Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-02-26
CAMDEN, January 20, 1880.

Dytny FocS.
CAMDEN, January 20, 1880.
TO The Editor Of the Ne,cs and Courier:
Your Columbia correspondent referred
to the incident narrated here, telling the
story as twas told to him, and inviting
corrections. AS such deed should be
recorded in tho rigid simplicity of actual
truth, take the liberty of sending you for
pub!lo,ton an accurate account of trans.
action, every feature Of which is indellibly
impressed upon my memory.
Very truly yours,
j. B. KERSlAW.
Richard kirkland was tho son of John
Kirkland, an estimable citizen Of Kershaw
County, plain, substantial farmer of the
olden time. Iu 1861 he entered as private
Capt. j D. Kennedys company (E) of tho
Second South Carolina Volunteers, in which
company he was sergeant n Deccmbcr,
1862.
The day after the sanguinary battle of
fredericksburg, Kershaws Brigade occu
pied the road at the foot of Mnrye's Hill
and grounds about Marye's House, the
scene of their desperate defeuso tho day
before. One hundred und fifty yards in
front of the road tho stone facing of which
constituted tho famous stone wall, lay
Sykes Division Of Regulars, U. S. A.,
between whom and our troops murderous
skirmish occupied the whole day, fatal to
many who heedlessly exposed themselves,
even for moment The ground between
the lines was bridgcd with tho wounded
dead and dying FcderaIs, victims of the
many desperately gallant assaults of that
column of 10000 brave men hurled vainly
against that imprcgnable position.
All that day those wounded men rent the
air with their croans and their ngonizing
cries Of "watcr! water!" In tho afternoon
tho General sat in the North room, upstairs
Of Mrs. Stevens house, iii front Of ths road
surveying the field when Kirkland oamo up
With an expression of indignant remon
stranuo pcrvading his person, his mann cr
and tho tones of his voice, he said:
"Gcuerul, can't stand this"
"What is the matter, Sergeant7" asked
tho General.
lie replied, "All night and all day I
have heard these poor people crying for
water, and I can stand it no longer.
como to ask permission to 60 and give them
water"
The General regarded him for moment
with feelings of profound odmiration, and
said
"KirkIand, don't you know that you
would get q bullet through your hoad tho
moment you stepped over tho wall?'
"Ycs, sir" ho said, 81 know that, but if
you will let me, am willing to try it,"
After pause, the General said:
Kirkland, ought not to allow YOU to
run such risk, but tho sentiment which
ac.uatcs you is SO noblo that | will not
refuse your request, trusting that God may
protect you You may co."
The scrgeant's eyes lighted up with
pleasure. Ho said: II thank you" and
ran rapidly down stairs. The General
heard him pause for moment, and then
return, bounding two steps at time. He
thought the scrgeant's heart had failed him
Flo was mistaken. He stopped at the door
and said: "Gcncral can / show a wbito
handkerchief" The General slowly shook
his head, sayiog emphaticaIly, "No, Kirk.
ho said, "I'll take tho chance" and ran
down with bright smile on his handsome
counteDance.
With profound anxiety, ho was watched
as he stepped over the wall on his errand of
'"~' ~ o"''eo'l'ho ucrcy. unnamed he
reached the nearest sufferer. He knelt
beside him, tendcrly raised the dropping
head, rested it gently upon his own noble
breast and poured the ifc-g giving fluid
down tho fever scorehcd throat. This
done, he laid him tendery down, placed
his knapsack under his head, straghtoucd
out bis broken limb, spread his oycrooat
over him, replaced his empty cantecn with
tuli one, and turned to another sufferer.
i5y this time his purpose vas we'll under
stood on both sides, and all danger was
over. From all parts of the field arose
tresl' cries Of "Wotcr, water; for Gods
sake, water" More pitcous still, tho muto
appeal of some who could only foebly
i'it hand to say, here, too, is life and
suffering.
For an hour and half did this mipistcripp
angel pursue his labor of meroy. nor ceased
ogo and return until he relieved all the
wounded on that part of the field He
returned to his post wholly unhurt. who
ehail say how sweet his rest that winters
night beneath tho oold stones
Little remains to be told. Sergeant
Kirkland distinguished himself in battle ~