Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1880-03-04
A Confederate Hero.

A Camden, S. c., correspondent oi
the New York Times relates the follow
ing:
Richard Kirkland was the son of John
Kirkland, an estimable citizen of Ker-
shaw County, plain, substantial farm
er of the olden time. In 1861 he en-
tered, as a private, in Captain j. D.
Kennedy's company (E) of the second
South Carolina volunteers, in which
company he was a sergeant in Decem-
Der, 1862. The day after the sanguin-
ary battle of Fredericksburg, Kershaw's s
brigade occupied the road at the foot OF
Marye' hill and the grounds about Ma
rye's house, the scene Of their desperate
defense of the day before. One hun
dred and fifty yards in front of the road,
the stone facing of which constituted
the famous stone wall, lay Sykes divis-
ion of regulars, United States army, be-
tween whom and our troops a murder
GUS skirmish occupied the whole day,
fatal to many who heedlessly exposed
themselves, even for moment. The
ground between the line was bridged
with the wounded, dead and dying fed
erals, victims Of the many desperately
gallant assaults of that column of thirty
thousand brave men hurled Vainly
against that impregnable position.
All that day those wounded men rent
the air with their groans and their
agonizing cries of Water! water"
In the afternoon the General sat in the
north room up stairs of Mrs. Stevens
house in front of the road surveying the
field, when Kirkland came up. With
an expression of indignation perVading
his person, his manner and tones of his
voice, he said: General, l can tstand
this.'' "What is the matter, Ser
geant?" asked the General. He re-
piled: "All night and all day have
heard these poor people crying for
water, and can stand it no longer. l
come to ask permission to 60 and give
them water"
The General regarded him for mo-
ment with feelings of admiration, and
said: " Kirkland, don't you know that
you would get bullet through your
head the moment you stepped over the
wall?'' eyes, sir" he said, 81 know
that; but if you will let me, l am will
ing to try il"
After a pause the General said:
" Kirkland, l ought not to allow you to
run such a risk, but the sentiment
which actuates you is so noble that l
will not refuse your request, trusting
that God may protect you. You may
60" o.,
The Sergeant's eyes lighted up with
pleasure. He said: "ThankyOu, sir"
and ran rapidly down stairs. The
heard him pause for moment
and then return, bounding two steps at
a time. He thought the Sergeant's
heart had failed him. He was mis-
taken. The Sergeant stopped at the
door and said: General, can l show a
white handkerchief" The General
slowly shook his head, saying emphati-
oally, "No, Kirkland, you can't do
that" CAN right, sir" he said, "Tll
Jake the chances and ran down with
q bright smile on his handsome coun-
Jenance.
With profound anxiety he was
watched as he stepped over the wall on
MS errand of mercy-Christ-like mercy.
he reached the nearest suf-
'erer. He knelt beside him, tenderly |
,aised the dropping head, rested it
gently upon his own noble breast, and
5oured the precious, life-giving fluid |
lown the fever -scorched throat. This |
lone he laid him tenderly down, placed |
lis knapsack under his head, straight
med out his broken limb, spread his
,vercoat over him, replaced his empty |
,anteen with a full one, and turned to
another sufferer. By this time his pur-
pose was well understood on both sides,
md the danger was over. From all
PARTS of the field arose fresh cries of |
& Water, water; for Gods sake, waterr
More piteous still the mute appeal of
Iome who could only feebly lift hand |
o say, here, too, is life and suffering.
7or an hour and half did this min
stering angel pursue his labor Of