The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-07
GEN. cORB|N'S RECORD.
DEFENDS HIMSELF AGAINST SOME
RECENT ATTACKS.
shows His AcquittaI by Court Mar
tisI. and Subsequent Brevets for
GalIantry in the Actions in which
He was Charged with Cowardice.

WASHINGTON. March e.-The reso1u-
ton adopted by the senate calling for a
complete record of the court martial
which tried Adjt. Gen. Corbin when
lieutenant colonel Of the Fourteenth coli
ored infantry. on a charge of cowardice,
and other Information to his military
career. called for a mass of papers that
will require a week to copy, according to
the estimate of the war department
Gen. Corbin. in anticipation of the
reply. today addressed to Senator Davis
Of Minnesota. an appeal for an immediate
examination of his soldierly record from
the day he entered the service of the
United States army l9-year-old boy,
thirty-eight years ago, until now. More
over, he authorizes the senator to present
his (Corbin's) resignation TO the president
IL the search reveals a suggestion OF un-
worthiness. The letter includes the find-
ings Of the court martial which most hon.
orably acquitted Lieut.. corbin of the
charge, Gen. Grants letter comforting
upon him two brevets for gallant SER
vices at the time he was charged with
cowardice, and finally a letter from the
colonel Of the regiment who preferred the
charge. praising his work in the cam
paign.
Gen. Corbin's Letter.
tant general says:
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 10
you, which are In the nature OF charges
Affecting my record as an officer OF the
army.
so far as these statements, or any 9TH
ers. may be deserving OF consideration or
attention, | desire to- place myself at your
command in aiding you to make a search
ing examination OF my record as soldier.
with view to ascertaining all the truth:
and l wish to say in all earnestness IL
search reveals TO you suggestion OF un-
worthiness / will close the discussion so far
as | am concerned by authorizing you
to present my resignation from the service
to the president.
Il believe in disposng OF radical evils
with remedies, and SO far as lies in my
power this rule Is followed in the admin
istratfon of the adjutant generals depart
ment. and | shall not shrink from hav-
ing the same rule applied to my own
case.
at is my duty as adjutant general OF
the congress, all facilities for fun and
complete information on any question af-
fecting the efficiency of the army in part
or in whole.
How He Was Acquitted.
II have the honor to hand you herewit..
an Official copy of general order No. 6,
headquarters First division, Army OF the
Cumberland. dated March a. 1855, promul-
eating the proceedings and findings of
the general court martial resulting from
trial on all allegations, and your especial
attention is invited 10 the unusual express
sion of the court In It's findings, towit:
Most honorably acquit That the court
was composed Of officers Of experience
and high character goes without saying,
and that Its proceedings. findings and ap--
provel were In all respects regular and
lawful has never been questioned.
omciaI Records Enclosed.
Of the official report Enclosed herewith
of the engagements of the Fourteenth
United States colored infantry in and
p pS9t or the month ~ oesoseT iss When Which
report is signed by the officer who later
preferred charges upon which was tried,
one of which related TO that time and
place
II 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 atten-
ton viii 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 fur
Their examination Into my record | WIN
gladly give You any assistance in facili-
taung an examination Of the records
made, day by day. from the time when "a
lad Of 10 | left my fathers farm in
southern Ohio and entered the volunteer
army. am now closing my thirty-eighth
modest though 10 has been. Vet | claim to
have been honest and faithful. My ser
vice In the volunteer army covered nearly
four years, having in that time held COM
missions of six grades, from second
lieutenant TO and including that OF
colonel. with a breyet OF brigadier gen
discharged Not only this but Gen
Grant. while secretary OF war ad interim
ed had been OF record in the war depart
menu. conferred upon me by authority
OF the president Two breVet, one OF
major. for gallant and meritorious con.
duct In the battle Of Decatur Ala and
another OF lieutenant colonel for like ser
vice In the battle OF Nashville (coples OF
which are ineiosedl, covering the exact
dates set forth IN the specification OF The
charges tried
Appointed without influence.
Following any discharge from the volun.
teer service I was appointed a second
lieutenant IN the regular army, ana In
July, 1876 was appointed a captain In
one ~ the new regiments. ard - lar IA
| am aware without ;he solicitation q any
influence outside q the military service.
l had been an officer nf the army noe
than four years before hAa inc honarsh,e
and PERSONAL acquaintance e any member
o. conErcss or any enc else "a toucl vg.,h
the Authorities Ia Washneton.
service sihee the War.
"My hsa, ten years IN the regular array
were spyut VITA my company IN the then
remote Western states and territories 81
karsas. Colorado. New Mckee Arizona
and Teas. having Ia that time marched
tn different expeditions against hQstLe In
slams ard changes ~ station FROM Fort
hiiHN, Kan. ehe western terminal az tAe
railroads leading Go the Vest 20 Fort
Brown AZ the mouth ot tas Ria CSrnnde
The distance travcrsed RuA the difsir,l,-
lies ~ this service being fully unAsr4fl,s.i
enly hy those " 30 have had che ewr,ar5.
never absent from dusty for a single aay
from any cause whatever. | serye.i salsr-
teen years a. a captain Of Infantry. and
! IL ire adtutant seuerafs department sine
years IN TIE grade Of Tuafor, Sven veavs
tn TIE grade u lieutenant colonel and
two years u the grade q colonel, and al
The time o. my appointment as adiutanf
general was the senior cntogeI in the -
! na--nn-.- A--r --L-..-nr 81 -. ~ -