Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-04-30
CORCORAN THE MURDERER-Ins vIrDICA
TrON.

The murder of 1t Col Kimbal, by Gen. Corcoran
at Suffolk, has occasoned much feeling and demands
made for rigid investigation Corcoran has found
it necessary to publish the following letter
HID. QRs. 1sT DIVISION 7TH Army CoRPs,
Suffolk, Va, April IT, 1863.
Col Hai0ltns Commanding Ninth Regiment ~ Y.
y. (HawkinS Zsnares)
COLONEL To prevent any misapprehension, send
you brief statement in relation to the sad affair of
Sunday morning, which resulted regret to say in the
death Of Lieut.. Col. Kimball.
At about ~ O'Clock, a. M, left my quarters, and
proceeded along the main road towards the trent lines
for the purpose of having the troops under
O'Clock, in obedience to order from the Major Cen
eral Commanding. Wben l arrived opposite the hos
pital of my brigade officer, whose rank could not
recognize 1.-THE night being very dark and whom
judged to be such only from The fact of his having
sword rushed out in front of me, and ordered hst
Hating l asked II it Doctor Heath (cne of the
Surgeons OF the Irish LegioD,) and answered by
another order to halt, with the additional remark
|" 1t is Zone of your business; want the counter
sign" PerceiviDg it not the Doctor, I
quested to know the object OF his hatng me, and
his name rank and authority but could not obtain any
other reply than that it was none of my -- bust
ness repeated the question several times and Teeev
ed similar answers with the exception that the counter
sign not demanded more than once, and be added :
You cannot pass here" / expostulated with him
upon such conduct and told him to remember that he
was not on duty, and hii no right to be there and
stop from proceeding and that he let me pass
asked him il he knew whom he was taking to, and
then gave him my name and rank, telling him also that
was going to the front under orders, and even my
business there, but it was of no avail he answered
Il do not care who you are" ! again told
him thatI should pass and warned him several times
to get out of my way and attempted to proceed He
thereupon put himself in determined attitude to pre-
vent my progress and brandishBg his sword in one
hand and having his other pistol, las then sup
posed, made movement towards me with theevident
design of using them and at the same time stated 81
will be - - if you shal'' 1t was at this point
that l used my weapon. 1t seemed that the more
I endeavored TO persuade, the more obstinate
he became. Nothing but the consideration that
nay life IN danger, which had every reason to tear
and the duty that was incumbent upon me at that per-
ticular Time when attack upon our lines appre
hended, would have justified me in my own mind in tax
ing the measure then did. AS soldier of long ser
vice. am convinced that you will recognize the neces-
sity and awfuness of the act however much you may
regret that 1t was caused by OF your humber, and
none does more than myself for although had never
before seen Colonel kimball, that an aware Of had
learned to respect him for his gaantry in several en-
gagements OF the present 1t not until after
the occurrence that learned who it but had be
been my best friend cannot how could have re-
suited otherwise from the part be acted that
sion. With no authority to demand the countersign,
would have been dereiCt ia my duty had yielded to
his demand. His refusal to give me his rank,
or any information about him, upon what authority
( any, he assumed to act--the fact being, you are
we'll aware that be had noa3-especialy bis request
couched in the terms have stated, and the enemy
was Immediately in our front, called upon to act
with more than ordinary precaution in revealing the
countersign, and not unless to one entitled to it.
But, besides this, the personal violence he'd just
cause to fear gave undoubted right to protect
myself against it.
intended to have sent this statement before, but
my duties for the past few days have prevented it, and
have now been obliged to make it hurriedly, hoping
thereby to correct any erroneous impressions that
may have been made, and to prevent them in the fu
ture.
will only be too glad to have an off ,ia nvestiga.
| ton OF the matter at any time.
| am, Colonel, your obedient servant,
MICHAEL CORCORAN,
I