The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-06-03
Theodore o'Hara.

f1oUiiC hcSAsGSi. 1IACc1AcAt 1S 40 sAAO
essay of Mrs. Gibson, entitled IA
Glance at Southern Literature" ws
must beg permission to supplement It
with few words concerning one who
may be mentioned as peer Of any
named in the essay Theodore O'Hara.
In this Office hangs upon the wall Q
small but lifelike portrait-engraving Of
the dead soldier, poet and journalist
His features were regular and firm Of
outline, and his expression kind and
marked with intelligence. In many
respects his face resembled that of our
present mayor, but the resemblance
would not be traced at first view, be-
cause O'Hara wore his jet black haix
rather long, quite covering his cars.
and on his head he wore stove.
pipe hat of what would now (.
be considered of tremendous pro-
portions. He was somewhat
above the medium height, slender and
graceful, dressed in a black cloth, dou-
ble-breasted coat, with white shirt
front literally displayed, the throat
muffled in a black silk .'choker." !" above
which rose, like two white wings, the
standing collar of his day. Such was
Theodore O'Hara when he helpedfedit
the Register in days gone by.
He was a native Of Kentucky and .
graduate Of st. ,loseph's college, Bards-
town, practiccd law for a while, and in
army He served throughout the Mex
lean war and was breveted major on
the the field for bravery and meritori-
Gus conduct. Later he took part in \
Lopez's expedition for the freeing of
Cuba and was severely wounded at Car
denas. Returning to the south he drift
ed into the newspaper business and
served on the staff of several papers,
the last of which was the Register. He
was here when the war between the
states broke out and at once joined the
service. He served Mt Fort Morgan.
and later on Albert Sidney Johnson's
staff, and was beside that officer when
he fell at Shiloh. Afterwards he was
chief of staff to General John G. Breck.
inridge and was in the famous charge
at Stone river. After the war he set.
tied in Columbus, Ga, and finally rec
tired to a plantation on the Alabama
side of the Chattahoochee river, where
he died June Z. 1867, at the age OF ~
years. He lies in the state cemetery at
Frankfort, Ky, having been buried by
the command of the state and with
military honors.
He died seemingly unconscious of his
highest gifts, and, negligent OF his lit
erary fame, left little behind by which
he could be remeinbered-but that
little of such transcendent merit that
It has fixed the name OF O'Hara in his
tory. S
But two OF his poems have been pre-
served-one entitled .tThe Biyouac oi
the Dead, !" and one, ga Dirge for
Brave Old Pioneer Upon the first
named rests the poets claim for i'm.
mortality. 1t was written to commem
crate the death of his comrades IL
Mexico, and was read by him on thu !
occasion of their burial in the plot o
ground set apart by the state for thsiI
reception in the cemetery at Frankfort
The mnff1ed drum's sad roll has beat
The soldiers last tattoo:
No more on ltfe's parade shall meet
That brave and gallant few,
On Fame,s eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread.
But Glory guards, with solemn round IA
The bivouao OF the dead.
O'Hara himself lies in tfslt eternal
camping ground, ? and !.
Honor points the hallowed spot
Where valor proudly sleeps.
e He is lovingly remembered by all
who knew him. He was by mature
generous. warm hearted, brave and I'm.
pnlsive; his mind was well stored with
facts and bright with the recollectionA
Of many adventures. In conversation
he was very happy and in peace or
war he was the soul OF the company by
which he was surrounded. His syas
sensitive and refined nature, and II lss
said that in him hundred accom- rlish.
ments were joined, unsullied by one
tinge OF vanity or shadow Of ostenta.
ton. OF him we may quote the lines
( he read over the graves of those brave
ones whose gallant deeds he enulated;,
Nor wreck, nor change, nor wintsr't
blight,
Nor Time is rem morseless doom
Shall dim one ray OF glory's light
lG That gflds YOUR deathless tomb eesss