Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-05
A Confederate Hero.

Richard Kirkland was the son of John
Kirkland, an estimable citizen OF Ker-
shaw county, S. c., a plain, substantial
farmer of the olden time. In 1861 he
entered, as a private, Capt. j. ID. Ken
nedy's company (E) of the Second South
Carolina volunteers, IN which company
he was Sergeant IN December, 1862.
The day after the sanguinary battle of
Fredericksburg, Kershaw's brigade oo-
cupied the road at the foot of Marye's
hill and the ground about Marye's
house, the scene Of their desperate de-
Tense 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, United States army, between
whom and the Southern troops muir
derous sl1irmish occupied the Whole day,
fatal to many who heedlessly exposed
themselves, even for a moment. The
ground between the lines was bridged
with the wounded, dead and dying
Federals, victims of the many desper-
ately-gallant assaults of that column Of
1000 brave men, hurled vainly against
that impregnable position. ~
All that day those wounded men rent
the air with their groans and their ago
nizing cries of "Water water J" In
the afternoon the General sat in the
north room, up stairs, of Mr.. Stevens
house, in front of the road, surveying
the field, when Kirkland came up.
With an expression of indignant remon
STRANGE perYading his person, his man.
ner, and the tones of his voice, he said {:
General, can't stand this. "What
is the matter, Sergeant % asked the
General. He replied 'tAll night and
all day have heard these poor people
crying for water, and 1 can stand it no
longer. I come to ask permission to go
and give them water"
The General regarded him for mo-
ment with feelings of profound admira-
ton, and said: Kirkland, don't you
know that you would get a bullet
through your head the moment you
stepped over the wall?" "Yes, sir, he
said, 81 know that; but, if you will let
me, 1 am willing to try it. %
After a pause, the General said:
s Kirkland, l 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 go. ="
The Sergeant's eyes lighted up with
pleasure. He said: "Thank you, sir,
and ran rapidly down stairs. The Gen
eral heard him pause for moment,
and then return, bounding two steps
at time. He thought the Sergeant's
heart had failed him. He was mistaken.
The Sergeant stopped at the door and
said: General, can / show white
handkerchief" The General slowly
shook his head, saying, alphabetically:
"No, Kirkland, you can't do that.
"All 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
of mercy-Christ-like mercy. Unharmed
he reached the nearest sufferer. He
knelt beside him, tenderly raised the
dropping head, rested it gently upon his
own noble breast, and poured the prec-
ious Gfe-giving fluid down the fever
parched throat. This done, he laid him
tenderly GOWN, paced dis KnapSacK
under his head, Strengthened 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 purpose was well under
stood on both sides, and all 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 one who could
only feebly lift a 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 relieved all the
wounded 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 stars