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This collection of postbellum Army documents, comprised of four separate Special Orders issued by the Adjutant General’s Office, have to do with the examination of candidates for promotion. All are signed by Henry C. Corbin – a Civil War veteran who, as Assistant Adjutant General during the Spanish-American War, established the policy that religious furloughs were to be granted freely to Jewish men in uniform.
A collection of Documents (4) Signed (“H.C. CORBIN”), as Assistant Adjutant General, 4 pages in all, quarto, Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, dating from 1881 to 1884.
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all pages and transcript
Page 1/4

SPECIAL ORDERS,}
No. 52. }
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, March 6, 1882.
Extract.
* * * * *
16. By direction of the Secretary of War a board of officers of
the Corps of Engineers, to consist of--
Colonel Henry W. Benham,
Colonel Zealous B. Tower,
Lieutenant Colonel Henry L. Abbot,
Lieutenant Colonel Cyrus B. Comstock,
is constituted to meet in New York City for the examination of the
following-named officers, with a view to their promotion in the Corps
of Engineers when legally entitle thereto:
1st Lieutenant John G. D. Knight.
1st Lieutenant Richard L. Hoxie.
1st Lieutenant William L. Marshall.
1st Lieutenant Joseph H. Willard.
2d Lieutenant Oberlin M. Carter.
2d Lieutenant George W. Goethals.
2d Lieutenant John Millis.
2d Lieutenant John Biddle.
2d Lieutenant Edward O. Brown.
The board will be assembled on the call of the senior officer thereof,
who is authorized to order the candidates to appear before it as rapidly
as they can be examined, due regard being had for the interests
of the service on which they may be employed.
The board will be governed in its examinations by the provisions
of the rules for the examination of candidates for promotion in the
Corps of Engineers, promulgated in General Orders, No. 3, May 1,
1870, from Headquarters Corps of Engineers.
The report of the board will be forwarded, through the Chief of
Engineers, to the Adjutant General of the Army.
* * * * *
BY COMMAND OF GENERAL SHERMAN:
R. C. DRUM,
Adjutant General.
OFFICIAL:
H C CORBIN
Assistant Adjutant General.
Lt. Col. Abbot
thro' Chief of Engineers
No. 52. }
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, March 6, 1882.
Extract.
* * * * *
16. By direction of the Secretary of War a board of officers of
the Corps of Engineers, to consist of--
Colonel Henry W. Benham,
Colonel Zealous B. Tower,
Lieutenant Colonel Henry L. Abbot,
Lieutenant Colonel Cyrus B. Comstock,
is constituted to meet in New York City for the examination of the
following-named officers, with a view to their promotion in the Corps
of Engineers when legally entitle thereto:
1st Lieutenant John G. D. Knight.
1st Lieutenant Richard L. Hoxie.
1st Lieutenant William L. Marshall.
1st Lieutenant Joseph H. Willard.
2d Lieutenant Oberlin M. Carter.
2d Lieutenant George W. Goethals.
2d Lieutenant John Millis.
2d Lieutenant John Biddle.
2d Lieutenant Edward O. Brown.
The board will be assembled on the call of the senior officer thereof,
who is authorized to order the candidates to appear before it as rapidly
as they can be examined, due regard being had for the interests
of the service on which they may be employed.
The board will be governed in its examinations by the provisions
of the rules for the examination of candidates for promotion in the
Corps of Engineers, promulgated in General Orders, No. 3, May 1,
1870, from Headquarters Corps of Engineers.
The report of the board will be forwarded, through the Chief of
Engineers, to the Adjutant General of the Army.
* * * * *
BY COMMAND OF GENERAL SHERMAN:
R. C. DRUM,
Adjutant General.
OFFICIAL:
H C CORBIN
Assistant Adjutant General.
Lt. Col. Abbot
thro' Chief of Engineers
Page 2/4

Personal file
SPECIAL ORDERS,}
No. 90. }
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, April 17, 1894.
Extract.
* * * * *
6. By direction of the Secretary of War, a board of officers
is appointed to meet, at the call of the president thereof, in the
rooms of the Board of Engineers, Army Building, New York
City, for the examination of such officers of the Corps of Engineers
as may be ordered before it, to determine their fitness for
promotion.
Detail for the board.
Colonel Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers.
Colonel Cyrus B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers.
Colonel Charles T. Alexander, Assistant Surgeon General.
Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers.
Captain William C. Shannon, Assistant Surgeon.
The junior engineer officer will act as recorder.
* * * * *
BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL SCHOFIELD :
GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Adjutant General.
OFFICIAL:
H C CORBIN
Assistant Adjutant General.
Col. Abbot
Thro Chief of Engrs.
SPECIAL ORDERS,}
No. 90. }
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, April 17, 1894.
Extract.
* * * * *
6. By direction of the Secretary of War, a board of officers
is appointed to meet, at the call of the president thereof, in the
rooms of the Board of Engineers, Army Building, New York
City, for the examination of such officers of the Corps of Engineers
as may be ordered before it, to determine their fitness for
promotion.
Detail for the board.
Colonel Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers.
Colonel Cyrus B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers.
Colonel Charles T. Alexander, Assistant Surgeon General.
Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers.
Captain William C. Shannon, Assistant Surgeon.
The junior engineer officer will act as recorder.
* * * * *
BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL SCHOFIELD :
GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Adjutant General.
OFFICIAL:
H C CORBIN
Assistant Adjutant General.
Col. Abbot
Thro Chief of Engrs.
Page 3/4

