New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-08
GENERAL CORBLNS MILITARY
RECORD.
A STATEMENT FROM THE MAN WHO
MADE THE CHARGES.
CHARGES MADE on BOTH SIDES BOTH TRIED.
BOTH AcQUITTED-"oUGHT NOT TO
HAVE WEIGHT NOW"

CHARGES MADE on BOTH SIDES; BOTH TRIED.
BOTH AcouITrED-"oUGHr NOT TO
HAVE WEIGHT NOW"
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir. Pending the consideration OF the bill p,
making the present Acknowledgement OF tia
Army a Major-General the Senate has ins.i-
tuted an inquiry into General Corbns militarv
record during the Civil War. and my name
has been repeatedly connected with the ques-
ton 1 beg the privilege Of little space in your
columns for a brief statement Of the essential
facts In October 1863. by direction Of the
Secretary Of War began at Galiatin. Tenn the
organization of the 14th United States Coloret
Infantry had the rank OF lieutenant-coonsl
and H. C. Corbn was associated with as
major. After I had completed the organization
Of the 14th I was authorized by General George
H. Thomas to organize the 42d and 44th United
States Colored Infantry. and subsequently I or
ganized the First CoIored Brigade of the Army
Of the Cumberland: my duties were largely ad-
ministrative. When I was promoted colonel
of the 14th Major Corbin was made lieutenant
colonel Upon him devoIved chiefly the work
of drilling the regiment. which he did very sue
cessfully bringing it to high state Of eff
cheney in the manual OF arms and in the execu-
ton of company and battalion movements The
regiment In battle four tinles-at Dalton
Ca. Pulaski. Tenn. and Decatur. Ala under
my own personal command and at Nashville
Tenn. under that of Lieutenant-Coonel Corbin
At the decisive battle at Nashville. Tenn
December il and -. 1864. had the honor o.
orening the fight the extreme LETT OF our
line with an imprOvised division consisting o.
a small brigade OF white troops. comprising
Fragments I think Of three regiments under
command of Lieutepant-Col Charles H.
Grosvenor, now a member of Congress;
brigade of colOred troops under command OF
Colonel (now GeneraD W. r. Shafter compris-
ing his own regiment the 18th United States
Colored Infantry; the filth United States Col
ored Infantry under Colonel L. Johnson; the
18th United States Colored Infantry. under
Lieutenant Colonel Corbin fragment OF the
18th United States Colored Infantry. under
Major Joy. and a section of the 10th Indiana
Battery, under command OF Captain Osborn.
think. We were hotly engaged during both days
of the fight and received great praise from
both General Steedman, my immediate COM
mander and General George II. Thomas.
whose joint recommendations I made a
brevet brigader-geQeral Colonel Shafter and
Colonel GrOsvenor acquitted themselves with
great credit Shafter showing special activity
and courage and suffering the loss OF many Of
his men. 1 was not with Lieutenant-Colonel
Corbin during the fighting. but officers who
were reported to me after the battle was ended
that he had betrayed such cowardice to exciIs
the ridicule of both officers and men, 1 spoks
to him about it, and he at rendered me his
resignation subsequently. however. withdraw
ing 1t.
In my official report OF the battle 1 said
that I thought Colonel Corbin did
have the courage requisite TO command
brave men. Many years afterward. when tho
Rebellion Records were about to be publish d
7 tn hat haf
report was published. This declined to do on
two grounds-frst. because I did not feel at
liberty to alter the records. believing that such
action on my part and on that OF other officers
would naturally tend to destroy their historical
accuracy and value; and. second. because sub
sequent events closely connected with my re-
port and my own record would be without proper
explanation.
preferred charges against Colonel
Corbin based upon the information had re-
ceived and believed to be correct, and on these
charges he was brought to trial by a court
martial which, however. acquitted HIM
Subsequently he united with others and pre-
ferred charges against me- which l
brought to trial. The findings of the court-martal
were set aside. I was given the command Of
brigade by the personal act of General Thomas,
was subsequently, promoted by the President
Brevet Acknowledgement, and was confirmed by
the Senate In August 1865 the war being over
I left the service Lieutenant Colonel Corbin be-
came colonel OF the regiment and. if mistake
not he mas remained continuously in the Army
thirty five years.
l regret that any one has seen At to bring up
this matter for l of the opinion that the
Nashville incident ought not at this time have
weight in determining the question TO whether
the Acknowledgement of the Army should be
made Major-Cieneral. Corbin and / were az
that time both very young volunteer officers
with but little experience in either life or ser
vice, and il to that neither his act
as a soldier mine commanding officer
ought to be judged by the severe military stand
ard of the Regular Army. 1 believed at that
time that Colonel Corbin had betrayed COW
ardice, reported, and felt II my duty 10 court
martial him. but the Judgment Of the court did
not sustain me, and the incident should be re-
garded closed.
The question whether the Adjutant-Generai
OF the Army should be major-general is one 10
be determined by experts. and do not feei
called upon at the present time to pass any
opinion upon ii. My object in writing this COM
munication is TO state facts they occurred.
so as 10 remove from the public mind many
misapprehensions and Observation-Disclosures Very
respectfully. t. ]. MORGAN,
Late Colonel 14th U. S. c. I. and Brevet Briggs
I (