The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-07


a complete record of the courtmartial
which tried Adjutant General Corbin
when lieutenant colonel of the Four
tenth colored infantry on a charge of
cOWardice, and other information as TO
his military career, called for a mass
of papers that will require week to
copy, according TO the estimate of the
war department..
General COrbin, in anticipation of the
reply, today addressed to Senator Davis
of Minnesota an appeal for an imme-
date examination Of his soldierly rec
ord from the day he entered the serv-
ice Of the United States army as 19
year-old boy, thirty-eight years ago,
until now. Moreover. he authorizes
the senator to present hts (Corbin's)
resignation to the president if the
search reveals a suggestion Of unwor-
thiness.
The letter includes the findings of the
courtmartial, which most hOnOrably
acquitted Lieutenant Colonel Corbin OF
the charge, General Grants letter con-
ferring upon him two brevets for gal
liant services 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 campaign.
Appeals to Senator Davis.
In his letter to Senator Davis the adj
jutant general says:
Dear Sir-My attention has been
called to certain newspaper reports
purporting to set forth extracts from a
memorial that is said to have been
transmitted to you which are in the
nature of charges affecting my record
as an officer of the army.
SO II as the statements, or any
othe lay be deserving of consiSera-
ito -tention, desire TO place my
Sc ur command in aiding yeu to
m searching examination Of my
re, m. soldier with a view to as
Ger 1g all the truth, and L wish to
So, u all earnestness, if a search re-
veals - you a suggestion of unworthi-
ness ! viii close the discussion, so far
as I am concerned. by authorizing you
to present my resignation from the SER
vice to the president.
L believe in diSposing of radical evils
with remedies and so far as lies in my
power this rule is followed in the adj
ministration of the adjutant generals
dep rtment, and I shall not shrink from
having. the same rule applied 10 my
own case. ~
at is my duty as adjutant general
Of the army 10 afford you, and through
and complete information on any cues
ton affecting the efficiency OF the army
in part or whole.
His Courtmartial.
Il have the honor to hand you here
with an official copy of general orders
No. s. headquarters First division,
army of the Cumberland. dated March
IA, 1865, promulgating the proceedings
and findings Of the general co -rtniartial
resulting from trial on all allegations,
and your especial attention is invited
to the unusual expression of the court
in its findings, to-wit: Most honorably
acquit. That the court was composed
Of officers Of experience and high char
acter goes without saying. and that its
p o eed-nSs, findings and approval were
in all respects regular and lawful has
never been questioned.
Your attention is also invited to a
copy Of the official report enclosed
herewith Of the engagements of the
Fourteenth United States eolored in
fantry in and about Decatur, Ala, dur
ing the latter part of the month of Oc-
tober. 1864, which report is signed by
the officer who later preferred charges
upon which 1 was tried, one of which
related to that time and place.
u feel confident that to one of your
long experience as a public officer and
your high sense of justice, the official
records herewith brought to your at
tention viii not permit you to be mis-
led nor to accept as truthful the state
ments which are reported to be con-
tanned in the memorial referred to.
Will Render Assistance.
eff, however, you desire to make a
frrf mi ,, o tim into NV y.aony.1 7
win gladly give You any assistance in
facilitating an examination of the rec
ords made, day by day. from the time
when, as a lad of IS, / left my fathers
farm in southern Ohio and entered the
volunteer army. l am now closing my
thirty eighth year of continuous SER
vice-a service, modest though il has
been, yet I claim to have been honest
and faithful.
My 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
/ was hOnorably discharged. Not only
this, but General Grant, while secre-
tary of war ad interim 1.-TWO years after
the trial herein discussed had been of
record in the war department, con-
ferred upon me, by authority of the
president. two brevets, one Of major,
for gallant and meritoriouS conduct in
the battle Of Decatur. Ala, and another
Of lieutenant colonel for like service
in the battle of Nashville copies of
which are inclosed), covering the exact
datee set forth in the specification Of
the charges tried.
Tells Of Promotions.
Following my discharge from the
volunteer service, 1 was appointed a
second lieutenant in the regular army,
and in July, 1866, was appointed cap
tain in one of the new regiments. and,
30 far as I am aware, without the So
licitation of any influence outside of the
military service. / had been an officer
of the army more than four years be-
fore 1 had the honorable and personal
acquaintance Of any member of con-
gress or anyone else in touch with the