The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-02-18
No MORE "a NAN1ELESS
HERO"
Gen. J. B. Kersnaw Testifes to the Identity Of
the Noble Confederate Soldier Who Risked
His Life to Give Water to His
Dying Foes.
CAMDEN. January %. 1880.

rections. As such deed should
be recorded in the rigid simplicity
of actual truth, take the liberty
of sending you for publication an
accurate account of a transaction,
every feature of which is indellibly
impressed upon my memory.
Very truly yours,
J. B. KERSHAW.
Richard Kirkland was the son
Of John Kirkland, an estimable
citizen Of Kershaw County, a plain,
farmer of the olden
time. In 1861 he entered as pri-
vate Capt. J. D. Keunedy's COM
pany g. of the Second South Caro-
lima Volunteers, in which company
he was a sergeant in December,
1862.
The day after the sanguinary
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 desperate defense of the day
before. One hundred and fifty
yards in front Of the road; the
stone facing of which constituted
the famous stone-wall, lay Sykes
Division of Regulars, .. S. A, be-
tween whom and our troops a muir
derous skirmish occupied the whole
day, fatal to many who heedlessly
exposed themselves, even for a mo-
ment. The ground between the
lines was bridged with the wound
ed, dead and dying Federals, vic
tins of the many desperately gal
liant assaults of that column Of 3d.
900 brave men hurled vainy a.
gainst thatimpregnable position.
All that day those wounded men
rent the air with groans and their
agonizing cries OF ':Water water !"
In the afternoon the General sat in
the north room, up stairs, Of Mrs.
Stevens's house, in front Of the
road, surveying the field, when
kirkland came up. With an e1-
preston of indignant remonstrance
pervading his person, his manner,
and the tones of his voice, he said,
general can't stand this"
"What is the matter, Sergeant @
asked the General.
He replied, call night and all
day have heard these poor people
crying for water, and I can stand
it no longer. come to ask per-
mission to go and give them water"
The General regarded him for a
moment with feelings Of profound
admiration, and said:
kirkland, don't you know that
you would get bullet through
your head the moment you step
ped over the wall 2"
ayes, sir" he said, Il know that;
but if you will let me, I am willing
to try it."
After a pause, the General said,
''Kirkland, I ought not to allow
you to run such a risk, but the
sentiment which actuates you is SO
noble, that I will not refuse your
request, trusting that God may pro-
tect you. You may CO."
The Sergeant's eyes lighted up
with pleasure. He said: s'Thank
you sir" and ran rapidly down
stairs. The General heard him
pause for a moment, and then re-
turn. bounding two steps at a time
He thought the sergeant's heart
had failed him. He was mistaken.
The Sergeant stopped at the door
and said: general, can I show a
white handkerchief" The Gene
raj slowly shook his head, saying
emphatically, "No, Kirkland, you
can't do that" Gall right sir" he
said, "I'll take the chances" and
ran down with a bright smile on
his handsome countenance.
With profound anxiety he was
watched as he stepped over the
wall on his errand ofmercy-Christ- of
like mercy. Unharmed be reached
the nearest sufferer. He knelt be-
side him, tenderly raised the droop-
ing head, rested it gently upon his
own noble breast, and poured the
precious. life-giving fluid down the
fever-scorched throat. This done,
he laid him tenderly down, placed
his knapsack under his head,
Strengthened out his broken limb,
spread his overcoat over him, re-