The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-09
SAYS CCRBIN WAS A COWARD
Colonel Morgan, Who Preferred the
CharDes sticks to Them

-
colonel of the Fourth United States col
ored infantry and brevet brigadier gen
eral United States volunteers, has writ
ten an open letter to the Tribune with
reference to Adjutant General Corbin' s
military record during the civil war He
states that he is prompted to write the
letter by the frequent mentioning of his
name In connection with the senate reso-
luton Enquiry as to the military rec
ord of General Corbin.
Colonel Morgan's letter deals princi-
pally with the battle of Nashville, Tenn,
December IA and 10, 1854 during which he
was in command of an improvised divis-
ion of white and colored troops. The of
ficers commanding regiments under him
included Lieutenant Colonel Charles H.
Colonel mow generaD w. r. Shafter and
Lieutenant Colonel NOW general Corbin.
Writing of this battle Colonel Morgan
says: Colonel Shafter and Colonel
Grosvenor acquitted themselves with
great credit, Shafter showing special ac-
tivity and courage and suffering the
loss of many of his men. I was not with
Lieutenant Colonel Corbin during the
fighting but the officers reported to me
after the battle was ended that he had
betrayed such cowardice as to excite the
ridicule of both officers and men. I spoke
to him about it. and he at once rendered
me his resignation. subsequently, how
ever, Withdrawing II. In my official re-
port of the battle 1 said that l thought
Lieutenant Colonel Corbin did not have
the courage requisite to command brave
men.
Many years afterward. when the Re-
bellion Records were about to be publish
ed, l was urged to expunge that sentence
before the report was published. This I
declined 10 do on two grounds-frst. be-
cause 1 did not feel at liberty to alter the
records, believing that such action on
my part and that Of other officers would
not only tend to destroy their historical
accuracy and value; and. second. because
subsequent events closely connected with
my report and my record without proper
explanation
81 preferred charges against Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Corbin based upon the in
formation I had received and believed %
be correct, and on these charges he was
brought to tr.aI by a court-martial. which.
however, acquitted him Subsequently, he
united with Others and preferred charges
against re. on which I was brought 10
trial The findings OF the court-nlartiaI
were set aside I was given the com
mand OF q brigade by the personal act Of
General Thomas. was subsequently pro-
NOTED BY the president as brevet hr5ga-
der gene-al and was confirmed By the
senate. IN August. 1855, the var being
over. lefc the service Lieutenant Colo
mel Coroin became colonel Of the regiment
and. il I mistake not he has remained
continuously in the army ffoTn that time
TO the present, q period % nearly thirty
five years.
Il regret that anyone has seen Ct 20
bring ~ this matter. FOR / an % re
opinion that the Nashville incident ought
not al this tlnae 10 have weight II de-
terminiEg the question a. 10 whether the
adjut2nt general Of the army should Ss
made major general. Co-hin ard Tera
a. that time both very y0Ung volunteer
officers. with but Hctle experience Il either
lie o. service and & seems - ne tha<
neither MS act a. q ssdter O. nine as
= commanding Officer ought % % sUdEs5
D. the severe military stazdzr5 q TIE
regular army 1 Deleved az thai tine
that Colonel Co-gin bad betrayed COZ
ar5ice. 50 reported al seit i ny duty 20
ces-t-rnartizl Ssrn- BIT the Judgment o
the court did Esot sustain une and TIE !n-
csdert Should - regarded as closed
London. March 1--Ai the election to-day
<o- rneus5er Of parliament 20 60 The sat
zor tss north division - SHg7. vacated
~ Bernard C-oli.-y. Nst5orzlzss, retired.
John o.powa Nationalist. Was esec-es
without opposition