Confederate sergeant didn’t make it,
but his compassion for others survived

Even in a conflict as bloody as the Civil War, sometimes compassion is the dominating influence.

That was the situation on Dec. 14, 1862 following the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va.

Confederate Gen. J.B. Kershaw and his brigade occupied the road at the foot of Marye’s Hill where Southern forces had won the day. Beyond the sunken road and a stonewall lay more than 12,000 Union soldiers who were either dead or severely wounded. Throughout the day, groans and cries for water filled the air as Gen. Kershaw surveyed the scene from an upstairs room in the house he was using for headquarters.

Sgt. Richard Kirkland burst into the room shouting, “General, I can’t stand this!” He went on to explain that “all night and day I’ve heard those poor people crying for water and I can stand it no longer. I ask permission to go and give them water.”

Kershaw pointed out that such a move probably would earn Kirkland “a bullet in the head.” But the sergeant persisted, saying that he was willing to try. The general, noting later that he considered the request with admiration, finally gave his permission.

He explained to Kirkland that he couldn’t wave a white flag or handkerchief, but the sergeant was willing to take his chances.

Kershaw watched from the window as Kirkland stepped over the wall and reached the first wounded man. He let him drink from a canteen, then placed the man’s knapsack under his head, straightened the man’s broken limb, spread his overcoat over him, replaced the empty canteen with a full one, then turned to another wounded soldier.

In writing about the incident, Kershaw explained that Kirkland’s purpose seemed to be understood by the other side.

For an hour and a half, the private continued his mission of mercy and returned to his own lines only after he relieved all of the wounded on that section of the battlefield. He return to his post uninjured.

Kershaw wrote that Sgt. Kirkland distinguished himself in battle at Gettysburg and was promoted to lieutenant. He died later at the Battle of Chickamauga.

The general cited Kirkland’s act as “an example which dignifies our common  humanity.”