The weekly clarion., 1880-03-24
A Confederate Horo.
CAMDEN, :. c., Jan. p, Is

CAMDEN, :. c., Jan. p, 1880.
EDITORS CHARLESTON NEws-Your Co
lumbia correspondent referred to the Incl
dent narrated here, telling the story as it was
told t0,him. aud inviting corrections. A
such a deed should be recorded in the rigid
simplicity of actual truth, | take the liberty
Of sending you for publication an accurate
account OF q transaction, every feature OF
which is udelibly impressed upon my mem
ory. Very truly yours,
J. B. KERsHAw.
Richard Kirkland was the son of John
Kirkland, an estimabIe citizen of kershaw
county, plain, substantial farmer Of the
oIden time. In 1861 he entered rs a private
Capt J. -. Kennedy's company (1J of the
Second South Carolina Volunteers in which
company he WAS a Sergeant in December
1862. The day after the sanguinary battle
of fredericksburg, kershaw's brigade occu-
pied the road ut the foot of Marye's Hill
and the grounds about Maryes house. the
scene of their desperate defense the day
before. Tne hundred and fifty yards in
front Of the road, the stone facing of which
constituted the famous stone wall, lay
Sykes division of regulars, United States
Army, between whom and our troops n
murderous skirmish occupied the whole
day, fatal 10 many who heedlessly exposed
themselves even for moment. The ground
between the lines was bridged with the
wounded, dead, and dying Federals, victims
of the many desperately gallant assaults Of
that column Of 10000 brave men hurled
vainlv against that impregnable position
All that day those wounded men rent the
air with their groans and their agoniEing
cries of "'Water! waterr" In the afternoon
the General sal in the north room up stairs
of Mrs. Stevens house in front of the road
surveying the field, when Kirkland came
up With an expression Of Indignant re-
monstrance peryading his person. his man
ner. and the tones of mis- voice, he said,
General / can't stand this" "What is
the matter, Sergeant asked the General.
lie replied 'Ail night and all day have
heard these poor people crying for water,
and can stand il 10 longer l come to
ask permission to 90 and give them water.
The General regarded him for moment
with feelings Of profound admiration, and
said: kirkland, don't you know that you
would get 4 bullet through your head the
moment yGu stepped over the walI?" "1 es,
sir he said, Il know that: but if you will
let me, | a!n willing to try it,
AfUer a paus the General said: "kirk-
land. I ought not to elbow YOU To run such
n risk, bur the sentiment which actuates
YOU Is SO noble that ] will not refuse your
request, trusting lAat God may protect you
You may go"
The Sergeants eyes lighted up with pleas
ure. He said Thank YOU, sir" and ran
rapidly down stairs. The General heard
him pause for a moment, and then return,
bounding two steps at time. He thought
the Sergeant's heart had failed him. tie
was mistaken. The Sergeant stopped at the
door aud said General can | show a
white handkerchief The General slowly
shook his head. saying emphatically: NO,
Kirkland, YOU can't do shat '.AH right,
- IL, II, 4
ran down with bright smile on his haad>
some countepa2ce.
With profound anxiety he was watched
rs ne stepped over the wall en- his errand of
mercy-Christlike mercy. GnhSFmed he
reached the nearest sufferer. He knelt be-
side him, tenderly raised the dropping head,
rested il gently upon his own noble breast
and poCted the precious, lIfe-glvlng huld
down the feyer-sQorched throat. This done,
he laid him tenderiy down, placed his KNAPP
sack under his head, Strengthened out his
broken limb, spread his overcoat over hia',
replaced his empty cantcen with full one,
and turned to another sufferer. by this
timehis purpose was we'll understood on both
sides, and all danger was over. From all
parts of the field arose fresh cries of Water,
water; for Gods sake. waterw More plteous
still, the mute appeal OF so4pe who could only
feebiy iitt hand to say, here, teo, IS life
and suffering, For an hour and half aid
this ministering angel pursue his labor OF
mercy. nor ceased to so a.s5 return until he
relieved ali the woonded on that part of the
field lie returned to his post wholly uRr
hurt. Who shall say how sweet his rest that
Winters night beneath the cold stars!
Little remains to be told Sergt. Kirk
land distinguished himself in battle at Get
tysburg, and was promoted Lieutenant. At
Chickamauga he fell on the field of battle,
IN the hour of victory. He was but youth
when called away, and had never formed
those ties from which might have resulted
posterity to enjoy his fame and bless his
country; but he has beqGeathed to the
American youth-yea to the world-san ex-
ample which digniies our common human
jty.