The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-15

of the Battlefield, " in which organization
Captain Kirk Is now "A general officer. The
requisite for membership in this soldier
society is 100 days of service under fire,
and the memorial. or certificate, issued to
Captain kirk evidences that he served in
the forefront from October 20. 1862, to the
surrender of Lee at AppOmattoX. He was
in forty battles and skirmlshes, and was
wounded five times, three of the Injuries
being slight. but TWO were severe-one
bullet going through the shoulder and one
through the thigh, which fractured the
femoral bone and which causes the Cap
tain to resemble 1.-The Corporal, Our Old
Cripple" in DR.. Holmes description of
the battle of Bunker Hill. The certificate
credits Captain Kirk with 2l6 days under
fire. How is that for meek-eyed coffee
cooler" from Indiana? He was an exem-
plary soldier and his courage and devotion
TO the cause of the Union, coupled with in-
telligence and a lair education, led to mis-
promotion from private TO sergeant, then
second lieutenant, then to first lieutenant
and then to captain OF the company in
which be served.
His first promotion resulted from the
following incident: On the 23i of May,
1861, the armies faced each other at North
Anna river, Virginia. The brigade TO
which Captain Kirk belonged made a des-
perate charge aud took line of cOnfeder-
ate works, driving the rebels down a tim
bered slope toward and beyond the river.
The colonel of the Twentieth Indiana
asked for volunteers to reCOnnoiter the
river front. Kirk stepped forward and
as others seemed little back ward. be did
not wait for company and disappeared in
the shadows of the trees and the shades Of
evening. Reaching an EN- bankmeut some
three feet high be leaped down plump
among thirteen armed rebels who were ly-
ing in ambuscade. Oae of them leaped To
4 4 ~, ? -
parried the blow and jAbbed his own bayo-
net into the rebels shoulder, shout NJ at
the same time surrender surrender every
one of you. down with those guns, climb
that bank or you viii all be killed. And
they actually obeyed. and Kirk marched
the thirteen prisoners into the union lines.
Be il said with due credit 10 the
bravery OF -the rebels, however that
they were under the impression that the
Yankee line OF battle was Immediately
upon the bank above them wien they sur
rendered. The sergeant commanding the
rebel squad was SO Inundated wnen ne
realized the situation that he wept and
threatened TO commit suicide.
For this remarkable piece OF daring. as
before stated, Kirk was made sergeant.
and for this the congress OF the [ nited
States has presented him with bronze
medal, of which 500 were made for those
who most distinguished themselves IL &C
tiOU. Inc legislative act To MAKE the
medals was by a Republican con gress soon
after the war. aud the medals are made of
cannon captured in the conflict.
Captain Kinks medal IS per-
haps the ouly one IN Kansas and
hence many readers OF this who would
like to see il will not have that pleasure.
For their information il i stated that the
Grand Army OF the Republic badge was
fashioned after this merit medal in shape,
but the medal is much larger than the
badge.
Al 8 meeting OF that patriotic o-gauiZa-
ton. the Woman's Relief Corps, q few
DAYS ago, Mrs. Una kesSler. president,
opened a handsome plushed-lin case.
and. with some eloquent remarks, present
ed for inspection he bero's trophy. 1t
was Of especial interest 70 the ladies as
sembled. since Captain Kirk has been es-
peciaIly active IN aiding them in their
good work or caring for the needy. and
their sentiments at said meeting found
fitting expression in the records.