th Ohio from the initial fervor following Fort Sumter and throughout the war, as well as the postbellum activities. The appendices include a roster, list of burial sites, photo gallery, and index. This history is a lasting tribute to the men who so bravely fought to protect what they held most dear—their beloved country. At long last, here is their story...