Corbin advanced through the ranks and on 18 May 1833 was promoted to colonel of the 17th regiment of light infantry. He spent six years in North Africa engaged in constant campaigns against the Arabs. At the Siege of Constantine in 1837 he commanded one of the assault columns. Since two other colonels had died in the combat, Marshall Sylvain Charles Valée gave Corbin command of the troops that stormed the breach and took the city after an hour and a half of combat. For his success it was proposed to promote him to the rank of brigadier, but this was refused on the grounds that he was too young.