The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1915-04-08
PAGE TWELVE
Thrilling Story of Kirk
land at FrederickS-
burg.
DuTgS!s.

- EAR SIR: I have seen in your
most excellent paper, "Tke
81 Jeffersonian," more than once
t. Of recent date, something
about the hero of the Civil
War, who went out between the
armies at the risk of his life, to ad-
minister to the wants of the dead and
dying of the Federal Army, and l,
having in my possession a book writ
ten by Rev, j. William Jones, the
title of which is Christ in the Camp"
or religion in Lees Army
The author of the book was chap
lain Of the Thirteenth Virginia Rogi-
ment, who gives US an account OF an
incident very much like the ones re-
ferred to in your paper.
The reverend gentleman gives his
author Of the incident, who was no
les a parsonage than that Of J. B.
Kershaw, of South Carolina, now
Judge Kershaw, who commanded a
brigade at the time of the Fredericks-
burg fight Of December 10, 1862
Wen now give you the generals
reason for writing up the incident,
after which we'll give you the incl
dent written by him verbatim:
Camden, S. c., Jan. 20, 1880
To the Editor of the News and
Courier: Your Columbia correspon-
dent referred to the incident narrated
here, telling the story as twas told
to him, and inviting corrections AS
such deed should be recorded in
the rigid simplicity of actual truth,
take the liberty Of sending you for
publication an accurate account of a
transaction, every feature of which
IS indelibly impressed upon my mem
Dry Very truly yours,
J. B. KERSHAW.
Richard Kirkland was the sou Of
John Kirkland, an estimable citizen
of KershaW County, a plain, substan-
tial farmer of the olden time. In
1851, he entered, as a private, Cap
tain ]. D. Kennedy's Company fE),
OF the Second South Carolina Volun-
teers, in which company he was a
sergeant in December, 1852.
"The day after the sanguinary bat
tie Of Fredericksburg, Kershaw's bri-
gade occupied the road at the foot Of
Marye's Hill, and the ground about
Marye's house, the scene of their des-
perate defense of the day before
One hundred and fifty yards in front
OF the road, the stOne-facing Of which
constituted the famous stone wall,
Law Sykes Division of Regulars, L.
S. A, between whom and our troops
murderous skirmish occurred the
whole day, fatal to many, who heed
1esSly exposed themselves, even for a
moment The ground between the
lines was bridged with the wounded,
de&d and dying Federals, victims of
the many desperate and gallant as
saults Of that column of 10000
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! wa
teri In the afternoon the general
sat in the north room, upstairs, of
Mrs. Stevens house, in front of the
road, surveying the field, when Kirk
land came up. With an expression
of indignant romonstrance pervading
his person, his manner and the tone
of his voice, he said: General, I
can't stand this
What is the matter, sergeant
asked the general.
He replied: All night and all
day | have heard those poor people
crying for water, and ! can't stand
it any longer l come to ask permits
sion to go and give them water