Colonel of the 14th United States Colored Infantry Regiment who he gallantly lead in the Civil War battles of Decatur, Alabama and Nashville, Tennessee!

Commanded African-American troops, the "Buffalo Soldiers" in the U.S. Army in the 1860's and 1870's

Was present as an aide at the death of assassinated President James A. Garfield

He was promoted to Lieutenant General, in 1906, making him the senior ranking officer on active duty in the United States Army

(1842-1909) He was born in Monroe Township, Clermont County, Ohio, and was educated at the Clermont Academy. Corbin was teaching school, and studying law when the Civil War commenced, and he volunteered to fight as a second lieutenant in the 83rd Ohio Infantry in July 1862. He transferred to the 79th Ohio Infantry the next month, and in November 1863, he was commissioned a major in the 14th United States Colored Infantry. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and colonel commanding this negro regiment, that bravely fought under his leadership in the battles of Decatur, Alabama, and Nashville, Tennessee. Corbin was promoted to rank of brevet brigadier general, on March 13, 1865, having been cited by his superiors for gallantry at Decatur and Nashville. He was mustered out of the volunteer service of the U.S. Army in March 1866. In May 1866, he was commissioned second lieutenant in the 17th Infantry Regiment of the Regular U.S. Army. He was later promoted to captain in the 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment, a "Buffalo Soldier" regiment (negro troops), in July 1866. The 38th Infantry was later consolidated with the 41st U.S. Infantry Regiment to form the 24th U.S. Infantry Regiment in November 1869, with all of the enlisted soldiers being black. Corbin was appointed to the official staff of President Rutherford B. Hayes, serving at the White House from 1877-81. He was attending Hayes' successor, President James A. Garfield, when Garfield was shot in 1881, and was present at his death in Elberon, New Jersey. He was commissioned a major in the Adjutant General's Department in June 1880, serving in the Department of the South, and the Department of the Missouri. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army, in June 1889, serving in the Department of Arizona, the Adjutant General's Office in Washington, and the Department of the East. In May 1896, he returned to the Adjutant General's Department in Washington and was promoted to colonel. He was elevated to Adjutant General of the United States Army with the rank of brigadier general in February 1898, and was promoted to major general in June 1900. He took command of the newly created Division of the Atlantic in January 1904, then was given command of the Division of the Philippines in November 1904. He took command of the Northern Division in February 1906, and was promoted to lieutenant general in April 1906, making him the senior ranking officer on active duty in the entire U.S. Army. He retired from active duty in September 1906, and continued to live in Washington, D.C. Corbin died on September 8, 1909, at Roosevelt Hospital, in New York City, and is buried in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery, in Virginia.

Autograph Note Signed With Rank, Place & Date: 6 1/2 x 3 1/4, in ink, "With all good wishes, Very Truly, H.C. Corbin, Maj. Genl., U.S. Army, Governor's Island, May 26, 1904." Very fine item.

WBTS Trivia: Governors Island is a 172-acre island in New York Harbor that is located approximately 800 yards south of Manhattan Island, and is separated from Brooklyn to the east by the 400 yard-wide Buttermilk Channel. The National Park Service administers a small portion of the north end of the island as the Governors Island National Monument, including two former military fortifications named Fort Jay and Castle Williams.