The age-herald., 1900-03-07
CORBIN INVITES
 AN INVESTIGATION
In Response to the Senate h.
 quiry.
SAYS HIS RECORD IS CLEAR
Refers to an Engagement at Decatur Ala, in Which He Was Brevet- ed for Gallantry- Court
 martial Acquitted Him

Washington, March 6.LThe resolution adopted by the senate, calling for a com
 plete account of the record of the court
 martial which tried Adjutant-General Cor
 bin, when lieutenant colonel of the Four teenth Colorado infantry, a charge of 1 military career, called for a mass of papers l that will require weeks time to copy, ac- cording to the estimate of the war depart
 ment.
 General Corbdn, in anticipation of the re- | ply, to-day addressed to Senator Davis of Minnesota an appeal for an immediate ex- animation of his soldiery record from the day he entered the service of the United States as a 19 year old boy, thirty-eight years ago, up to the present time. Moreover he authorizes the senator to present hds | (Corbin's) resignation to the president, if
 the search reveals suggestion of unworthi-
 ness. The letter includes the findings of the eeurtmartial, which most honorably ac- quilted Lieutenant-Colonel Corbin of the | charges. General Grants letter, conferring
 upon him two brevets for gallent service at the time he was charged with cowardice,
 and finally letter from the colonel of the
 regiment, who preferred the charge, prais- | ing his work in the campaign.
 An Alabama Engagement
 General Cortbin invites attention to the copy of an official report, which he en- closes, of the engagements of the Four teenth United States Colored Infantry in and about Decatur, Ala, during the latter l part of the month of October, 1884, which report is signed by the officer who later preferred the charges upon which he was tried. In this connection he said:
 'I feel confident to one of your long ex-
 perience as a public officer, and your high
 sense of justice, the official records here
 with brought to your attention will not permit you to be misled nor to accept as truthful statements which are reported to be contained in a memorial referred to you" The letter continues:
 ''If, however, you desire to make further examination into my records, I will gladly give you any assistance in facilitating an examination of the records made day by day from the time when, as lad of 19, I left my fathers farm in southern Ohio and entered the volunteer army.
 My service in the volunteer army cover- ed nearly four years, having in that time held commissions of six grades, from sec ond lieutenant and including that of colo hel with brevet of rigadier-general From all of which I was honorably discharged; i; not only this, but General Grant while sec retary of war ad interim conferred upon me, by authority of the president, two brevets-one of major for gallant and mer- itorious conduct in the battle of Decatur Ala, and another of leutenant-colon for like service in the battle of Nashville. Went InCo Regular Army
 ! "Following my discharge from the volun- teer service was appointed a second lieu tenant in the regular army, and July. 1866. was appointed a captain in one of the new regiments, and so far as I am aware, without the solicitation of any influence outside Of the military service. I had been an officer of the army more than fourteen years before the honorable personal ac- quaintance of any member of congress or any one else in touch with the authorities in Washington. My first ten years in the regular army were spent with my company Tn the then remote western states and terri- tories 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, to Fort Brown at the mouth of the Rio Grande-the distance traversed and the difficulties of this service being understood by those who have had the experience. During all these ten years
 was never absent from a duty for a single day, from any cause whatever. I served fourteen years as captain of infantry and in the adjutant generals department
 nine years in the grade of major, and seven years in the grade of lieutenant colonel. and two years in the grade of colonel and at the time of my appointment as adjutant general was the senior colonel in the de- partment
 Your attention is also invited to the fact that the president rendered me the com- | mission Of major general of volunteers, which had the honor to decline, so that all these offices Limited in number by law) | might be given to officers serving with troops in the field. I have now served in the regular army more than a third of a century and have been absent from duty from any couse less than thirty days | This appeal Is made to you in the name
 of justice, and am confident that 1t is not |. made in vain."