The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-07

The text of General Corbin's letter to
Senator Davis is as follows:
Dear Sir-My attention has been called
TO certain newspaper reports purporting TO
set forth extracts from memorial. that
is said to have been transmitted to you.
which are in the nature of charges Affect
Ing my record as an officer OF the army.
So far as these statements, or any others.
may be deserving of consideration or at
tention, l desire TO place myself at your
command in aiding you to make a search
ing examination of my record as SOL
der with a view TO ascert2ining all the
truth. and 1 wish to say in all earnestness,
If a search reveals TO you suggestion OF
unworthiness / will close the discussion,
so far as am concerned. by authorizing
you to present my resignation from the
service to the President.
81 believe in disposing of radical evils
with quick remedies. and so far as lies in
my power, this rule Is followed in the adj
ministration Of the adjutant generals de-
partment and shall not shrink from hav-
ing the same rule applied to my own
case. 1t Is my duty as adjutant general OF
the Congress. all facilities for full and
complete information on any question af-
fecting the efficiency of the military serv-
ice in part or in whole
Il have the honor to hand you herewith
an official copy of General Orders No. 6.
headquarters First Separate Division.
Army Of the Cumberland, dated March II.
1860, promulgating the proceedings and
findings of the general court-martial result
ing from trial on all allegations; and your
especial attention Is invited TO the unusual
expression of the court in its findings, to-
wit: Most honorably acquitted That the
court was composed Of officers of expert
ence and high character goes without say
ing. and that its proceedings. findings and
approval were in all respects regular and
lawful has never been questioned.
your attention is also invited to a copy
OF the official report, Enclosed herewith
of the engagements of the Fourteenth
United States Colored Infantry in and
about Decatur, Ala, during the latter part
of the month of October, 1864 (printed in
Vol. 80. Part 1, Pages IA to ZIG of the
records of the Union and Confederate ar
mics, war of the rebellion), which report
is signed by the officer who later preferred
the charges upon which i was tried. one
of which related TO that time and place.
HIS RECORD SINCE A BOY.
'T feel confident that to one of your long
experience as public officer. and your
high sense Of justice, the official records
herewith brought to your attention will not
permit you to be misled nor to accept as
truthful the statements which are reported
to be contained in the memorial referred
to. If, however. you desire TO make further
examinations into my record 1 will gladly
give you any assistance in facilitating
examination of the records made, day by
day, from the time when, as a lad OF nine
teen, / left my fathers farm in. southern
Ohio and entered the volunteer army. I
am now closing my thirty-eighth year OF
continuous service-a service, modest
though ii has been, yet claim TO have
been honest and faithful. My service In
the volunteer army covered nearly four
years, having in that time had commissions
Of six grades, from second lieutenant TO
and including that of colonel with brevet OF
brigadier general. From all Of which was
honorably discharged; not only this, but
General Grant while secretary of war ad
interim 1.-TWO years after the trial herein
discussed had been of record in the War
Department., conferred upon me by au-
thority of the President. two brevets. one
OF major, for gallant and meritorfous con-
duct In the battle OF Decatur. Ala, and an
other of lieutenant colonel for like service
In the battle OF NASHVILLE copies or which
are inclosed), covering the exact dates set
forth in the specification to the charges
tried.
Following my discharge from the volun-
teer service / was appointed second lieu
tenant in the regular army and July, 1866.
/ was appointed a captain In one OF the
new regiments. and, so far as i am aware.
without the solicitation of any influence
outside OF the military service. had been
an officer in the army more than fourteen
years before 1 had the honorable personal
acquaintance Of any member OF Congress
or any one else in touch with the authori-
ties in Washington.
my first ten years in the regular army
were spent with my company In the then
remote Western States and Territories OF
and Texas, having I'm that time marched
in different expeditions against hostile In
dams and changes of station from Fort
Riley, Kan. (the western terminal Of the
railroads leading to the west). TO Fort
Brown, at the mouth of the Rio Grande-
the distance traversed and the difficulties
of this service being fully understood only
by those who have the experience During
all these years I was never absent from
duty for a single day from any cause what
ever. i served fourteen years as captain
of infantry and in the adjutant generals
department nine years In the grade OF ma
jcr. seven years In the grade OF lieutenant
colonel and two years In the grade OF colo
nell and at the time OF my appointment as
adjutant general was the senior colonel
in the department.
Your attention is also invited 70 the fact
that the President rendered me the COM
mand of major general Of volunteers. which
had the honor TO decline, so that all these
offices Qimited in number by law might
be given to officers serving with troops in
the field.
"I have now served I'm the regular army
more than a third of century. and
have been absent from duty from any
cause less than thirty days This appeal Is
made to you In the name OF justice. and
aim confident that IL is not made In vain
Very respectfully, III. c. CORBIN,
"Adjutant General"