Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-03-02
MIS- SCELLANE Gus.
NO MORE "A'NAMELEss HERO,u
Gen. j. 3. EersAa'0 fcst'fes to the identity
OF the Confederate Soldier ,oho risked his
Heto giOc 'oatcr to Ais 6yiny foes.
from the charlosIo on News and Courier.7

lFrom the Charleston News and Courier1
CAMDEN, January 29.-Your Columbia
correspondent referred to the incident mar
rated here, telling the story as it was told
him, and Inviting corrections As such
deed should be recorded in tho rigid sinnIi..
ity of actual truth ttake the liberty Of
sending you for publication an accurate ac.
count OF transaction, every feature of
which is indclihly impressed upon my memo,
ry' very truly yours,
j. Il. kERsHAw.
Kirkland, an estimablo citizen of Kersbaw
county, a plain, substantial farmer of the
olden time. In 1861 ho entered as n nri>
Vate, Capt. J. d. Kennedy's company 5El
OF the Second South Carolina Volunteers. in
which company he was sergeant in Decem-
Der, 1862.
The day after the sanguinary battle of
trcdericksburg, 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 defence the day before. Ono
hundred and fifty yards in front of the road.
the stone facing Of which constituted tho
famous stouewall, lay Sykes division of
regulars, U. S. a., between whom and our
troops murdcrous skrmish occupied the
whole day, fatal to many who hecdIessly ex>
q moment.
ground between the lines was bridged with
the wounded, dead and dying Federals. vic,
tins Of the many desperately gallant assanlts
of that column of 80, 900 have been hurled
vainly against that impregnable position.
All that day those wounded men rent tho
air with their groans and their agopizipp
cries of "Water! wator!" In tho afternoon
the General sat in the north room, up stairs.
OF Mrs. Stevens house, in front of tho road
surveying the field, when Kirklan came m
With an expression of indignant remon-
STRANGE pervading his person, his manner.
and the tones of his voice; he said, "Gcu.
eral! [ can't stand this
What is the matter, Sergeant?" asked
the General
He replied, "All night and all day have
heard these poor people crying for water and
can stand it no longer. l come to ask per-
mission to go 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 bullet through your head the
moment you stepped over the waIl?"
"Hes, sir" he said, 81 know that: but if
you will let me, 1 am willing to try it,"
Alter pause the General said, "Kirk-
land, L ought not to allow you to run such a
risk, but the sentiment which actuates you
Is so noble that 1 will cot refuse YOUR re :
9nest' trusting that God may protect you
You may 60"
The Sergeant's eyes lighted up with pleas
ure He said: THANK you sir" and ran
rapidly down stairs. The General heard
him pause for moment, and then return.
bounding two steps at time. He thought
the sergeants heart had failed him. He
was mistaken. The Sergeant stopped at the
| door and said: General, can 1 show white
handkerchief" The General slowly shook
his head, saying emphatically, "No, Kirk
land, you can't do that" can right, sir"
he said, "I'II take the chances, u and ran
down with bright smile on his handsome
countenance.
With profound anxiety he was watched as
he stepped over the wall on his errand of
mercy-Christlike mercy. Unframed, he
reached the nearest sufferer. he knelt be-
side him, tenderly raised the dropping 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 KNAPP
sack under his head, Strengthened out his
broken limb, spread his overcoat over him,
replaced his empty canteen with a full one.
and turned to another sufferer. By this time
| his purpose was we'll understood on both
sides, and all danger was over. From all