The Angel of Marye’s Heights – Richard Rowland Kirkland - Battle of Fredericksburg

CIVIL WAR TRAVELS WITH MS. REBELLE

By Janet Greentree

             Most of us looking at the picture of Sgt. Richard Rowland Kirkland’s marker in Camden, South Carolina will have a moist eye or two.   It surely makes you wonder who placed the canteen on his grave and how long it had been there.  Sgt. Kirkland is not a Civil War general but he did a good humanitarian and brave act at the battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862.

            Ms. Rebelle is now in Camden, South Carolina visiting the Quaker Cemetery at Camden & Meeting Streets looking for the graves of Civil War Generals Joseph Brevard Kershaw, John Dolby Kennedy, and John Bordenave Villepigue.  Mary Todd Lincoln’s brother, Dr. George Rogers Clark Todd, is also buried there with his wife Martha Lyles.  While walking around the cemetery the grave of Sgt. Kirkland was spotted with the canteen hanging on the side of his monument.  He is buried very close to General Kershaw.

             The Angel of Marye’s Heights was born August 20, 1843 in Flat Rock, Kershaw County, South Carolina, the fifth son of John and Mary Kirkland.  He was slender but muscular at 5’8” and 150 pounds.  When the Civil War began Kirkland enlisted shortly thereafter, even before his older brothers, and was assigned to Company E, 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry under John Dolby Kennedy.  He was transferred at a later date to Company G and received a promotion to sergeant.  His unit was at the siege of Fort Sumter.  He saw action at First Manassas, the battles of Savage Station, Maryland Heights, and at Antietam where many of his friends from Kershaw County were killed.

             At the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, Kirkland’s unit was at the stone wall at Marye’s Heights.  After the battle many of the soldiers were able to walk to the field hospital but the severely wounded were left on the icy field at near zero temperatures in front of the stone wall.  Over 8,000 Union soldiers had been shot.  Many were still alive but in dire need of water and attention to their wounds.  The cries of the men went on for hours and hours.  Neither North nor South ventured out onto the field for fear of being shot.  During the day of December 14th, Sgt. Kirkland could stand the cries no more.  He approached General Kershaw at his headquarters at the Martha Stevens house to ask permission to bring water to the wounded.  General Kershaw denied the request but later granted it.  Kirkland asked if he could show a white handkerchief but the general would not agree to that request.

             Kirkland gathered all the canteens he could find, filled them with water, and hopped over the stone wall.  At first shots rang out, but when both sides saw what Kirkland was attempting to do, the shots ceased.  He crossed the stone wall back and forth several times administering to the wounded men, giving them water, encouragement, and arranging their blankets over them.  It was here than he earned the sobriquet of the “Angel of Marye’s Heights.”   After ninety minutes of this heroic deed, both sides rang out with shouts of approval.

             Kirkland went on to fight at the battle of Chancellorsville and fought at Gettysburg in the Peach Orchard and the Wheatfield.  During the battle of Chickamaugua charging up Snodgrass Hill on September 20, 1863, a rifle ball hit him in the chest.  Knowing the wound was mortal, he said:  “No, I am done for.  You can do me no good.  Save yourselves and tell Pa goodbye and I died right.  I did my duty.  I died at my post.”  He was only 23 years of age at the time.

             Richard Kirkland was returned home to Camden for burial.  In 1909 his remains were removed to Quaker Cemetery in Camden, South Carolina.

             In tribute to the bravery and humanity of Sgt. Kirkland, a statue erected by the State of South Carolina was dedicated to him and unveiled in 1965 by the artist Felix DeWeldon in front of the stone wall at Fredericksburg.  The inscription reads:  “At the risk of his life, this American soldier of sublime compassion, brought water to his wounded foes at Fredericksburg.”

             His obituary dated October 16, 1863 reads as follows:  “Fell, in the battle of Chickamaugua, Sergeant R.R. Kirkland, in the 23rd year of his age.  In the very beginning of the war the deceased volunteered in the 2nd Regiment, and participated in every battle which Kershaw’s Brigade was engaged in Virginia, from the battle of Bull Run to the late battle of Chickamauga, where he fell mortally wounded.  Many gallant heroes have fallen, but not a more generous or gallant spirit has been sacrificed on our country’s alter since the beginning of the war, than that of the one for whom this is intended as a feeble tribute.  He was one of those who, knowing his duty was willing to discharge it, be the consequences what they might.  He shunned no hardships, he shrunk from no danger.  His was a steady course, making the path of the duty the road which he was won’t to travel.  As a friend, as a comrade, as a soldier, as a son, his equals were rarely found; as a friend there was none more true, none more constant, in their attachment, none who would make greater sacrifices for those he relied upon as friends; as a comrade, he was kind and obliging – ever ready to share an equal part with those amongst whom he was thrown; as a soldier, he was brave, calm and collected amidst danger, ever ready to go, at a word, to the post assigned him; as a son, he was dutiful, obedient and kind.  His form once animate, now lies encircled in the cold silent grave.  No more will we meet his cheerful countenance, ever lit up with a smile; no more will his comrades stand side by side with him in fierce battle storm, or set around the camp fires together.  Young and gallant soldier rest in peace; fate has decreed that you should not reap the reward of your toils; but your name stands recorded upon the long list of victories already sacrificed upon the alter of your country’s liberty.”—A Friend.

 NOTE:  Ms. Rebelle’s hobby is travelling the country finding and honoring the graves of our 1,008 Civil War generals.  So far she has located and photographed 385….169 Confederate and 216 Union. 

 Ms. Rebelle is a member of the The Bull Run Civil War Round Table which  meets every second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Centreville Regional Library. The public is invited to attend at no cost and visit the website www.bullruncwrt.org for additional activities (tours, etc.)