The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-15
A CONFEDERATE HERO.
Sergeant Richard Kirkland, Who Risked
His Life to Give Water TO
His Dying Foes.
CAMDEN. &. q, January ~, 1870.

CAMDEN. 4. O., January IN, 1880.
To the Editor of the Charleston News. @
Your Columbia correspondent referred to
the Incident narrated here. telling the story
| as II waa told to him. and Inviting corrections
Az such deed should he recorded In the
rigid simplicity Of actual truth. take tho
liberty OF sending ynu FOR publication an
accurate account Of q transaction, every
feature of which Ia indeliby impressed upon
my memory. Very truly yours.
j. H. KERsHAw.
Richard Kirkland was the son OF John
Kirkland nj, rstimahle citizen of Kersbaw
e,nnty, plain a substantial farmer of the
| ol,len time. IN 1861 he entered AZ n private
Capt I'D. kannedv's company tE) or the
SECOND South Carolina Volunteers Ia which
company he was aeIHeant In December,
1894 The day after the sangulnary battle OF
fredericksburg kershaw'a brigade occupied
the road at the foot Of Maryes Hill and the
grounds abuut 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 fencing OF which constituted
regulars, United States army. between whom
aud our troops a muttierans aklrnish pceu.
Piled the whole day. fatal to many who heed
leesly exposed themselves, even for mo-
ment The ground between the lines Was
hridged with the wounded, dead aud dying
Federala victims OF the many desperately
gallant assaults of that column Of 10000
brave men hurled vatn!y against that I'M
HIfADHUle p0RINiaIl.
All that day those wounncd men rent the
air With their groana and their a4onizlng
cries Ut Water water T. In the Afternoon,
the General eat In the north room upstairs of
Mrs. htevena's house In front Of the road sur
veytng the field. when Kirkland came up.
With an expression Of indignant remon-
stranee pervading hia person, his manner.
and the tonea OF his voice, he enid: General,
| can't atand this." What la the matter.
Sergeant" asked the General. He replied
"A u night and all day have heard these
poor people crying for water. and can stand
II no longer. come to AJAX permission to go
and give them water
The General regarded him for moment
with feelings Ut profound admiration, and
said Kit kland, don't you know that you
would get bullet through your head the
moment you stepped over the WALTZ "Yes,
sir,. he said. Il know that; but II you will
let me, am willing tn try It.
After pause the General said "Kirkland,
ought not to allow you to run such risk
but the sentiment which actuates you la 40
noble that | will not refuse your request,
trusting. that God may protect you. You
may Ro.'
The aerueant's eyes lighted mp with pleas
ure. He said THANK you air" and ran rap
idly down stairs. Tho General, heard him
pause for moment and then return. bound
ihg two ateps at time. He thought the
eerxeant's heart had failed him. lie was
mistaken. The sergeant stopped mt the door
and satd: General. can / show white
handkerchief The General slowly shook
bis head, saying emphatically: mo, Kirk
land, you can't do that" "Ali right, sir" he
Ehd, Il ii take the chances" and ran down
with bright smile on his handsome eounte-
nance
With profound anxiety he was watched az
he stepped over the wall on hls errand OF
mercy Christ like mercy. Unharmed he
reached the nearest sufferer. He knelt be-
eide him, tenderly raiaed the dropping head.
rested 1t gently upon his own noble breast.
and poured the precious e.RivnR duid
down the fever-scorched thruat. This done,
he laid him tenderly down, placed hs KNAPP
sack under his head. Strengthened out his
broken limb, epread his overeoat over him,
replaced his empty canteen with full one,
and turned to another sufferer. by this time
sides. and all danger was over From all
parts OF the field arose fresh cries of Water,
water; for Gods sake wnter!" More
piteous STILL the mute appeal OF some who
could only ieebly lift hand to say here, too,
is life and suffering. For an hour and a half
DID this ministertnK angel pursue his labor of
mercy. nor oeased 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 win
tcr's night beneath the cold stars
Little remains to be told Sergeant Kirk
land distinguished himself In battle at Get
tyshur9. aud WAS promoted to lieutenant. At
ChiekamauAa he fell on the field OF battle In
tho hour OF victory. He was but a youth
when called away, and had never formed
II se ties from which might have resulted a
To enjoy hs fame and bless his |
country; but he has hequeathed to the Amer |
lean youth. Yea, to tue world. an example |
which dfKnities our common humanity.