Moment of Mercy

This is a picture of the monument, “Moment of Mercy”. It is actually a copy of the Sgt. Kirkland, “Angel of Mayre’s Heights” monument found on the Fredericksburg National Battlefield. This one is in front of the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA. The story goes that during the Battle of Fredericksburg, Union troops marched across a large, open field to Confederate elevated positions where they were mowed down by small arms fire. Amidst the chaos and slaughter, a Confederate Sergeant hopped the fence, with as many canteens as he could find, and began to give aid to the Union wounded. It is also said that this sergeant could be seen from both sides, and that the battle was paused for a brief time so that this man could help the enemy. I took pictures of both of these monuments because the design is my absolute favorite compared to any other civil war monument. It shows courage through compassion rather than war. In Fredericksburg, the monument is surrounded by decorative bushes, just below the sunken road. In Harrisburg, the monument is surrounded by various brick walkways, with the names of Civil War soldiers on almost every brick. A similar monument stands in Gettysburg in front of the National Cemetery. That monument shows a Union Lieutenant giving aid to Confederate General Armistead. I enjoy these monuments because it proves that even in war, mercy can be showed to your enemy.