The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-09-06

material.
Gen. J. Il. kershaw, of South
Carolina, published some years ,go a
deeply interesting narrative concern
ing Richard Kirkland, the humane
hero of Fredericksburg sergeant
in the Second South Carolina regi-
ment. After the bloody repulse Of
the Federals at fredericksburg, near
the foot Of Msryes Hill, they left
their many killed and wounded lying
between the lines, and the piteous
cries of the brave men on account Of
pain and thirst appealed to the sym-
pathes Of the soldiers of both armies.
Kirkland went to General Kershaw,
who was then in command of the Con-
fcderatcs at that point, and said with
deep emotion: General, | cant stand
this. "What is the matter, Ser
geantY asked the general. He re.
piled: "All day l have heard those
poor people crying for water and l can
stand it no Logger. l come to ask
permission TO give them water" The
general regarded him for moment
with feelings Of profound admiration,
and said: Kirkland, don't you know
that you would get bullet through
your head the moment you stepped
over the wall?' yes" he said, Il
know that | may, but if you will let
me, | am willing to try it. After a
pause the general said: "Kirkland, l
ought not to allow you TO run such q
risk, but the sentiment which actuates
you is so noble that | will not refuse
your request, trusting that God may
protect you. You may go." With
light heart and buoyant step the hu-
name hero, armed with all of the can
teens he could carry filled with water,
CROSSED the wall, went unharmed
through the shower of bullets which
at first greeted him, aud reached and
relieved the nearest sufferer, pouring
down his parched throat the life-giv-
ing fluid, putting him in a more COM
Portable position, and leaving him o
canteen filled with water. His pur-
pose now being apparent the Federals
ceased to i1e on him, and for an hour
and half, amid the plaudits of both
armies, this angel Of mercy went on
his mission from man to man of the
wounded enemy-his comrades gladly
filling his canteens for him apd being
prevented from joining him in his
labor Of love only by the orders against
their crossing the liDe-until all on
that part Of the field were relieved.
1t needs only TO be added-since "the
bravest are the tenderest and the low
ing are the DARN" that Sergeant
Kirkland so greatly distinguished
himself at Gettysburg that he was
promoted for Conspicuous gallantry,"
and that he fell on the victorious field
of Chickamauga, bravely ,,oiug his
duty. But he will be ku.wn in the
annals of war as 9Th, humane hero
of Fredericksburg" and as he had but
a short time before found "Chris. in
the camp" I doubt not that he wears
now bright crown bestowed by Him
who promises that cup of cold wat er
given in tho right spirit shall not lose
its reward.
AS for the treatment of prison ers,
despite all Of the slanders that were
published against the Confederacy
and are still uujustly repeated, the
fact remains that. the Confederate re-
cords have been searched in vain fer
proof that the Confederate authorities
ever ordered or connived at any ill.,
treatment of prisoners. The Confed-
crates did everything in their power
to mitigate the suffering of prisoners
and made various humane PROPOSE
tions to that end, which were rejected
by the Federals; and while the suffer
ings of prisoners were very great and
the mortality among them fearful on
both sides, yet'the official reports of
Il. NJ. Stanton, United States Secre-
tary of War, and J. X. Barnes, sur
geon general, show that nearly four
per cent more Confederates perished
In Northern prisons than Federals
in Southern prisons; and this not
withstanding the fact that the Con-
federacy was deficient in food, raj
ment and medicines for even it's owa
soldiers, while the Federals had aG
abundance Of oil supplies. The truth
is that our Christian President, JET
ferson Davis. and his generals con-
Quoted the war on the highest plane
of civilization: that ony rank and fi1e