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Contributed by: Diane Siniard Name: William Whedbee Kirkland State Served: North Carolina Highest Rank: Brig-Gen Birth Date: 1833 Death Date: 1915 Birth Place: Hillsboro, North Carolina Army: Confederacy Promotions: Promoted to Full Captain Promoted to Full Colonel (21st NC Inf) Promoted to Full Brig-Gen Biography: Brigadier-General W. W. Kirkland, as colonel of the Eleventh North Carolina volunteers, known later as the Twenty-first regiment, reached the field in Virginia in time to participate in the affair at Mitchell's ford on Bull run, with Bonham's brigade, on July 18, 1861. On the memorable 21st of July he was field officer of the day for the brigade, and at 2:30 a. m. brought to General Bonham information of the approach of the enemy toward the stone bridge. His regiment manfully sustained a heavy fire through the day, and at 3 p. m. assisted in the pursuit of the enemy. Subsequently he was assigned to the brigade of Col. Jubal A. Early, and later to that of General Trimble, and with General Ewell's division participated in the Shenandoah valley campaign of 1862. Trimble's command opened the attack on Winchester, May 25th, and Kirkland and his regiment gallantly dashed into the western part of the town, driving in the pickets, and was for a time exposed to murderous fire from a Federal regiment posted behind a stone wall, in which Colonel Kirkland was wounded, and a large number of officers and privates were killed or disabled. His wound kept him from service with his regiment until the Gettysburg campaign, when he resumed command, the brigade then being under command of Gen. R. F. Hoke, and temporarily under Col. I. E. Avery, and participated in the desperate fighting of July 1st and 2nd. In August, 1863, he was promoted to brigadier-general, and on September 7th was assigned to command of General Pettigrew's old brigade of Heth's division, A. P. Hill's corps, consisting of the Eleventh, Twenty-sixth, Forty-fourth, Forty-seventh and Fifty-second North Carolina regiments. With this command he took a gallant part in the battle of Bristoe, October 14th, where the North Carolinians suffered heavily in a hasty attack upon largely superior forces of the enemy, and he fell severely wounded. His gallantry was commended in the reports of Heth and Hill. But he was incapacitated from further active duty for nearly a year, General MacRae taking his place until August, 1864, when he was assigned to the command of the North Carolina brigade of Hoke's division, formerly commanded by General Martin. He served with Longstreet north of the James river, before Richmond, participating in the attack on Fort Harrison and other engagements. His brigade was one of the best disciplined on the line, and was complimented by General Lee for the fine appearance of its camp and defenses. Being transferred to Wilmington late in December, he advanced to the relief of Fort Fisher, and with two regiments held in check the advance of Butler's forces, by his spirited action persuading that commander that a large body of Confederates was before him. Butler abandoned the attack, but it was renewed under Gilmore, when Kirkland again at the front skirmished with the enemy near Sugar Loaf, but was withdrawn by Bragg. During the retreat to Wilmington he commanded the rear guard, was engaged at Northeast river, and subsequently took a prominent and dashing part in the fighting at Wise's Fork against the enemy under Gen. J. D. Cox. At Bentonville the steadfastness of Kirkland and his brigade contributed materially to the failure of Sherman's attempt to break the Confederate line. It is related that during the battle, Johnston inquired who was responsible for heavy firing then going on at the moment, and was told that the enemy was attacking Kirkland's brigade. Turning to Hardee, Johnston said, "I am glad of it. I would rather they would attack Kirkland than any one else. " The military career of this gallant officer ended with the surrender at Greensboro. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. V, p. 321 |