The Angel of Marye's Heights

An example of what it means to "Love your enemies".

How many of you would try to save a friend knowing it might result in your own death?

Probably some of you would.

How many of you would try to save the life of an enemy knowing it might result in your own death?

Probably very few, if any, of you would take that risk.

Yet, that is exactly what Richard Rowland Kirkland did during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Both who he is and what he did are worth learning about.

19-year-old Seargent Richard Kirkland of Company E, 2nd South Carolina Volunteers, repeatedly risked Federal fire on the day after the battle of Fredericksburg to carry water to parched, wounded Union soldiers still lying before the stone wall.