Henry Clark Corbin was born on September 15, 1842, in Monroe Township, Ohio, to Shadrack and Mary Corbin. His father was a farmer who owned $15,500 of real estate and $4,100 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in Monroe Township, and by 1860, he was working as a farm laborer. In the early 1860s, he reportedly taught school and studied law.

 

In the summer of 1862, he received a commission as a 2^nd lieutenant in the 83^rd Ohio Infantry. Army officials transferred him to the 79^th Ohio Infantry in August 1862. He was promoted to 1^st lieutenant in early 1863, and in November 1863, he became a major in the 14^th USCT Infantry. The regiment took part in the Battle of Nashville, and he eventually earned promotions to lieutenant colonel and then to colonel. In December 1864, he was relieved from command for “cowardice before the enemy.” He spent several months commanding troops in Knoxville, Tennessee, and in the fall of 1865, he regained command of his regiment. He mustered out on March 26, 1866.

 

He married Frances W. Strickle on September 6, 1865, and they had at least six children: Grace, born around 1866; Carrie, born around 1868; Kitty, born around 1871; Henry, born around 1873; Rebecca, born around 1875; and Rutherford H., born around 1879. He joined the Regular Army in 1866, mustering in as a 2^nd lieutenant in the 17^th United States Infantry. He was promoted to captain soon afterward, and he spent the ensuing years stationed in Kansas and the American Southwest.

 

In 1876, one biographer writes, he “was transferred to Columbia, South Carolina, to keep order during the contested presidential election.” He served at the White House under President Hayes from 1877 until 1881, and he was appointed assistant adjutant general in the early 1880s. He witnessed the shooting of President James Garfield in July 1881, and he was present when Garfield died later that year.  

 

His wife died in 1894, and he married Edith Agnes Patten on November 6, 1901. He was promoted to adjutant general in 1898, with the rank of brigadier general, and he was promoted to major general two years later. In 1904, he was placed in command of the Division of the Philippines. He was promoted to lieutenant general in April 1906, which made him the senior ranking officer on active duty. He retired in September 1906 and settled in Washington, D.C. He died in New York City, New York, on September 8, 1909.

 

Image: Henry C. Corbin (courtesy Wikicommons)

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