Camp Corbin was established at Loudon Park, on Bryan Station Pike during the Spanish American War. The camp was originally called Camp Hobson, after Richmond P. Hobson. Hobson during June 1898 attempted to block the Santiago Channel with the Merrimac (a naval collier). The camp housed the new 4th Kentucky, from July 4 to September 17, 1898. The Kentucky troops renamed it Camp Corbin, after Henry C. Corbin, the new Adjutant General of the state guard. The camp was set up with 135 tents for the regiment. The camp was arranged with a battalion and headquarters on the west side along Walnut Road, one battalion on the east side and mess kitchen along the Belt Line’s railroad tracks.[i] For most of the recruits, this was the first time in a big city and unauthorized French leave became common. The military authorities finally enclosed the camp with a high fence.[ii]
[i] Lexington Leader, June 26, 1898, page 5, column 4.
[ii] Lexington Leader, August 5, 1898, page 7, column 1 and Military History of Kentucky, Frankfort, 1939, page 286.
