Would you help the enemy in war?

[Rangers]

Confederate soldier, Richard Rowland Kirkland was at the battle of Fredericksburg at Marye's heights.

Confederates inflicted 5 casualties for every 1 they suffered, and at night, no sleep could be obtained, because the screams of the wounded and dying filled the night.

At one point, he could take it no longer and climbed over the stone wall to give water to the wounded and dying federal troops. This earned him the title of "The Angel of Marye's heights". His actions led to many other Confederates doing likewise, when they noticed the Federal troops stopped firing on him.

I can say that for sure, I would not have been the first man to risk his life to help the enemy. But after seeing him go out and not get shot, guilt would eat on me, as I know that my mom would not want me to be so uncaring, even towards the enemy, to sit there and listen to them scream and cry for water, and medical help.

After a few minutes, I'd let out a curse, and set my rifle down, before going out there to help the wounded enemies. Even just to make them feel comfortable, in their last moments.

Richard Rowland Kirkland died at Chickamauga, just under a year later, when he was struck in the chest. Would you help the enemy in this situation?

[NamerOfStars]

Well, here's the thing: they weren't enemies.

It's one thing to respect the universal humanity of enemy soldiers when they speak a different language and don't look like you or follow the same cultural traditions, but those people might well have been former neighbors, or even relatives. They were only fighting because their governments forced them to.

[Rangers]

They WERE enemies, Union troops were there to kill Confederates, it was the job of the Confederates to stop them from succeeding in their quest to kill them

[NamerOfStars]

In the same sense that the Czechoslovakians were "there to kill Soviets", sure. It wasn't the NORTH that attacked Fort Sumter.

[Rangers]

And from their perspective, the North needed to leave Sumter, because it was Southern land, but they refused, so they attacked it

[NamerOfStars]

Ah, an actual Confederate apologist. I thought you'd gone extinct.

[exitseven]

I am not sure. War is a pretty weird thing. If some of my buddies just got mowed down I might not feel very charitable.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[ApplePie409]

Probably. If it were up to me, both Zelenskyy and Putin would take sniper rounds to the head.

[OtterMan68]

yes, if I could and it did not mean I could not help my own side. Soldiers been doing this for centuries

[sawno]

Depends on who the enemy is.

[Anonymous]

I would help them d i e. 🤠