2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
Varying sizes. Five datelined from "FORT BROWN TEXAS" dated 1873 through 1876; mostly about tedium of Army life with some good insights into military such as "…one of your saddles here might do you some good, so if you have one that you would like to have me show to these officers I may be able to do so [George Albee had designed a cavalry saddle]…all is very quiet on the Rio [Grande]." Writes about Lieut. Read M. Washington, an officer with a checkered career who flunked out of West Point but went on to become an officer in the 9'th Cavalry, 1869, and whose record shows he was dismissed from service in 1876 (same year that Corbin wrote this letter) "…Washington was out of jail. The parties having withdrawn the suit, so now I fancy he will get off with cashiering." Talks much about the comings and goings of fellow officers and his own disappointments with Army life: "Congress seems determined to cut us in every way, and will beyond doubt take a goodly slice from our already scant pay. How we are to stand it I can't see. There are others who will be worse off then I…I can't see how they can make it…reduction seems to be fully fixed…I can't be much worse off…" In another letter: "I am sick and consequently cross as the devil. …Some of the chaps have become solid in the belief that if [I] miss one tour of duty on any account they are fearfully outraged…but I hope to be with the boys again and try and make up the time I have lost." PLUS FIVE OTHER LETTERS on printed letterheads of "WAR DEPARTMENT / ADJ. GENERALS OFFICE / WASHINGTON" AND ALSO "HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY…WASHINGTON, etc. of varying lengths to albee over the period of the 1880's to early 1890's on all matters PLUS A NOTE on printed letterhead "HEADQUARTERS NORTHERN DIVISION ST. LOUIS MISSOURI" March 23 (circa 1880's). A very interesting group. The entire lot of 11 all exc.
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