The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-04-09
A Confederate Hero.
who RlsIsed His Life to Give Water TO Hi
Dying Foes.

Dying Foes.
A Camden, South Carolina, cores
pondent of the New York Times relates
the following:
Richard Kirkland was the son oil
John Kirkland, an estimablc citizen
of Kcrshaw county, plain, substantial
farmer of the Olden time. In 1861 he
entered, as private, in Captain j. d.
Kennedy's company (E) of the second
South Carolina volunteers, in which
company he was a sergeant in Decem-
ber, 1862. The day after the sanguin-
ary battle of Fredericksburg, Kershaw's
brigade occupied the road at the foot
of Marye's hill and the grounds about
Marye's house, the scene of their dcs-
pcrate defense of the day before. One
hundred and fifty yards in front of the
tuied the famous stone wall, lay Sykes
division of regulars, United States
army, between whom and our troops a
murderous skirmish occupied the whole
day, fatal to many who hccdlessly ex-
posed themselves, even for moment.
The ground between the lines was
bridgcd with the wounded, dead and
dying fcdcrals, victims of the many
dcspcratcly-gallant assaults of that col
umn of thirty thousand brave men
hurled vainly against that imprcgnablc
position.
All that day these wounded men
| rent the air with their grOans and their
agonizing cries of "Water! water I"
In the afternoon the general sat i'm the
north room up stairs of Mrs. Stevens
house in front of the road surveying the
field, when Kirkland came up. With
All expression of Indignation pcryading
his person. his manner, and tones of his
voice, he said: "Gcneral, can't stand
this" -"What is the matter, scrgeant?"
asked the general. lie replied: can
night and all day have heard these
poor people crying for water, and can
stand il no longer. Como to ask per-
mission to go and give them water"
The general regarded him n moment
with feelings of admiration, and said:
"Kirkland, don't you know you would
get bullet through your head the mo-
ment you stepped over the wallY'
"Yes, sir" he said, al 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 a risk, but the sentiment
which actuates you is so noble that will
not refuse your request, trusting that
God may protect you. You may CO."
The scrgeant's eyes lighted up with
pleasure. lie said: "Thank you, SIR"
and ran rapidly down stairs. The gen.
eral heard him pause for a moment and
then return bounding two steps at a
time. lie though the sergeant's heart
had failed him. lie was mistaken. The
sergeant stopped at the door and SAID:
General, can / show a white handker-
chiefW The general slowly shook his
head, saying, emphatically, "No, Kirk
land, you can't do that" can right,
sir" he said, "Tll take the chances"
and ran down with bright smile on
his handsome countenance.
With profound anxiety he was
watched us he stepped over the wall OH
his errand ofmercy-Christ-li mercy.
| Unharmed he reached the nearest suf-
fcrer. He knelt beside him, tenderly
raised the dropping head, rested It
gently upon mis- own noble breast, and
poured the precious, life-giving fluid
down the fever-scorched throat. This
done he laid him tenderly down, placed
hio hhop,dth HCdQy
ened out his broken limb, spread his
overcoat over him, replaced his empty
canteen with full one, and turned to
another sufferer. BY this time his pur-
pose was well understood on both sides.
and the danger was over. From all
parts of the field arose fresh cries of
"Water, water; for Gods sake, water!"
More piteous still the mute appeal of
some who could only feebly lift hand
TO say, here, too, is life and suffering. For
an hour and half did this ministering
angel pursue his labor of mercy, nor
ceased to go and return until he re-
lieved all the wounded OH that part of
the field. He returned TO his post
wholly unhurt. Who shall saw how
sweet his rest that winters night be-
meath the cold stars?
Little remains to be told. Sergeant
Kirkland distinguished himself in bat
tie at Gettysburg, and was promoted
lieutenant. At Chickamauga he fell on
the field of battle, in the hour of victo-
ry. He was but youth when called
away and had never formed those ties
from which might have resulted a pos
terity to enjoy his fame and bless his
country; but he has bequeathed to the
American youth yea. 10 the world-an
example which dignilies our common
humanity.