The Osceola times., 1880-05-15
A CONFEDERATE RERn
sergt. Richard kirkland, Who p.,
Life to Give Water to his Dying roS. os hi'
Charleston News.

Life TO Give Water to his Dying Poe. h''
Charleston News. '.
Your Columbia cOrresponder,
to the incident narrated here tellirtsd
story as ii Was told to him, and ;s ;n the
corrections As such deed sba,'iiIlng
recorded in the rigid simplicity g1lo aSio be
! take the liberty OF sending Won @usa u,
publication an accurate accom-, VI i9f
transaction, every feature OF wbi,oi ora
indelibly impressed upon nv ,,-ol me,a. Is
Very truly, yours, injury
, j. b. KERsuAv.
Richard Kirkland was the son of T.,
Kirkland, an eStimable citizen ~ TW9un
shaw county, PLAIN, substantial 6ir her'
Of the olden time. In 1861 he en,a.s5 ,'''isl
as private Capt. J. d. Keunrlv's ,eed We,
pany ~ Of the Second South Carol;.ll' oH.l'
volunteers, in which company b,. ,v,'ia MN
sargeant in December, 1869 Tbo 4
aiter the sanguinary battle of Freder;oi.!
burg, kershaw's brigade occupiej A.
road at the foot Of Marye's hin and Me MHe
grounds about Marye's house. The so'uv '.e
of the desperate defence Of the d,y 'e L'
fore. One hundred and filty yards =
front of the road, the stone fenciTs. ~
which constituted the famous Stone soE u
Law Sykes division of regulars Unite5
States army, between whom and or.
troops murderous skirmi-h occnnio5
the whole day, fatal to many who heeS
lessly exposed themselves, even Gr
moment. The ground between the linoA
was bridged with the wounded. dead sNJ
diving fedcralS, victims Of the many Do
perately-gallant assaults of that commn
of $4,000 brave men hurled yamlv agains,
that impregnable position.
All that dav those wounded men re,,
the air with their groans and their avon
lied cries of "Waterl Waterm In tLs
afternoon the general sat in the north
room upstairs of Mrs. Stevens house in
front Of the road surveying the field
when Kirkland came up With an er.
preston of indignant remonslrance per.
vaiding his person, his manner, md
| the tones of his voice, he said.
General, can't stand this.'
"What is the matter, Sergeant asked
the general.
lie replied:
"All night and all day | have hea,i
these poor people crying for water, can
stand it no longer. leone to ask Der.
mission to 90 and give them water.p
The general regarded him for a mo.
ment with feelings Of profound admir-.
ton, and said:
Kirkland, don't you know that YOU
would get bullet through your headthe
moment YOU stepped over the walim
YES sir" he sand. 81 know that, but
if you will let me, ! am willing 10 try
it,"
After pause the general said.
Kirkland, ought not allow You 10
run such Il risk, but the sentiment which
actuates you is so noble that | will no,
refuse your request, trusting 1at God
may protect you. You may Co."
The sergeant's eyes lighted up with
pleasure. He said:
Thank you, SIR and ran rapidly
down stairs.
The general heard him pause ior a
moment, and then return, bounding two
steps at a time. lie thought the ser.
geant's heaIt had failed him. lie was
mistaken. The sergeant stopped at the
door and said:
General, can | show awhile handker.
chief?'
The general slowly shook his head.
.aying emphatically:
mo, Kirkland, you cant do that
"All right, sir," he sand, IA take the
chances" ard ran down with bright
smile on his handsome couutenance.
With profound anxiety he was watch
ed as he stepped over the wall on his
errend of mercy-Christlikc mercy
Unharmed he reached the nearest suffer
CT. He knelt beside him, tenderly rais'
cd the dropping head, rested Il gently up
on his own noble breast, and poured the
precious, life-giving fluid downthe fever
s'orched throat, This done, he laid
him tendcrly down, placed his lnapsack
under his held, slaughtered out hi
broken limb, spread his ovep11t oyei
him replaced his empty can.een with q
full one, and turned to another one. BY
this time his purpose was well under
stood on both sides, and all danger was
over.
From all parts of the field arose ffe:h
cries of Water, water; for Gods sake
water"
More pitieous still, the mute appeal o.
some who could only lift hand to say
here, too, il life and suffering. For az
hourand half did this ministerins auge
pursue his labor OF mercy, nor ceased lC
go and return until he relieved all the
wounded on that part OF the field. h'
returned 10 his post wholly unhurt, WhC
shall say how sweet hisrcst that winter
night beneath the cold stars?
Little remains to be told. Sergean
Kirkland distinguished himself in batEi'
at Gettysburg, and was promoted lieu
tenant. At Chickamauqa he fell on th'
field OF battle, in the hour Of victory
He was but youth when called away
and had never formed those ties iron
which might have resulted posterlty Z
ENJOY his fame and bless his country; ba
he was bcquethed to the American you'I
yea to the world-In example whiel
dignifies our common humanity.
II W.. ssIa xk-.f,