John W. Boothe was
I dunno about that. He acted pretty cowardly once the deed was done.
I don't consider trying to get to the South and then refusing to surrender when the barn was surrounded cowardly. Is your assessment of his courage based on his motivations, or his actions?
Have you watched the recent "American Experience" on the Lincoln Assassination? It was pretty good.
I think in general it was the running that I found to be cowardly. The Civil War had just ended. If you wanted to kill for your cause you should be willing to die for your cause, just like all the Confederates he claimed to represent. Men who lined up across a field and took turns shooting at each other without retreating or seeking cover. Sneaking around and shooting a man from behind and then running is less
than