Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-23
LEADER.
The Corcorau and KimbaH AGnir.

ALEEDAA AA0ANANA-NN8 NJ
The Corcorau and KimbaII Aaair. 7
General Corcoran has written to Colonel
Hawkins, Of Hawkins Zovaves, the fol-
lowing account of the shooting Of Lieu
tenant Colonel KimbaT, Of that regiment
HrApor,R-rRs Ftps4 Dry1sioS SEVENTH ARNYl
CoRPs- SUTFoIK, Va, Aprd II, 1858.
CsEoasl Ha,okins. Coa71sandiRg Nintk Reg.
iDasat ~ Y. ", (HaiDkfns Z0aaUss; Col
opel To prevent any misapprebension,
send Won \ brief statement in relation TO
he sad affair Of Sunday morning which
resulted, I regret TO say, in the death OF
Lieutenant Colonel KimbaIl r1-
aAt about p o'clock, A. NJ, left my
quarters, and proceeded along the main
road toward the front lines, for the Pur-
pose of having the troops under arms at
3 o'clock, in obedience to an order from
the Major General commanding. When 1
arrived opposite the hospital Of my brig
hde, an officer, whose rank Icould not re-
cognize, (the night being very dark) and
whom judged to be such only from the
fact Of his having a sword, rushed out in
front Of me, and ordered a halt. Hating,
asked if it was DR.. Heath, Zone Of the
Surgeons Of the Irish Legion, aud was an
sWered by another order to halt, with
the remark, 1t is none Of your - busi-
ness; want the countersign.p PerceiVing
il was not the Doctor, I requested to know
the object Of his haltng me, and his name,
rank and authority, but could not obtain
any other reply than that it was none-of
my y-- business. | repeated the
question several times, and received similar
answers, with the exception that the eoun-
tersign was not demanded more than once,
and he added, " You cannot pass here"
expostulated with him upon such conduct,
and told him TO remember that he was not
on duty, and had no right TO be there and
stop me from proceeding, and that he must
let me pass. 1 asked him ic he knew who
he was talking TO, and then gave him my
name and rank, telling him also thatI was
going TO the front under orders, and even
my business there; but it was Of no avail,
he answered, al do not care ---
who you are" / again told him that
should pass, and warned him several times
to get out Of my way, and attempted to
proceed. he thereupOn put himself in a
determined attitude to prevent my
progress. and brandishing his sword
DuE AGAAf NAAA AaNAuE MS DAuEL
on a pistol, las 1 then supposed, }
made movement toward me with the evil
dent design Of using them, and at the same
time stated, 1 will be - - if you
shall 1t W was at this point that used
my weapon. It seemed that the more
endeayored to persuade, the more obstinate
he became. Nothing but the consideration
that my life was in danger, which had
every reason to fear, and the duty that was
incumbent upon me at that particular time,
when an attack upon our lines was appre-
hended would have justified me in my own
mind in taking the measure then did As
soldier Of long service, 1 am convinced
that you will recognize the necessity and
laWfulness Of the act, however much you
may regret that it was caused by one Of
your own number, and none does more
than myself, for although 1 had never be.
fore seen Colonel Kimball, that am aware
Of, had learned to respect him for his gal
lRntry in several engagements Of the pres
ent war. It was not until after the occur.
renee that I learned who it was; but had
he been my best friend, cannot see how
it could have resulted otherwise, from the
part he acted on that occasion. With no
authority to demand the countersigu,
would have been direlict in my duty had I
yielded to his demand. His refusal 10 give
me his name, or rank, or any information
about him, or upon what authority Of any
he assumed to act, (the fact being, as you
are well aware, that he had none, espe.
cially as his request was couched in the
terms have stated, and the enemy was
Immediately in our 'front.' called upon me
to act with more than ordinary precaution
in revealing the countersign, and not un-
less to one entitled to it.
But, besides this, the personal violence
I had just cause TO fear gave me an un-
doubted right 10 protect myself against it.
al intended to have sent this statement
before, but my duties for the past few days
have prevented ii, and I have now been
obliged to make it hurriedly, hoping there
by to correct any erroneous Impressions
that may have been made, and 10 prevent
them in the future.
al viii only be too glad to have an off
cisl investigation Of the matter at any
time.
I am, Colonel, your obedient servant
MICHAEL CORCORANs Brg. Gen1.