Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Duk da matasansa, Kirkland ya shiga cikin rundunar sojojin Confederate a 1861, ba da daɗewa ba bayan da aka ayyana yaƙi, kafin 'yan uwansa. Da farko an sanya shi zuwa Kamfanin E, 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, amma daga baya aka tura shi zuwa Kamfanin G na wannan rundunar, kuma an daukaka shi zuwa sarge. Ya fara aiki a lokacin yakin farko na Bull Run (Manassas na farko), kuma daga baya a yakin Savage's Station
, Yaƙin Maryland Heights da Yaƙin Antietam, a lokacin da aka kashe yawancin abokansa mafi kusa daga County Kershaw.