The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1882-12-21
AN ENEMY'S LOVING KINDNESS.

AN ENEMY'S LOVING KINDNESS.
The battle-felds of our late war
gave apt OCCASION to follow the in
spired injunction uttered both by the
wisest king and the most eloquent
apostle, ''If the enemy hunger, feed
him; if he thirst, give hin drink"
Brave men in both armies again and
again translated the sentiment of
that sweet command into deeds.
The following Is one instance:
At the close OF the first bloody
day VI the battle OF Frede, iclls burg
(Dec. 18th, 1862 hundreds Of the
Union wounded were left lying On
the 2rourd aud the road ascending
M.,ry's heights, victims who Cell in
Sykes's desperate charges on ker-
shaw's entrenched brigade.
All night, and most of the next
dav, the open space was swept by
artillery shot from both the opposing
lines, and no one could venture to
the sufferers relief. All that time
their agonized cries went up for
"Water Water!' but there was no
one to help them, and the roar Of the
Guns mocked their distress.
Many VINO heard the poor sol liers'
piteous appeals felt the pangs Of hu.
man compassion, but stitied them un-
der dread necessity. Fearful expert
ence showed that every man who ex-
posed himself was sure to be shot
Gown, and count one more among the
victims on the field Of carnage.
But at length one brave fellow be-
uind the stone ramparts where the
southern forces lay, gave way to his
5, mpathy and rose superior to the
love of life. He was a young SER
5eant in South Carolina regiment,
and his name was Richard kirkland.
In the afternoon he hurried to Gen.
kershaw headquarters, and finding
the commanding officer, said to him
exitedly:
General, can't stand this any
longer"
What's the matter, sergeant p
asked the general.
Those poor souls out there have
oeen praying and crying all night
and all day, ard it's more than l car
oear. ask your permission to &C
ami give them water.
but do you KNOW" said the gen
eral, admiring the soldiers spirit
"'lo you know that as soon as you
SHOW yourself to the enemy you vii
be shot %
Yes, SIR know IL; but to carry
little comfort to those poor fellows
dying, I'm willing to run the risk
Ii YOU say may, i'll try it,
The general hesitated a moment
out fiAally said with emotion:
"kirkland, it is sending yon tt
our death: but can oppose :.otL
NJ to such motive as yours. Fol
tho sake OF it, [ nope God Will pro
tect you. Co."
Furnished with a supply of water
the brave sergeant immediately step
ped over the wall. and applied him
self to his work OF Christ-like mercy
!, Wondering eyes looked on as h,
llnelt by the nearest sufferer, ano
tenderly raising his head, held tn.
cooling cup to his parehed lips. Ee
fore his first service of love wa
finished, every one in the Uniol
lines understood the mission of TIL,
noble soldier IN gray, and not Il mai
fred a shot.
He stayed there on that terrible
field an hour and half. giving drinl
, to the thirsty and dying; straighten
, ing their cramped and manglet
, limbs, piilowing their heads on thei
knapsacks, and spreading their arm,
, coats and blankets over them, as
mother would her cnild-and all tn
? while he was so engaged, until hi
t gentle ministry was finished, tn
, fusilade of death was hushed. Hatre,
forbore its rage in tribute to dee,
t of pity.
Nine month. afterwards BRAY
young Kirkland fell at Chickamaug
) Creek but his act Of loving kinC
4 ness to his enemies will never be fol
, gotten.-Youth's Companion.