New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09
COLONEL CORBIN'S CAREER.
HIS APPOINTMENT AS ADJUTANT-GEN-
ERAL OF THE ARMY POPULAR.
THE FIRST WITHIN RECOLLECTION WHO HAS HAD
A COIONELs EXFERIENcE-Hls RISE IN THE
ARMY AND HIS ARDUOUs SERVICE.


Washington Jan S-Colone Henry Clark
Corbin. who will become Adjutant- General OF
the Army next month is not a West Pointer,
yet il is certain IL the selection left to the
vote Of the Army he would easily secure the
prize Not only his person al popularity and his
energy directed ever toward the improvement OF
the Army but his remarkable qualifications for
the difficult office would prove an insuperabe
advantage over any other competitor, IT, In
deed. any candidate would consent to contest
the honor with him. One OF the Departmental
Generals remarked the other day that the whole
Army had waited anxiousy for years to have
Corbin reach the top, for they knew no one
else could accomplish so much for the lasting
benefit Of the service.
why" he said. "Corbin will bC the first Ad-
tutant-General almost within recollection who
ever had command Of post the first who ever
had experience as a colonel Of the line His
two predecessors never rose above neutenants.
Corbin knows the whole Army. He has been
through it all. and. besides. he is born or
ganizer."
The officer who said this is eight months and a
day older than Colonel Corbn, a graduate Of
West Point and is known as one OF the most
effective reformers Of Army abuses the service
has ever had. Oddly enough. when vacancy
occurred IN the Adjutant- Generals department
seventeen years ago. this officer was a candidate
against Corbn and was defeated, President
Hayes appointing COrbin a major Less than
five years later. however, the rival officer was
appointed major in another department by
President Arthur. and became Brigader- Cen
eral in four years. While this officers rapid
promotion has given him nearly nine years at
the head Of his corps. and Corbin's promotion
has been slower. the latter is now to become
practically Chief Of staff to the President as
Commander in Chief OF the military forces OF
the United States, ranking in influence all other
staff officers, regardless Of their length Of ser
vice
COLONEL CORBIN's APPEARANCE.
Colonel Corbin in appearance is the typical
officer not unlike Major-Ge Winfield S.
Hancock. the superb" when he was about the
same age. His huge frame erect carriage and
handsome face are familiar to every one who
has seen him at the head Of Presidential in
augural professions and other great parades;
for he was the Adjutant-General at the inau-
guration OF Garfield Cleveland, Harrison and
Mckinley. and in such other important func-
tons as the Yorktown Centennial the parade
when Cleveland in his first term, visited Chi
cago; at Los Angeles Cal. when Harrison Wis
tied there. at the New-York Centennial and the
dedication Of the Thomas statue in Washing
ton. But the most conspicuous exhibition Of
his skill was as Adjutant- General Of the Grant
Monument parade in New-York. when he
modified seventy thousand men in the morn
Ing and got them all out of town and in quar-
tiers by night
The accomplishment Of huge and confusing
undertakings Of this nature is effected by Colo
mel COrbin with an ease and apparent Jack or
worry that are marvellous to those about him.
His voice is softer than that Of any Of his col
leagues, and he is past master in suavity under
most trying circumstances. Though extremely
modest. he has a proper realization OF what he
has accomplished though he attributes his sue
cess solely to persistency.
"An things are possible TO all men In this
country under our system Of institutions" he
said recently to a young man who asked his
advice anybody can do all i have done. and
more. If there is anything am proud Of 1t Is
this: My father was poor; l was raised on
farm. with lots OF hard work to get food: what
education l got was in little academy and
teaching school, had only half a fair show to
get ahead. but seized every opportunity and
stuck everlastingly 10 IT, 1t is only an instance
OF the disadvantages under which any young
fellow starts: but the more he works out from
under. the greater certainty he'll have Of sue
cess / am only an example Of what hundreds
OF poor boys have done with their aspirations,
and my advice to all Of them to-day is Don't
give up"
Colonel Corbin comes Of Revolutionary stock.
long resident of Virginia His parents were born
In ohio where his grandparents had gone to
live when the Territory belonged TO Virginia;
,,, bis s,roaf-prandDarents of English descent