Richard Rowland Kirkland Richard Rowland Kirkland , known as " The Angel of Marye ' s Heights " , ( August 1843 – September 20 , 1863 ) was a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War , noted for his bravery and the story of his humanitarian actions during the Battle of Fredericksburg . Early life . Kirkland was born in Flat Rock , South Carolina , in Kershaw County . He was the fifth son of Mary and John Kirkland . He received a moderate education during his youth , as was typical during that era . Early Army service . Despite his youth , Kirkland enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861 , not long after war was declared , before his older brothers . He was first assigned to Company E , 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry , but was later transferred to Company G of the same regiment , and was promoted to sergeant . He first saw action during the First Battle of Bull Run ( First Manassas ) , and later in the Battle of Savage ' s Station , Battle for Maryland Heights and Battle of Antietam , during which time many of his closest friends from Kershaw County were killed . Battle of Fredericksburg . The story . On December 13 , 1862 , Kirkland ' s unit had formed at the stone wall at the base of " Marye ' s Heights " near Fredericksburg , Virginia . In the action that followed , he and his unit inflicted heavy casualties on the Union attackers . On the night of December 13 , walking wounded made their way to the field hospital while those who were disabled were forced to remain on the battlefield . The morning of December 14 revealed that over 8 , 000 Union soldiers had been shot in front of the stone wall at Marye ' s Heights . Many of those remaining on the battlefield were still alive , but suffering terribly from their wounds and a lack of water . Soldiers from both sides were forced to listen to the painful cries of the wounded for hours , with neither side daring to venture out for fear of being shot by the enemy . At some point during the day , Kirkland allegedly approached Confederate Brig . Gen . Joseph B . Kershaw , also from Kershaw County , South Carolina , and informed him that he wished to help the wounded Union soldiers . By Kershaw ' s own account , at first he denied the request , but later he relented . However , when Kirkland asked if he could show a white handkerchief , General Kershaw stated he could not do that . Kirkland responded " All right , sir , I ' ll take my chances . " Kirkland gathered all the canteen s he could carry , filled them with water , then ventured out onto the battlefield . He ventured back and forth several times , giving the wounded Union soldiers water , warm clothing , and blankets . Soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies watched as he performed his task , but no one fired a shot . General Kershaw later stated that he observed Kirkland for more than an hour and a half . At first , it was thought that the Union would open fire , which would result in the Confederacy returning fire , resulting in Kirkland being caught in a crossfire . However , within a very short time , it became obvious to both sides as to what Kirkland was doing , and according to Kershaw cries for water erupted all over the battlefield from wounded soldiers . Kirkland did not stop until he had helped every wounded soldier ( Confederate and Federal ) on the Confederate end of the battlefield . Sergeant Kirkland ' s actions remain a legend in Fredericksburg to this day . Challenges . Though tales of Kirkland ' s heroism and humanitarianism have become the stuff of legend , at least one historian has challenged their veracity . Historian Michael Shaffner points out that numerous official reports from the battlefield — including one by Kirkland ' s own regimental commander — said nothing about his alleged heroism , while praising other soldiers and surgeons for their performance at Fredricksburg . Later engagements and death . Kirkland went on to fight in both the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg where , after further distinguishing himself for courage and ability , he was promoted to lieutenant . On September 20 , 1863 , he and two other men took command of a charge near " Snodgrass Hill " during the Battle of Chickamauga . Realizing they had advanced too far forward of their own unit , they attempted to return and Kirkland was shot . His last words were , " I ' m done for . . . save yourselves and please tell my pa I died right . " His body was returned home to Kershaw County , South Carolina , and he was buried in the " Old Quaker Cemetery " in Camden . A friend who visited the gravesite years later was said to have commented that it was one of the most sequestered , unfrequented , and inaccessible spots for a grave he ' d ever seen . General Kershaw would later be buried in that same cemetery , which also maintains the graves of Civil War General John Bordenave Villepigue and his descendant , World War I Medal of Honor recipient John Canty Villepigue , in addition to World War I Medal of Honor recipient Richmond Hobson Hilton . In 1965 , sculptor Felix de Weldon unveiled a statue in front of the stone wall at the Fredericksburg battlefield in Kirkland ' s honor .