The evening times., 1900-03-06
CORBIN DEFENDS HIMSELF
The Adjatant General Answers
Charges Against His Record.
He Writes n Letter to Senator Davis
Offering to submit 10 Thorough
inVestigatioR-WiIling to Resign il
Proved to BE UnwOrthy-His Army
History sent With the Document.

iol4o"iH6 ietteI 10 oeAdLOI DAVIS IN reply
to the memorial" which has been circu-
lated at the Capitol and in VIII h charges
were made against General COrbin's rec
ord as an officer Of the Army:
March 6. 1900.
Hon. Cushman K. Davis. United States
S,nate:
Der Sir-My attention has been called
TO certain newspaper reports purporting 70
set forth extracts from a memorial that
is said to have been transmitted TO you
which are in the nature OF charges affect
ing my record as ar officer Of the Army.
50 Ear as these statements or aIy 9th
ers may he deserving Of consideration OF
attention ! desire to place myself al YOUR
command in aiding you 10 make a search
ing examination Of my record as a soldier
with view 10 ascertalning all the truth
and ! wish TO say in all earnestuess. il a
search reveals 10 you a suggestion Of un-
Worthiness, i viii close the discussion so
Tar as 1 am concerned. by authorizing you
tC present my resignation from the serv-
ice. 10 the President
4 believe IN Gisposing Of radical evils
with quick remedies; sad. so far as lies
IN my power. this rule is followed in the
administration OF the Adjutant Generals
AfF pell LAl4AAAs anu / shall uUi ElL4lA LsOLu
having the same rule applied TO my own
case.
1T Is my duty as Adjutant General OF
the Army 10 afford you and through -Ou
the Congress, all facilities for fu'. and
complete Information on any question af-
fecting the efficiency Of the military serv-
ice in part or in whole.
Il have the honor 20 hand you herewith
an official copy OF General Orders No 6.
~ |1rHF -HfnHHr
Army OF the Cumberland. dated March Il
1860. promulgating the proceedings and
findings Of the general COurt-martial re-
sultins Irom trial on al allegations. and
your especial attention Is invited 10 the
unusual expression Of the court in It's find
ings 10 Wit Most honorsbly acquit-'
That the court was composed OF officers Of
experience and high character goes with
out saying and that its proceedings. find
ings. and approval were in all respects
regular and lawful, has never been oues-
toned.
Your attention is also invited to q copy
OF the official report Enclosed herewith
Of the engagements Of the Fourteenth
United States Coi0-ed Infantry. in and
about Decatur, Ala. during the latter
part Of the month Of October. 1864 (printed
in Volume g. Part T. pages 71f TO 7I6 OF
the Records OF the Union and Confederate
.
port is signed by the officer who late pre-
ferred the charges upon which I was tried
one OF which related 10 that time and
place.
Il feel confident that to one Of your long
experience as a public officer. aud your
high sense Of justice. the official records
herewith brought TO your attention viii
not permit you 10 be mislcd. nor 20 accept
as truthful the statements which are re-
ported 20 be contained in the memorial
referred TO.
His Military Record.
IF, however. you desire to make further
examination into my record. / viii gladly
give yen any assistance In facilitating an
examination Of the records made. day by
day. from the time when as a lad Of nine
teen, I left my fathers farm in southern
Ohio, and entered the volunteer Army. 1
am now closing my thirty-eighth year OF
continuous seTviCe-a service. modest
though It mas been, l claim 10 have been
honest and faithful. Ny service in the
volunteer Army covered nearly four years,
having in that time held commissions Of
six grades. from second lieutenant to and
including that Of colonel with brevet Of
brigadier general From all Of which I
was honora5ly 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
authority Of the President two brevets
one for major for gallant and meritorious
conduct in the battle Of Decatur. Ala. and
and another OF lieutenant colonel for like
service in the battle Of Nashville icopies
Of which are enclosed). covering the exact
dates set forth in the spCCifcJ tions 10 the
charges tried.
Following my discharge from the vol
unteer service I was appointed a second
lieutenant in the Regular Army and I'm Ju-
ly. 1866 was appointed a captain in one
OF the new regiments, and so far as I am
aware. without the solicitation Of any in
fiuence outside OF the military service 7
had been an officer OF the Army more than
fourteen years before | had the honor OF
the personal acquaintance Of any Member
Of Congress or anyone else ia touch with
the authorities In Washington. Ny first
ten years in the Regular Army were spent
with my company in the then remote
Western States and Territories Of Kansas.
Colorado. New Mexico. Arizona. and Texas.
having in that time marched in different
expeditions against hostile Indians and
changes Of station from Fort Riley. Kan.
(the Western terminal Of the railroads
leading 20 the WesD. 10 Fort Brown at the
mouth OF the Rio Grande-the distance ira
versed and the difficulties Of this service
being fully understood only by those who
have had the experience. During all these
ten years I was never absent from duty
for a single day from any cause whatever.
81 served fourteen years as a captain o,
infantry and in the Adjutant Generals
Department. nine years in the grade Of
major. seven years in the grade Of lieu
tenant colonel and two years in the grade
Of colonel. and, at the time Of my appoint
ment as Adjutant General, was the senior
colonel in the Department Your atten-
tion is also invited 10 the fact that the
President rendered me the commission OF
major general Of volunteers, which l had
the honor to decline. so that all these Of
fees (limited in number by law. might
be given to officers serving with troops in
the field. l have now served in the Regu-
lar Army more than a third of a century.
and l have been absent from duty from
any cause less than thirty days.
This appeal is made 10 you in the name
Of justice. and l am confident that It is not
made in vain.
Very respectfully,
H c. CORBTN.
"Adjutant General -
The OhiciaI Records
Headquarters, First Separate Division. A. c.