The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-25
THEODORE O'UARk.

theodore " IltId. DNin ~
KY. February IL. 1920, son of Kane
O'Hara. an Irish gentleman who left
the mother country on account OF pOlit-
ical oppression. and afterwards became
a distinguished educator in Kentucky.
Having graduated with honor at Ken
lucky college (BArdstown) he practiced
law awhile and then went into the
treasury service. In 1915, he was APP
pointed "A captain in the United States
army and went to the Mexican war.
in which he was breyeted major
for gallantry. When Lopez at
tempted to liberate Cuba. O'llara
left his country. like Byron, to
fight for the liberty of struggling patri-
OTIS in another, and led regiment at
the battle Of CardenOs, where he was
severely wounded. He joined the Con-
federate army at the beginning Of the
war. and commanded the fort at the
entrance Of Mobile bay, bravely defend e
ing it until he was ordered to retire.
He then served on Albert Sidney john
stou's staff, and was with him when he
fell at Shiloh. Afterward he was made
chief Of staff TO Gen. John g. Breckin-
ridge. and served in that position to the
end Of the war. Then he engaged in
business in Columbus, Ga, and finally
settled on plantation on the Alabama
side of the Chattahoochee, where he
died Of fever On June Z, 1867. The
Kentucky Legislature ia 1913 made
provision for carrying his remains to
his native State. ana IN 1874 he was LAID
to rest among his comrades or the Mex
lean war at Frankfort. The lines which
made him immortal were written for
the occasion when the dead heroes Of
the Mexican war were buried there.
and O'Hara stood upon his future rest
ing place and read the poem which was
10 become his epitaph. There he sleeps
at the loot of the soldiers monument,
with the guns Of Buena Vista standing
like grim sentinels round the biyouac
Of the dead.
OF O'Hara's personality, the poet
Wilson SAYS:
O'Hara is lovingly remembered by
thousands who knew him personally.
He was genial and generous in dispos'-
ton, and possessing a mind well stored.
both from books and with the expe'
riences of an adventurous life. lie Is
said to have been exceedingly happy
aud brilliant in conversation, having a
clear sense Of humOr, nimble wit and
q quick tongue at repartee. lie wa,
the life and soul Of many campfire
circle in the wars. and the many varied
incidents of his life which cannot be
given here. for lack of space. all show
him to have been utterly fearless. Ills
iupulsiye and daring nature made hlm
thirst contir ually for the excitements
of danger, and gave him relish
for the chances Of the fight. Sensitive
and refined himself. his manner to
wards others, while characterized by al
! inherent, self-respectlDg pride, was
sufficiently unreserved and hearty, and
without the tinge Of any belitting vani
ty or shadow of 0stentatiOn. lie was
something above the medium in statue
slender. graceful and well-proportloned
| in figure. very erect and military nshl.
| bearing. and quick. wiry and decisive
| in his movements His hair was black
! let black, and his eyes so nearly 80 thai
there was but shade of difference
They were full of alert Intelligence, IN
dcauns in every glance the vital forc'
and restlessuess OF his nature. His nos'
was straight and his mouth was some
what small; the lips, seeming Away
close pressed together or slightly
"pursed. were araost feminine II
their clearness and delicacy Of outline
but showed great firmness and deter
mination as well as refinement. lin
head was nicely poised and well set On
his shoulders. and bis hands and fee
were very small aud well cared for
lie died seemingly unconscious Of IN
highest gift. his greatest fault beluI
his neglecting 10 follow steadily SOM
definite aim If that he fault. Sine
then che hanl of time, graphing 70
hidden treasure amidst the ruins o
lost and buried incident and clrcum
stance. has saved from the wreck Of thu
life a few lines only-written when h
was thinking more of others than o
himself-but lines Of such transcenden
merit that they have fixed the name 0
Theodore O'Hara in histOry.-NeS
York Star.