HARRISBURG, PA February 12, 2001 - A bronze statue, Moment of Mercy, by Pennsylvania sculpture Terry Jones now greets visitors as they first arrive at the National Civil War Museum. The life-like statue was unveiled by Mayor Steven R. Reed and Governor Tom Ridge at the opening ceremonies on February 12, 2001, and commemorates one of the most courageous acts in the tragic four-year period of the American Civil War. It also sets the humanistic theme for The National Civil War Museum's presentation of the great American drama involving American families from both the North and the South.

The events surrounding the story of The Angel of Marye's Heights took place at the first battle of Fredericksburg, VA in December 1862. The Union forces under General Ambrose E. Burnside planned to attack Richmond by way of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Frustrating delays in the Union forces allowed Confederate General Robert E. Lee to move General Longstreet's Corps, with General J. B. Kershaw's Brigade, directly into Burnside's planned path of attack. General Longstreet was then joined on his right by General "Stonewall" Jackson's Corps. Kershaw's Brigade was directly in the path of the Union Army gathered across the Rappahannock River, just outside Fredericksburg, Virginia. A young South Carolinian, Sergeant Richard Kirkland and his Company of the 2nd South Caroline were part of Kershaw's Brigade.

Burnside continued to recklessly throw divisions of Union soldiers across 400 yards of open field, under murderous massed artillery and musket fire. Sergeant Kirkland was among a section of riflemen six ranks deep, protected by a stone wall. The Confederates rained musket fire down on the advancing enemy soldiers, and by day's end nearly 6,300 dead or wounded Union soldiers lay along the front of the stone wall. That night the temperature dropped and snow fell over the field of dead and wounded soldiers.

By the next morning, Kirkland could no longer stand the cries of the wounded soldiers lying on the snow-covered ground, and in near-zero temperatures. He sought permission to provide some help to the wounded. Kirkland gathered up as many canteens of water as he could find, then jumped the stone wall and ran to the first wounded soldier he could reach. As he ran, rifle fire from Union sharpshooters threatened the good Samaritan. When it became obvious that his purpose was a mission of mercy, a Union officer shouted, "Cease fire! Don't shoot that man, he is too brave to die." Throughout the morning the young South Carolinian made trips back and forth from water well to wounded soldier, trying to provide some measure of comfort. Both Union and Confederate soldiers looked on with awe. It is not known how many mean Kirkland was able to help, but those he helped and those who witnessed his act never forgot Sergeant Richard Kirkland of the 2nd Carolina. In fact, they immortalized him as "The Angel of Marye's Heights."

The epilogue to the story is a sad one. Nine months later, on September 20, 1863, Richard R. Kirkland was mortally wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga, Tennessee. His body lies under the spreading trees in the Quaker cemetery in Camden, South Carolina. A large headstone reads, "Richard Kirkland, C.S.A. At Fredericksburg he risked his life to carry water to wounded and dying enemies, and at the Battle of Chickamauga laid down that life for his country. 1843-1863."

The features of Richard Kirkland are modeled after a photograph of the 19 year-old Confederate soldier taken the year before his untimely death. The wounded Union soldier attended to by Kirkland wears the uniform of the 127th Regiment of Pennsylvania Infantry. The 127th was organized at Harrisburg, PA on August 16, 1862, and was one of the last units to charge the stone wall at Marye's Heights, at Fredericksburg, VA.

About The National Civil War Museum

The National Civil War Museum is a permanent, nonprofit educational institution created to promote the preservation of material culture and sources of information which are directly relevant to the American Civil War of 1861-1865 and the aftermath period of the war as related to Civil War Veteran's service organizations including the Grand Army of the Republic, United Confederate Veterans and the Daughters of the Confederacy to 1920.

The National Civil War Museum
1 Lincoln Circle at Reservoir Park
Harrisburg, PA 17103

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm
Saturday & Sunday 10am to 5pm

Admission
Adults . . . . . . . $7
Seniors . . . . . . $6
Students . . . . . $5
Families . . . . . $20

Contact Information
Debra Lavelle
Director of Marketing
The National Civil War Museum
1 Lincoln Circle at Reservoir Park
Harrisburg, PA 17103
(717) 260-1861 ext. 1201