LAWTON ALMOST DOOMED BY THE BOTTLE!

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004

CONFIDENTIAL boldly inscribed across the printed "War Department / Adj. General's Office / Washington" heading on this three page (each blank on reverse) boldly penned letter entirely in the hand of and fully signed by Albee's lifelong friend Henry C. Corbin, then A. G. of the Army. Although undated, it is circa 1898 just as General Henry W. Lawton was returning from his command leading the successful capture of Santiago in the Cuban campaign and before returning to America for his next post. Corbin writes to his lifelong friend: "I don't know by what ship Lawton will return. He has been on one of his old time drunks and kicked the fat in the fire. The President had him in mind for Brig. Gen'l in the regular Army. When his condition was reported, the question was what to do? After thinking it over I said 'sick leave.' The Sec'y of War and the president assented, so I cabled him sick leave for 60 days and ordered him to turn the command of the Department over to [Leonard] Wood which he has done and is now in the hospital…and yet he promised me on his word of honor…no drunk. The poor man has the disease. It's infernal and incurable. His hopes all gone. I think the thing is to make him a Brig. Gen'l and retire on 30 years…I am ready to help [for] what is right and safe for the general…but a command of great responsibility is now impossible. What do you think?" A most insightful…and rare…letter for it was not but a couple of years later when Lawton went on to command U.S. Army forces in the Philippines during the Insurrection there and be killed in action leading his men. Normal light aging; Exc. ACCOMPANIED WITH an original studio photo portrait of Henry C. Corbin (12 x 6) on original cabinet card with Washington D.C. photographer's imprint. Fine, sharp, clear image of the general in civilian clothes and boldly and neatly penned in his hand on the reverse "Sincerely Yours / H. C. Corbin / Washington D. C. August 26, 1877." Corbin had a long and distinguished career commencing in the Civil War where he was brevetted Brig. Gen'l for courageous service; in post-war years he spent most of it with the Adj. General's office in Washington rising to command of the department as A. G. and retiring at the turn of the century. He maintained a lifelong friendship with George Albee.

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