Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-25
4 ne uaised statcs army Arri q. 1901. De

cilned. - '''''
When Helm arrived In Louisville on mis-
way home he found the city and State In q
ferment. blanton Duncan had openly re-
crrited the First Kentucky regiment for
the Confederaey. and it wa8 about to for
ward, over thousand bavonets strong, 10
General j. Z. Johnston, then near Nanas-
sas. The ladies of Louisville by subscrip-
ton equipped IL with blankets and camp
and garrison equipage, and similar
SUBSCRIPTION among the men OF southern
sentiments had furnished IL with uniforms.
Every one who saw IL will remember how
martial the First Kentucky looked when 10
disembarked one soft afternoon in the late
spring OF 1861, and went into camp at Gen.
treville, the first western regiment TO re-
port TO General Johnston. Then came the
fight, beginning at Blsckburn's Ford and
eliminating at Manassas, of July 18th, goth,
and 2ist, whore the ranks of the First Ken
lucky were thinned never to be reflled.
WENT WITH THE SOUTH.
Meantime Helm could not remain in the
fierce contest unmoved. His father, ex-
Governor Helm. was Union man and did
as much as any one in that portion Of the
State in the support Of the Union the first
year of the war. The best blood of Ken
lucky was going South. Finally il was
agreed that il the young men would go
they should be formed into Kentucky
commands. So Helm raised the First
Kentucky cavalry for the CoDfederacy, or
rather il raised itself, and the Captain of
fered the command 70 him. He reported in
October to General Albert Sidney Johnston,
with his command, for duty, That autumn
and winter Colonel Helm drilled and dis
ciplined his command until it had al
most the steadiness and aplomb of the old
Second Dragons, which was the Coloneps
model corps. On the 18th of March, 1862,
Colonel Helm was made brigadier-ge general,
and the command of his regiment passed
over 10 Meutenant-Colonel Woodward.
General Helm organized the First Ken
lucky brigade in the Tennessee Confed-
crate army, and II proved itself worthy of
the old Kentucky Indian-fghting ancestry
OF its officers and men on the twenty
stricken fields. At least twice in 1851 and
1862 did General Helm find opportunity to
send kindly messages to Mr. Lincoln,
whom he remembered with the deep
sentiment that only a nature like his
would cherish.
Thus time went on until 1868. II be-
came evident to both armies that great
battle must be fought in Tennessee or
Georgia, and the two armies converged
near Chickamauga. General Helms bril-
gade, composed of the Second, Fourth,
SlNJ0, ana NluLU he0buChN IcRlulcuIss
and Cobb's battery was attached to Brock
inridge's (Kentucky) division. A few days
before the battle the Forty-frst Alabama
regiment was added to Helms command,
and on the morning of the 18th OF Septem-
Der the struggle began with nearly 10000
men in both lines of battle. On the eve
ming of the goth, while leading his COM
mand against Thomas's corps, Helm was
fatally wounded and died early on the
morning of the 21st.
INcoLN's GRIEF
One evening, in the early winter of 1877,
the writer was speaking with Senator David
Davis, Of Illinois. The talk turned upon
Mr.. Lincoln. 1t was the night session
of the Senate at which Senator Butler, of
South Carolina. was admitted to that body.
Judge Davis had just finished an excellent
dinner, and, with some very good cigars,
was in the Senate cloak-room enjoying the
comfortable after dinner feeling.
al never saw Mr.. Lincoln more moved, I"
said Senator Davis, than when he heard
of the death of his young brother-in-law,
Ben. Hardin Helm, only thirty-two years
old, at Chickamauga. j called to see him
about O'clock on the 22d of September,
1863. / found him in the greatest grief.
Davis said he, I feel as David of old
did when he was told of the death of Alb
salon: Would to God had died for thee,
oh, Absalom. nv sonl' | saw how grief
stricken he was" said Senator Davis, in a
tone full of memories, " so closed the
door and left him alone"
Well might the great heart grow heavy
and sad with such news as this. The will
try wind has mourned through many a
stately mausoleum, but 1t never waved its
requiem over nobler form than lies in that
grave where the heart of Ben. Hardin
Helm is asleep.
WILLIAM HUGH RoBARTs.