New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-10
MAJOR-GENERAL CORBIN
CAREER OF THE FIRST ADJUTANT-GEN-
ERAI. TO REACH THAT GRADE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuNE.l

by TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNEl
Washington. June Northumberland Henry c.
Corbin who has Just been promoted from the grade
OF brgadier the higher rank OF major-gen-
era by of Congress- has the distinction Of being
the first Adiutant-Gene of the United States
Army TO reach nat high grade
General Corbin a soldier Of the Civil War
rising the actual rank OF colonel at the age or
rwenty-three, and also TO the brevet rank Of
brigadier- general Born IN Ohio September L.
1912. he was a little less than twenty years old
when, in the last Of July, 1862, he Joined the
SD Ohio Infantry second lieutenant Before
the regiment mustered into the United States
service Lieutenant Corbin transferred TO the
10th Ohio Infantry then also in progress Of organ
ization at Camp Denison, Ohio. Early in Septem-
Der, during the critical condition OF affairs caused
by Bragg's invasion Of Kentucky the 10Th was
hurried TO the front becoming a part Of General
n. G. Wright's Army OF the Ohio. II was at
tached 70 the brigade of General W T Ward
which for time subsequently commanded by
Colonel Benjamin Harrison. afterward President
of the United States During this period Lleuten-
Corbin for time detailed staff duties
army headquarters After Bragg driven out
Of Kentucky the 10Th fOated into the Army of the
Cumberland. under General Rosecrans, did
garrison duty Nashville and other points in that
neighborhood. It not engaged in the battles
Of Murfreesboro or Chckamauga Here again
Lieutenant Corbin engaged on STAFF work
about department headquarters. He seemed to
display especial aptitude for such duty, and had
NOTED TO first lieutenant on May Q 1853 and re-
signed on November 10. 1863 to accept a majors
commission in the 14th United States Colored In
fantry.
March 4. 1884 just before the beginning of the
/ Atlanta campaign, he promoted to neuten-
anu-COiouel The regiment still formed a part Of
the Army Of the Cumberland. and was a large one,
numbering nearly eight hundred electives. Lieu
tenant-Colonel Corbin in command Of 1t for a
time early in May 1t took part in some of the
I NJ he WAS
" distinguished in the attack OF General Joseph
Wheeler Dalton IN August 1854 After Wheeler
crossed the river and got the railroad in Middle
Tennessee the 1+th hurried back TO meet and
aid IN repelling him. Afterward ii took post at
Chattanooga Later. when the Confederate Cen
eral Hood moved west TO invade Tennessee IN
the fall. General r. s. Granger. who commanded
az Decatur, the Tennessee River. called for re-
Inducements The 14th. among other troops, was
dispatched to that point arriving in time 70 take
part in the repulse of Hoods attacks October
% TO % 1854 The 14th at time charged gallant
", driving back the enemy and spiking two guns.
Lieutenant-CoIonel Corbn was conspicuous in all
its operations The regiment here lost five killed
/ and thrty-eight wounded.
II took part in the battle Of Nashville six weeks
later. being part OF General James B. Steedman' )
provisional division. in which Colonel Thomas J.
Morgan. OF the 14th. commanded a brigade This
left Lieutenant-C Colonel COrbin IN command OF the
regiment in the battle OF December 10 and IS.
1864 IN which General Hood disastrousy de-
feated and his army completely broken up. The
regiment lost four killed. forty-one wounded and
twenty missing II Colonel Morgan's report
Of this battle that caused observation-disclosures Cor
bins trial by court martial subsequently, IN which
Corbin most honorahly acquitted" Morgan
resigned August Is 1865 and Northumberland
Corbn was made colonel on September % After
The battle OF Nashville the regiment was in garrt-
at various points along the front until the war
over, and afterwarc for time stationed
IN East Tennessee. 1t not mustered out until
March 2s 1850
SERVICE IN THE REGULAR ARMY.
Colonel Corhin breveted a brtgadier-geueral
Of volunteers March q, 1866, for merieortous
services. on May Il, 1866, he appointed sec
ond lieutenant IN the Regular Army and assigned
70 The nth Infantry. On July IS OF the year
ne promoted 10 captain in the SSth Infantry.
on November L. 1859 he was transferred TO the
4ith Infantry on January 10 1880. Captain Corbin
appointed major in the Ad5utaut- General $
Bureau. on June :. 1889. he became lieutenant
colonel and assistant adiutant- general. and colo
mel May &c. LSs6. on February % 1895, just be-
fore tho war with Spain. he arrived At the grade
OF brtgatier- general and Acknowledgement Of the
Army, the head 81 his bureau IN August 1898. TIE
President appointed him major general OF volun-
teers. which commission he declined.
There Is no doubt that General Corbin rendered
most meritortous service during the with
Spain by reason OF his great administrative ability
ana tireIcss energy. He ne unreserved cont
deuce OF both the President and the Secretary OF
War. Ills voice always influential in the de-
termination or all important military questions,
particularly IN al matters relating the nobiliza-
ton u the volunteers. The Administration has
long desired reward General COrbn suitably
for these services. but having reached the highest
grade r his department II was Impossible 70 pro-
mot" him without acton by Congress
There soma opposition raising the office
of aGjutant-srU"ral from the grade OF brigadier-
general 70 maJor-generaI. Il was alleged that II
wou'9 he mad. ore-rxt FOR the instant demand
by he other ten stan chiefs for similar rank This
opposition has not apparently been personal 10
CoTo.H. because II 3 generally Thought that he
5as earned his promotion. Meanwhile much OF
this antagCnism was Obviated by drawing the
bill tina; grade expires with COrbin's
SO unless tho law s. changed again his
successor VII rank brigadier-general.
Genera Corbin 8 Increased rank does not give
him any a6di- !cual authority but IL raises mis- pay
from $500 500 a year. us allowance For rent
g Increased from $40 $50 j year. and other
allowances perhaps his pay 4 major gen
eral up nearly 81 500 Besides the distinction the
Increased enuluuent5 made his struggle for the
promotion worth while As retired najOr-generaI
his pay Will be S625 a year. or So more than his
active pay brtSaGler-geueraI- He does
tire. however until Sep temher Is. 1896
The promotion TO lieutenant general increases the
pay Of General Miles from s. 500 81 90 a year
besides allowances for quarters" forage etc.
which run il up 70 $4,000 II does not in
crease his allowances. His duties IN
creased nor is any additional authority conferred
him. The rank and pay Of his STAFF officers
also Increased
T,D tTN TTDJG TTOJFtE no M trTJ