The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-04-20

the C0RC0RAM-KlMBAlL AFFAIR.
Letter from General Corcoran "a Colonel
Hawkius.
TO THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.
No. CENTRE srRErr, NEw YoRK April 10, 1853.
The following copy OF letter from Gen. Coreoran
to COL Hawkos. relative to the death OF the late COL
Kinbal II was given into my charge whom leaving suf
folk va ths moraing Friday, the iIth inst with
discretionary power 10 make public not after my ar
rival In this city.
Had tho New York newspapers, and some very injndL
cious friends VI Col Kiba waited for the result Of
military investigation Of tho melancholy catastrophe In
question. should deem II premature to lay Gen. Corco
statement OF the real facts OF tho case thus carly
before the pubic. But reports have been already
mulgated through the press respecting II which arc
either false every material particular, with the ex
cepton Of unavoidable result else erroneous and
inaccurate In several important details, think h
due to my friend, The General, 10 give immediate
publicity 90 his OF the aiira statemsnt
similar 70 ono has beea already made vsrba to
MAJOR Generals DIX and Peck, and which met with their
unqualified appreciation.
When The fatal rencontrc took place, rode by the
Generals side myself testify, whenevor called
upon the Of every fact set forth In bB Ice
ter Considering his position at the time aud tho i'm
portant duties entrusted 10 him, with fifteen miles OF
front 70 DEFEND with the enemy right before him with
town whose Inhabitants for tho most part rebel
sympathizers the midst OF his camp. consider his
and words 70 have been mild and conclntory IN
the extreme, while his opponent appeared TO act the
part Of either insensate bawer. anxious for at
any cost or else OF enemy disguise. When all means
persuasion had tried, and bad failed, General
CorcorAns personal safety well a. the safety Of bs
command imperatively called upon him 10 act AZ he
did for other left open to him under tho
circumstances and will add In no other service In the
world would 80 much patience and forbeMance have
been displayed by superior officer, obstructed In tho
Performance Of his duty by subaern acting without
authority This must be admitted BY every man at all
conversant with military matters.
In my personal judgment would hold my friend 10
involved and were both parties private citizens. HIS
ne seemed 10 me 70 be in such imminent
peril ~ TO call for tho most extreme
source Of sefdesnce The Lieutenant CoIones manner
had all tho appearance OF wayaying; much that
regretted having weapon my own person TO avenge
tone and language q tho latter and tne over
bearing nsoence VI the former felt In doubt ~ 70
which party would begin tho attack
These remarks VI mine appear harsh with respect
u the dcad whose fault should be allowed 10 rest with
him his grave, while his virtues alone recorded.
friends take tho blame Of them to themselves. With
indecent and unprncped has,e they have rushed false
Try calamity, Tor The purpose Of ~resxrs urs
vengeance upon worthy soldier OF the republic, Who
a. n ssncs ''i ann SIR ~ your a very oS.ass
Dtrvant, JOHN OhAHONY.
eSsrRAL coscoRAs's LErrEa 10 coLoNEL HAWKINS.
BEApauAxnxs. FIEn Drvs'os. sEvrxrn Amy coxrs,
rrisef suySolx, VI, April ~, 1868. J
Colonel HAWKINS, Commanding Ninth regiment New
York Volunteers (Hawkins' Zousv@);-
nr,x IN. sArAv
brief sis,smsnt in relation the sad asr OF Sunday
morning which resulted regret say IN The death Of
Lieut. Colonel Kimbsll.
At about quarter before three O'Clock A. n Ian my
quarsss and proceeded along The main road toward be
front lines for the purpose o having the troops under
arms three O'Clock In obsdsncs order from the
Major General commanding wheu sri,ss Opposite thr
hospital Of my brigade. oncer whose rank ooad NOT
recognize Ohio night being very dark, and whom I
judged be such only from the fact Of his having
sword, rushed out front OF and ordered halt.
Falling, ! asked m IL was Doctor Heath zone or
the surgeons Of tho Irish Lsgon), and
swersd BY another order halt, with the additional
mark. at Of your God damned business want tho
countersign." Perceiving u was not tho Doctor, re
qucsted know the object Of his hating mo- and his
name rank and authority bat could obtain any other
reply than that Of my God damssd bisiness.
repeated tho question several timcs and received sm-
lar answers the exception hu tho couutersgn
demanded more than once, and he added You
not pass here"
Iexpostulated with him upon such conduct and told
h ~ remember that he not duty, and had
rh ~ DC and stop from proceeding. and that
be- a me pass. asked hha II no knew who se
talking 20, and then gave hm my name and rank,
telling nm also that was going TO the front under
ders my business there; but of ~ ALL
Ito answered. al do not God damn who yoI arc.
again told hun that should pass, aud warned him
several times TO get out of my way. AID
SELF determined attitude 70 prevent ny
progress. and brandishIng his sword Ia hand nud
having his ether on pistol, ~ then supp sed made
movement toward 18th the cvticnt dcsign usiug
them, ana At lis time stated II will 10 tod dn,e
II you shall IL WIS at thus JOINT that usoi my
Ion IL seemed that The more deayOi ei " pc suaao
tho obstinate no became. Nothing br IA cIn-ide
e ,thn that my lie was IA danger, winch had every
reason fear, aud tho duty that tBcnmbBt ap i
mo tnat particular time, When attack uI,n
was apIr.hendei, ~oald have justified me, " fnY i
misd Ia taxing The measure then did AZ soldiers 4
Ling ice, cJnvucsi that yo will gni1e ths
necrssty s~fulneys ~ tne ho1 mucn yOa
ina5 regret that was caused by one u Jour number
and non. dos moro than mj soil Although had \
before seen Cooael mDa that am asAe VI, \
hid learned u fe.lcct him f,r his CALAMITY 4
m several engagements u tho frs,cnt /
IL was not until alter the occur, eBos that
learned VII II but had he been my bot TREND
cannot b,w u could rave resulted otbsfw
part be acted on IA = occasiJn. Win DO auth y 10 do
nand tlo counter sisl, wOuI have besu d. ellct my
iuty had y,eaed ~ his d mand His refusal " siye
nj rank suy DiyrinstiOn aDDat nm, upon
what anthory any he assumed ~ tci (the act b~ng,
N you veil aware, tpst ~ had noneJ, e,Iecsays -
request coucbed Ia The term have at-d aud
lac enemy was mmeilttsy IN our ifout cal cd up mo
with more than ordinary pfscauibn ia revealing
ho oJsn Isf.sn, and NJ sutiticd " it
but besides this, the sIssi sncs lad
% tear gave unoOabt~f glt " Ifytect mysolf
gain H
inteni.d W have scot this stsLsmsnt before bot my
bcs past Days have prevented "a, aud have
low been ob'ss 70 make . nlfredy hoIiug ,hsfcsJ ~
.Hrect any impfegnns tn.t my have b~, n
IA 10. and prevent tbem l4e iuture.
1 viii oniy bs to glad W have 0tnc.d luyestlgasOn
ths at sby time am, Cob,Dei. yOuf oDeli-nt