The Shasta courier., 1863-05-23
NUMBER II.
General Corcoran's Defense.

Gen. Michael Corcoran addressed a no;a
to Col Hawkins, of the Ninth New York. re.
lative to the killing Of Lieut.. Col. Kimball.
in which he says:
g At about q O'Clock, A. ", lief nv quar-.
tiers and proceeded along the main road 10.
ward the front lines for the purpose of hsy
ing the troops Under arms at O'Clock. in
obedience to an order from the Major Gener.
al commanding. When I arrived opposite
the hospital of my brigade, an officer whose
rank l could not recognize (the night very
dark and whom judged to be such ouly
from the fact of his having a sword, rushed
out in front Of me and ordered q halt. Hslt.
ing. / asked if it was DR.. Heath lone of the
surgeons of the Irish Legion), and was an.
swered by another order to halt, with the
additional remark. 1t is none of YOUR God
ID business want the countersign.'
Perceiving twas not the doctor, requested
to know tie object of his halting me- and his
name, rank. and authority, but could not OBJ.
tain any other reply than that it was none
of my God id business l repeated the
question several times and received similar
answers, with the exception that the counter
sign was not demanded more than once, and
he added, You can not pass here, l expos
tuated with him upon such conduct, and
ty, and had no right to be there and stop me
from proceeding, and that he must let me
pass. | asked him if he knew who he was
talking to, and then gave him my name and
rank, telling him that | was going to the front
under orders. and even nv business there
but it was of no avail. He answered. / do
not care a God d-n who you are / again
told him that | should pass. and warned him
several timee to get out of my wav and at.
tempt to proceed. He thereupon put himself
in determined attitude to prevent nv pro-
gress, and brandishing his sword in one hand,
and having his other on pistol (as then
supposed), made movement toward me with
the evident design of using them, and, at the
same time stated, l will be God ID if
you SHALL. 1t was at this point that used
my weapon. 1t seemed that the more | en-.
deavored to persuade the more obstinate be
became.
Nothing but the consideration that nv life
was in danger, which had every reason to
fear, and the duty that was incumbent on me
at that particular time. when an attack upon
our lines was apprehended, would have Jus.
tilted NE, in my own mind, in taking the
measure then did. As soldiers of long ser.
vice, am convinced that you will recognize
the necessity and lawfulness of the act, how
ever much you may regret that 1t was caus-
ed by one of your number, ard none does
more than myself, for although had never
before seen Col. Kimball, that am aware Of,
| had learned to respect him for his gallant.
ry in several engagements of the present war.
1t was not until after the occurrence that
learned who st was but had he been nv
best friend, I cannot see how it could have
resulted otherwise from the part he acted on
that occasion. With no authority to mand
the countersign, I would have been derelict
in my duty had yielded to his demand.-.
His refusal to give me his name, or rank, or
any information about him. or upon what
authority, if any, he assumed to to act, tine
fact being, as you are well aware, he had
none). especially as his request was couched
in the terms have stated, and the enemy
was Immediately in our front, called upon ms
to act with more than ordinary precaution III
revealing the countersign, and not unless to
one entitled to it.
But besides this, the personal violence I
had just cause to fear. gave me an undoubte6
right to protect myself against it.
will only be too glad to have an official
investigation of the matter at any time.