The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-02-12
NO MORE GA NASIELEss HER0.v
q Worthy Tribute to Sergeant Rlchard
Kirkland.
q lIOAtapEN. Janl1aru "a. faf

10 The Editor Of the. Ncscs and Cbttyfer
Your Columbia correspondent referred /.
the incident narrated here. telling III,
| story as twas told 10 him, and inSitini
corrections. AS such O deed should b;
recorded In the rigid simplicity Of actua
trDth, I take the Iiheity of sending 70,
for publication an accurate account Of ,
transaction, every feature or which is In
de'libiy impressed upon my memory.
Very truly yonrs, s
J. d. KRRsRAw.lfH
Richard kirkland was the son of J yohf
kirkland, an estimable citizen of Ker
shaw County, plain, substantial farmer
OF the olden time. In 1891 he er,teret
as private Capt.sJ. d. Kennedy,s com,
pany (E) of the Second South Caroline
Volunteers, in which company he ,yas I
sergeant In December, 1862.
The day after The sanguinary battle a,
Eredrickaburg, KeTshaw's Brigadei occu
pied the road at tue foot of Sssryo,s .Hill
and the grounds about AIarye's House
the scene of their desperate defepse b
the day beSofe. One hundred and fifty
yards in front of the road, the stone
facing OF which constituted the famoua
etone.wall lay Sykes Division Of Regu-
lars, U. s. A., between whom and our
troops q murderous skifmish occupied
the whole day, fatal to many who heed
lessly exposed themselves, evan for q
moment. The ground between che lines
was bridged with the wounded, dead and
dying Federals, victims of the many des.
perateiy gallant assaults of that column
of 10000 brave men hurled yainiy
against that impregnable position.
ALI that day those wounded men rent
the air with their groans and their ago.
nizing cries of "Water waterln In the
afternoon the General BAT in tho north
room, UP stairs, Of MrB. Slevens' house,
In iront of the road, surveying the field,
when kirkland cane up. With an ex.
preston of indignant remembrance per-
vading his person, his manner, and the
tones of his voice, he said, "Generall
can't stand this" 80 8
"What is the matter, Sergeant?" asked
the General.
He replied, "AIl night and all day I
have heard these poor people crying for
water, and can stand It no longer. I
come to ask permission to go and give
them water"
Tho General regarded him for d mo.
ment with feelings of profound admira-
tion, and said:
kirkland, Idon'; you know that you
would get q bullet through your head't
moment you stepped over the wall ?'' 81
eyes, sir" he said, ~ know thas; but
If you will let me, am willing To try It."
After q pause, the General said, aKirk-
land, l ought not to allow you TO run
such risk, but the sentiment which
actuates you is 30 noble, that will not
refuse your request, trusting that God
may protect you. Yon may g0.n
The Sergeant's eyes lighted up with
pleasure. He said: II thank you sir,p
and ran rapidly down stairs. The Gen.
eral heard him pause for moment, and
then return, bounding two steps at d
time. He thought the Sergesnt,s heatt
had failed him., He was mistaken. The
Sergeant stopped at the door ard said {:
"General, can show'a white hansiker-
chief?" The General slowly shook bis
head, saying emphatically, "No. kirk
land, you can't do that" 'iAll right sir (,
he said, "I'll take the chances,n and ran
down with bright amile on hia hand.
some countenance.
With profound anxiety he was watched
as he stepped over the wall on his errand
of ChriBt.like mercy. IN.
harmed he reached the nearest sufferer.
He knelt beside him, tenderly raised the
dropping head, rested 1t gently upon his
own noble breast, and poured the
precious, life.giving fluid downthe fever
scorched throat. This done, he Ibid him
tenderly. down, placed his knap.sack
under bis head, Strengthened out his
broken limb, spread bis overcoat over
him, replaced his empty canteen with q
full one, and turned to another sufferer.
BY this time his purpose was we'll UNDER
stood on both sides, and oil danger was
over. From all parts OF the fad arose
fresh cries of "Water, water; fog Gods
sake, water !" More Piteous still, the
mute appeal Of some who could only
feebly lift o hand TO say, here, too, 10
life and suffering. -
For an hour and a half. did this nlinis.
tering angel pursue his labor of mercy,
nor ceased to SO and return until he re-
lieved all thelwounaed on that part Of
the field. He returned to his post wholly
unhurt. Who shall say how sweet his
rest that winters night beneath the cold
stores
Little remains to be told. Sergeant
Kirkland distinguished hinlselfin battle
st Gettysburg, and was promoted Lien-
tenant. AT Chickamauga he fell on the
field of battle, In the hour of victory.
He WAS but youth whom called away,
and had never formed those ties from
which might have resulted a poatefity to
epjoy his fame and bless bis country !;
but he has bequeathed to the American
youth, yea to the world, an example
which dignifies our common humanity.
BIEEpINo Al THE Moss. There are