Enlistment in the Union army Boston Corbett

sgt. boston corbett, union army.

in april 1861, in american civil war, corbett enlisted private in company of 12th regiment new york militia. corbett s eccentric behavior got him trouble. carried bible him @ times , read passages aloud regularly, held unauthorized prayer meetings , argued superior officers. corbett condemned officers , superiors perceived violations of god s word. in 1 instance, verbally reprimanded colonel daniel butterfield using profanity , taking lord s name in vain. sent guardhouse several days refused apologize insubordination. due continued disruptive behavior , refusal take orders, corbett court-martialed , sentenced shot. sentence reduced , discharged in august 1863.

corbett re-enlisted later month private in company l, 16th new york cavalry regiment. on june 24, 1864, captured confederate colonel john s. mosby s men in culpeper, virginia , held prisoner @ andersonville prison 5 months. released in exchange in november 1864 , admitted army hospital in annapolis, maryland treated scurvy, malnutrition , exposure. on return company, promoted sergeant. corbett later testified prosecution in trial of commandant of andersonville, captain henry wirz.

wanted poster john wilkes booth, john surratt, , david herold (1865)