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April 18th, 1874 24th US Infantry officer's letter written from Ft. Brown, Texas
April 18th, 1874 24th US Infantry officer's letter written from Ft. Brown, Texas. Written by then Lt. Henry C. Corbin.
Two pages period ink, Corbin is writing to George Albee, a fellow officer in the 24th U. S. Infantry ("Buffalo Soldiers").
Corbin inquiries about Albee's health, and informs him that he has "genuine whooping cough" himself. He also mentions that his company, under an officer named "Lester" (Charles H. Lester of the 24th), is going out with his company to try and get the Indians to attack him. In fine condition, written soon before the start of the famous Red River War.

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Major General Henry C. Corbin: He was born in Monroe Township, Clermont County, Ohio, and was teaching school and studying law when the American Civil War broke out. Corbin volunteered as a second lieutenant in the 83rd Ohio Infantry in July 1862 and transferred to the 79th Ohio Infantry the next month. In November 1863 he was commissioned a major in the 14th United States Colored Infantry. He eventually rose to be lieutenant colonel and colonel of this regiment, and participated in the Battle of Decatur and Battle of Nashville. He was mustered out in March 1866. In May 1866 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 17th Infantry of the Regular Army. He was promoted to captain in the 38th Infantry, a Buffalo Soldier regiment, in July 1866. The 38th Infantry was consolidated with the 41st Infantry to form the 24th Infantry in November 1869.

George Emerson Albee was an officer in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Indian Wars. Albee enlisted in Company G (Wisconsin), Berdan's Sharpshooters in June 1862. After two months in the field he was wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run and discharged for disability while convalescing. He later enlisted in 1863 as an artilleryman in the 3rd Wisconsin Light Artillery but was discharged to accept a commission as 2nd lieutenant in the 36th Wisconsin Infantry; he was later promoted to 1st lieutenant. After the Civil War Albee served as a lieutenant in the 36th United States Colored Infantry (1866), 41st U.S. Infantry (1866–1869), 24th U.S. Infantry (1869-1878). He retired from the US Army in 1878, and later became captain of the "National Blues" Company D 2nd Regiment Connecticut National Guard in 1891. Shortly thereafter, Albee was promoted to major and Brigade Inspector of Rifle Practice of the Connecticut National Guard.

Fort Brown was a military post of the United States Army in Cameron County, Texas during the later half of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. Established in 1846, it was the first United States Army military outpost of the recently annexed state.

CHARLES H. LESTER

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1859, to June 11, 1863, when he was graduated and promoted iu the Army to Second Lieut., 2d Cavalry, June 11,1863.

Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1863-66: near the Rappahannock River (Army of the Potomac), July 23 to Aug. 18, 1863, being engaged in the Action of Brandy Station, Aug. 1, 1863; at Camp Buford, near Washington, D. C, Aug. 20 to Oct. 17, 1863; iu command of Company near the Rapidan (Army of the Potomac), Nov. 6, 1863, to Feb. 29, 1864 ; as Acting Asst. Inspector-General of Cavalry Reserve Brigade (Army of the Potomac), Feb. 29 to June 19, 1884, and in command of Company, June 19 to July 30, 1864, in the Richmond Campaign (Army of the Potomac), being engaged in the Battle of the Wilderness, May 5-6, 1864, — " Sheridan's Raid to Haxall's Landing, and returning

(bvt. First Lieut., May 6, 1864, For Gallant And Meritorious Services At The Battle Of Todd's Tavern, Va.) to New Castle, participating in several Engagements, May 9-29, 1864.

(first Lieut., 2d Cavalry, May 30, 1864) — Battle of Cold Harbor, May 31 to June 1,1864, — " Sheridan's Raid" to Trevillian Station and Light-house Point, with frequent Actions, June 7-28, 1864, — Action near Deep Bottom, July 28, 1864; on leave.

(bvt. Captain, July 27, 1864, For Gallant And Meritorious Services In Action At Deep Bottom, Va.) of absence, Aug. 1 to Sep. 6, 1864; on Mustering and Disbursing duty at Baltimore, Md., Sep. 6 to Nov. 19,1864; as Aide-de-Camp to General Torbert, Dec. 2, 1864, to Sep., 1865; in command of Company at Ft. Ellsworth, Kan., Nov., 1865, to Mar., 1866 ; and as Adjutant, 2d Cavalry, Mar. 6 to July 1, 1866, at Ft. Riley, Kan., Mar. to May, 1866, and Ft. Ellsworth, Kan., May to July, 1866.

Served: on Recruiting service, July 3 to Sep. 19, 1866 ; on leave of (captain, 8th Cavalry, July 28,1866) absence, Sep. 19,1866, to Feb. 4, 1867; in conducting Recruits to Ft. Vancouver, Wash., Feb. 4 to Mar. 14, 1867 ; on frontier duty at Ft. Lapwai, Ida., Mar. 14, 1867, to May 24, 1868, — and at Willow Grove, Ara., July 15,1868, to Mar. 11, 1869 (leave of absence to May 13, 1869). Resigned, May 13, 1869.

Military History. — Served : in garrison at Newport Barracks, Ky., (second Lieut., 24th Infantry, Aug. 6, 1873) Ang. 6, 1873, to Mas. 17, 1874; on frontier duty, at Ft. Brown, Tex., Apr. 15, 1874, to Nov. 1, 1875, — Austin, Tex., to Ang. 1, 1876, —and Ft. Brown, Tex., and as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General

(transferred To 8th Cavalry, Oct. 31, 1876) trict of the Rio Grande, to June 1, 1877; on leave of absence to Dec. 1, 1877; on frontier duty at Ft. Brown, Tex., Dec. 1, 1877, to Oct. 16, 1879, — Ft. Clark, Tex. (leave of absence, Jan. to Apr., 1880, Scouting, June, 1880, and at San Felipe, Tex., Sep. 13 to Oct. 15, 1880), to Nov. 11, 1880, — Ft. Duncan, Tex., to Nov. 2, 1881, — Ft. Clark, Tex., to Sep. 27, 1882, —Rio Pecos, Tex., to Nov., 1882, — San Antonio, Tex., to May 29.

(first Lieut., 8th Cavalry, Apr. 4, 1884) 1884,— Ft. Clark, Tex., to July 6, 1884, — Langtry, Tex., to Sep. 13, 1884,—Ft. Clark, Tex., to Mar. 8, 1887, —Camp Del Rio, Tex., to May 10,1888 (leave of absence to Dec. 8,1888), —and Ft. Buford, Dak., to Apr. 24, 1889; and on sick leave of absence