Richard Rowland Kirkland
| Richard Rowland Kirkland | |
|---|---|
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Monument depicting Kirkland giving water to wounded Union troops at Fredericksburg
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| Nickname(s) | The Angel of Marye's Heights |
| Born | August 1843 Kershaw County, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | September 20, 1863 (aged 20) Chickamauga, Georgia, C.S. |
| Buried at | Old Quaker Cemetery Camden, South Carolina |
| Allegiance |
 Confederate States of America
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| Service/branch |
 Confederate States Army
|
| Years of service | 1861–1863 |
| Rank |
 Second Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | |
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.
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.
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.
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."
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