Editing Boston Corbett (section)

====Fame====
[[File:Sergt. Boston Corbett, 16th N.Y. Cav., who shot J. Wilkes Booth, April 26, 1865 - Brady, Washington. LCCN2016646195.jpg|thumb|right|Corbett photographed by [[Mathew Brady]]]]
According to Johnson, Corbett was accompanied by Lt. Doherty to the [[United States Department of War|War Department]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] to meet [[Edwin Stanton|Secretary Edwin Stanton]] about Booth's shooting. Edward Steers writes that it was "not against orders. Conger (said)..."They had no orders either to fire or not to fire."<ref>{{cite book|last=Steers|first=Edward |title=Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln|year=2005|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=0-813-19151-3|pages=104–105}}</ref> Corbett maintained that he believed Booth had intended to shoot his way out of the barn and that he acted in self-defense. He told Stanton, "...Booth would have killed me if I had not shot first. I think I did right."<ref name="goodrich227">{{harvnb|Goodrich|2005|p=227}}</ref> Corbett maintained that he did not intend to kill Booth but merely wanted to inflict a disabling wound, but either his aim slipped or Booth moved at the moment Corbett pulled the trigger.{{sfn|Martelle|2015|p=104}} Stanton paused and then stated, "The rebel is dead. The patriot lives; he has spared the country expense, continued excitement and trouble. Discharge the patriot."<ref name="goodrich227"/> Martelle says that "no other source mentions such a meeting...Johnson's memoir, which came out a half-century later, is just another part of the lore."{{sfn|Martelle|2015|p=110}} Corbett was greeted by a cheering crowd. As he made his way to [[Mathew Brady]]'s studio to have his official portrait taken, the crowd followed him, asking for autographs and requesting that he tell them about shooting Booth. Corbett told the crowd:

{{blockquote|I aimed at his body. I did not want to kill him....I think he stooped to pick up something just as I fired. That may probably account for his receiving the ball in the head. [W]hen the assassin lay at my feet, a wounded man, and I saw the bullet had taken effect about an inch back of the ear, and I remembered that Mr. Lincoln was wounded about the same part of the head, I said: "What a God we have...God avenged Abraham Lincoln."<ref name="Goodrich 2005 227–228">{{harvnb|Goodrich|2005|pp=227–228}}</ref>}}

Corbett testified in the trial of the Lincoln assassination conspirators, testifying on May 17, 1865.<ref name="Steers Jr. 2010 94" />

Corbett was largely considered a hero by the public and press. Initial newspaper reporters described him as a simple and humble man devoted, possibly excessively, to his faith; he had eccentricities but also did his duty well.{{sfn|Martelle|2015|p=110}} One newspaper editor declared that Corbett would "live as one of the World's great avengers."<ref>{{harvnb|Goodrich|2005|p=228}}</ref> For his part in Booth's capture, Corbett received a portion of the $100,000 reward money, amounting to $1,653.84 ({{Inflation|US|1653.84|1865|r=-3|fmt=eq}}).<ref name="goodrich291">{{harvnb|Goodrich|2005|p=291}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Swanson|2007|p=358}}</ref> His annual salary as a U.S. sergeant was $204 ({{Inflation|US|204|1865|r=-3|fmt=eq}}). Corbett received offers to purchase the gun he used to shoot Booth. He refused, stating, "That is not mine—it belongs to the Government, and I would not sell it for any price."<ref name="basler">{{harvnb|Basler|1965|pp=57–58}}</ref> Corbett also declined an offer for one of Booth's pistols as he did not want a reminder of shooting Booth.<ref name="basler"/>