User:Paris1127/Death of Lt. Colonel Kimball

The page seems to lack mention of the death of Lt. Colonel Edgar Kimball on April 12, 1863, at Suffolk, Virginia. Kimball was involved in an argument with Brig. General Corcoran over a countersign, and Corcoran responded by shooting Kimball in the neck, killing him. As Corcoran later explained in a letter (pasted in full as NYT uses a paywall) to the New York Times, LETTER FROM GEN. CORCORAN TO COL. HAWKINS.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION SEVENTH ARMY CORPS, SUFFOLK, Va., April 17, 1863.

Col. Hawkins, Commanding Ninth Regiment N.Y.V.,

(Hawkins' Zouaves:)

COLONEL: To prevent any misapprehension, I send you a brief statement in relation to the sad affair of Sunday morning, which resulted, I regret to say, in the death of Lieut.-Col. KIMBALL:

At about 2 3/4 o'clock, A.M., I left my quarters, and proceeded along the main road toward the front lines, for the purpose of having the troops underarms at 3 o'clock, in obedience to an order from the Major-General Commanding. When I arrived opposite the hospital of my brigade, an officer, whose rank I could not recognize (the night being very dark) and whom I judged to be such only from the fact of his having a sword, rushed out in front of me, and ordered a halt. Halting, I asked if it was Doctor HEATH, (one of the Surgeons of the Irish Legion,) and was answered by another order to halt, with the additional remark, "It is none of your _____ _____ business; I want the countersign." Perceiving it was not the Doctor, I requested to know the object of his halting me, and his name, rank and authority, but could not obtain any other reply than that it was none of my _____ _____ business. I repeated the question several times, and received similar answers, with the exception that the countersign was not demanded more than once, and he added, "You cannot pass here." I 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. I asked him if he knew who he was talking to, and then gave him my name and rank, telling him also that I was going to the front under orders, and even my business there; but it was of no avail, he answered, "I do not care a _____ _____ who you are." I again told him that I 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 in one hand, and having his other on a pistol, (as I then supposed,) made a movement toward me with the evident design of using them, and at the same time stated, "I will be _____ _____ if you shall." It was at this point that I used my weapon. It seemed that the more I endeavored to persuade, the more obstinate he became. Nothing but the consideration that my life was in danger, which I had every reason to fear, and the duty that was incumbent upon me at that particular time, when an attack upon our lines as apprehended, would have justified me in my own mind in taking the measure I then did. As a soldier of long service, I 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 number, and none does more than myself, for although I had never before seen Col. KIMBALL, that I am aware of, I had learned to respect him for his gallantry in several engagements of the present war. It was not until after the occurrence that I learned who it was; but had he been my best friend, I cannot see how it could have resulted otherwise, from the part he acted on that occasion. With no authority to demand the countersign, I would have been derelict in my duty had I 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 act, (the fact being, as you are well aware, that he had none,) especially as his request was couched in the terms I 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 unless to one entitled to it.

But, besides this, the personal violence I had just cause to fear gave me an undoubted right to protect myself against it.

I intended to have sent this statement before, but my duties for the past few days have prevented it, and I have now been obliged to make it hurriedly, hoping thereby to correct any erroneous impressions that may have been mode, and to prevent them in the future.

I will only be too glad to have an official investigation of the matter at any time.

I am, Colonel, your obedient servant,

MICHAEL CORCORAN, Brig.-Gen.

New York Times, April 20, 1863