Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-04-18
SATURDAY. APRIL Is. 1888.
Gen. Corcoran and Col Kimb"l.

Gen. COrcoran ana Oois hA"p"'A'
THERE'S to be an investigation of the cir
cumstances that led to the shooting of Col.
Kimball by Gen. Corcorani and it is certain
ly needed. If that version of the affair which
first came by telegraph is true, Gen. Corcoran
should be lried, convicted, and shot, as sum-
mariy as military order will allow. But the
correctness of that report is denied; and, il
it is not true, an investigation can give us the
truth. A correspondent of the New York
journal of Commerce gives the following yer.
sion of the affair."
''The Hawkins's Zouaves Goth n " were
left at Newport News when the balance of
their brigade came up, but on Saturday night
they were sent forward. The same evening
Lieut.. Col. Kim6all eff that regiment was shot
i'm the neck by Gen. Nj. CurcOran, and almost
instantly killed. Lieut.. Col. X. had many
excellent qualities, but it is said was too fond
of the glass, and was not altogether himself
when the difficulty occurred. l have heard
that the general care the ceaHterSigR, as well
as his own name and rank but Col. X. refus-
ed to let him pass, and even calledhim an OPP
probrious name l cannot here repeat"
A correspondent of the Baltimore Ameri-
can states that when Gen. Corcoran was
challenged usual-''who goes theref" he
answered--'a friend with the countersign,"
and then told his name, rank, and business.
His progress was resisted because he refused
to dismount as the regulation required A
letter from Suffolk dated April 18th, reports
the affair as follows =
cat three O'Clock this morning, Gen. Cor
coran was proceeding to the front of his divis-
ion, by order of Gen. Peck, when he was
halted at short distance from town by some
one then to him unknown. The person who
halted him said he could not pass, and de-
manded TO know who he was. The general
replied by saying that he was Gen. Corcoran,
proceeding to the front by order of Gen.
Peck The officer said he could not pass
without the countersign. Gen. Corcoran said
he should, when the other insisted that he
should not, at the same time making
a movement to draw his sword. Gen. e.
quickly demanded to know who he was, his
regiment rank, &c, when the latter replied.
Zen. e., under the impression that Col. KIM
ball was drawing Il pistol, instantly drew his
own and shot him in the neck, and he died in
few minutes afterwards Just then quarter
master Cook rushed out and cried, Who
fired that piecer is that your asked the
general. On receiving an affirmative answer,
the general told the quartermaster to look at
ter the injured party, that he was responsible
for the occurrence, and passed on. The NOR
tai wound was then found to have been given
to Lieut.. Col. kimball, of the 9th New York,
who was in command of the Hawkins Zou-
aves. The Zjuaves had but just arrived as
reinforcenents."
The true version OF what took place can
be obtained only by careful Investigation,
and this should not be postponed. If Colonel
Kimball was wholly in the wrong, through
the Grazing influence of whiskey, this can be
proved. If he was doing nothing more than
his duty, and Gen. Corcoran nsolently put
himself above the regulations which the
subordinate officer was bound to enforce,
it can be shown. In the latter case Corcnran
Boston Daily Advertiser, in referring to
the affair, says: 'it was by no means
creditable to the General" We should
think not, any more than a success
full murder on the highway is ''creditable
to the assassin" If Gen. Corcoran's act was
justifable, as some of the letter writer's aver,
he will be foremost in demanding the investi-
CATION that will enable him to show it. If he
is guilty of murder, and remains in the ser
vice unquestioned, with this crime resting
upon him, all military discipline might as well
be voted farce