SPECIAL ORDERS,}
No. 147. }
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, June 26, 1882.
Extract.
* * * * *
6. By direction of the Secretary of War a board of officers of the
Corps of Engineers, to consist of--
Colonel Zealous B. Tower
Colonel John Newton,
Lieutenant Colonel Henry L. Abbot,
is constituted to meet in New York City for the examination of the
following-named officers, with a view to their promotion in the Corps
of Engineers when legally entitled thereto:
Captain William Ludlow.
Captain Andrew N. Damrell.
Captain Charles J. Allen.
Captain Charles W. Raymond.
2d Lieutenant Harry F. Hodges.
2d Lieutenant James G. Warren.
The board will be assembled at as early a date as practicable, on
the call of the senior officer thereof, who is authorized to order the
candidates to appear before it as rapidly as they can be examined,
due regard being had for the interests of the service.
The board will be governed in its examinations by the provisions
of the rules for the examination of candidates for promotion in the
Corps of Engineers, promulgated in General Orders, No. 3, May 1,
1870, from Headquarters Corps of Engineers.
The report of the board will be forwarded, through the Chief of
Engineers, to the Adjutant General of the Army.
* * * * *
BY COMMAND OF GENERAL SHERMAN:
R. C. DRUM,
Adjutant General.
OFFICIAL:
H C CORBIN
Assistant Adjutant General.
Lt. Col. Abbot
thro' Chief of Engineers
No. 147. }
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, June 26, 1882.
Extract.
* * * * *
6. By direction of the Secretary of War a board of officers of the
Corps of Engineers, to consist of--
Colonel Zealous B. Tower
Colonel John Newton,
Lieutenant Colonel Henry L. Abbot,
is constituted to meet in New York City for the examination of the
following-named officers, with a view to their promotion in the Corps
of Engineers when legally entitled thereto:
Captain William Ludlow.
Captain Andrew N. Damrell.
Captain Charles J. Allen.
Captain Charles W. Raymond.
2d Lieutenant Harry F. Hodges.
2d Lieutenant James G. Warren.
The board will be assembled at as early a date as practicable, on
the call of the senior officer thereof, who is authorized to order the
candidates to appear before it as rapidly as they can be examined,
due regard being had for the interests of the service.
The board will be governed in its examinations by the provisions
of the rules for the examination of candidates for promotion in the
Corps of Engineers, promulgated in General Orders, No. 3, May 1,
1870, from Headquarters Corps of Engineers.
The report of the board will be forwarded, through the Chief of
Engineers, to the Adjutant General of the Army.
* * * * *
BY COMMAND OF GENERAL SHERMAN:
R. C. DRUM,
Adjutant General.
OFFICIAL:
H C CORBIN
Assistant Adjutant General.
Lt. Col. Abbot
thro' Chief of Engineers
Page 4/4

SPECIAL ORDERS,}
No. 100. }
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, May 2, 1881.
Extract.
* * * * *
1. By direction of the Secretary of War a board of officers of the
Corps of Engineers, to consist of--
Colonel Henry W. Benham,
Colonel Z. B. Tower,
Lieutenant Colonel Henry L. Abbot,
Major Cyrus B. Comstock,
is constituted to meet in New York City for the examination of the
following-named officers, with a view to their promotion in the Corps
of Engineers when legally entitled thereto:
2d Lieutenant Theodore A. Bingham.
2d Lieutenant Curtis McD. Townsend.
2d Lieutenant Gustav J. Fiebeger.
The board will be assembled on the call of the senior officer
thereof, who is authorized to order the candidates to appear before
it as rapidly as they can be examined, due regard being had for the
interests of the service on which they may be employed.
The board will be governed in its examinations by the provisions
of the rules for the examination of candidates for promotion in the
Corps of Engineers, promulgated in General Orders, No. 3, May 1,
1870, from Headquarters Corps of Engineers.
The report of the board will be forwarded, through the Chief of
Engineers, to the Adjutant General of the Army.
* * * * *
BY COMMAND OF GENERAL SHERMAN :
R. C. DRUM,
Adjutant General.
OFFICIAL:
H C CORBIN
Assistant Adjutant General.
Lieut. Col. Abbot
thro' Chief of Engineers
No. 100. }
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, May 2, 1881.
Extract.
* * * * *
1. By direction of the Secretary of War a board of officers of the
Corps of Engineers, to consist of--
Colonel Henry W. Benham,
Colonel Z. B. Tower,
Lieutenant Colonel Henry L. Abbot,
Major Cyrus B. Comstock,
is constituted to meet in New York City for the examination of the
following-named officers, with a view to their promotion in the Corps
of Engineers when legally entitled thereto:
2d Lieutenant Theodore A. Bingham.
2d Lieutenant Curtis McD. Townsend.
2d Lieutenant Gustav J. Fiebeger.
The board will be assembled on the call of the senior officer
thereof, who is authorized to order the candidates to appear before
it as rapidly as they can be examined, due regard being had for the
interests of the service on which they may be employed.
The board will be governed in its examinations by the provisions
of the rules for the examination of candidates for promotion in the
Corps of Engineers, promulgated in General Orders, No. 3, May 1,
1870, from Headquarters Corps of Engineers.
The report of the board will be forwarded, through the Chief of
Engineers, to the Adjutant General of the Army.
* * * * *
BY COMMAND OF GENERAL SHERMAN :
R. C. DRUM,
Adjutant General.
OFFICIAL:
H C CORBIN
Assistant Adjutant General.
Lieut. Col. Abbot
thro' Chief of Engineers