OCR Text |
Show A FRIEND OF LINCOLN'S. HE FELL ON THE FIELD OF CHICAAMAUGA. A Tount Ktatarilaa Wko Thrmt Hoaor aad trior? Away fro at Hid A Boat t Affix ttoa Bftwtta Liai-ola aad la Toaaf Saa. The story of President Lincoln's confederate brother-in-law is one of the most interesting and pathetic .'n all our war history, says the Louisville Louis-ville Courier Journal. It is full of the pathos of friendships broken and divided lives. The two were devotedly attached to one another; their friendship friend-ship was like that of David and Jonathan. Jona-than. The story is worth telling now. Ben Hardin Helm was born in 1831. His father, Hon. John L. Helm, was a prominent lawyer and politician, once governor of the state. His son, named for his maternal grandfather, was sent to West Point He graduated in 1801. and was unsigned to the Second dragoons. He only remained in the service a year, and then resigned to enter upon the practice of law. Young Helm was known as a rising young lawyer all over tho stato. Ho was elected to the legislature and made a creditable member. Ho married Miss Todd, and a year thereafter made a visit to Illinois, where he first met his brother-in-law, Abraham Lincoln. They formed then and there a friendship friend-ship which vras more like the affection of brothers than an ordinary liking between men. Helm fully appreciated the kindly nature, the quaint wit and force of expression of Abraham Lincoln, Lin-coln, while tho other formed a deep attachment for the thoughtful, scholarly, schol-arly, handsome, and polished grandson grand-son of old Ben Hardin, whoso son had been the contemporary and friend of Lincoln years before. When Mr. Lincoln became president, one of his first thoughts was, "What can I do for Ben Helm?" It must have been about the middle of April, 1801, when, in response to a cordial personal letter of invitation. Helm came to Washington to visit his Lincoln would have given nelm almost al-most anything in his gift to have kept biro from going south. Sumter had been fired on, and the first call for Vj.OOO men was made. I will go home," said Helm, to the president, "and answer you from there. The position you offer me is beyond what I had expected in- my most hopeful dream. It is the place above all others which suits me." "Lincoln" said Helm, with a tremulous tremu-lous voice, "you have been kind and generous to me beyond anything I have known. I havo no claim upon you, for I opposed your candidacy, and did what I could for the election of another, but with no unkind feeling toward you. I wish I could see ray way. I will try to do what is right. Don't let this offer be mado public yet. You shall have my answer in a very few days." (ieneral Helm told a very dear friend all this, and added that he could have had tho commission of a brigadier general ol volunteers in the three months' service, retaining his rank in the regular army as major besides. "I nevor hud such a struggle," said Gen. Helm, long afterward. "Tho ideal career was before me. Tho highest positions in the profession I was educated for. were opened to me in ono day. I would not only bo tho youngest officer of my rank in the army, but could transfer at the earliest possible moment into one of the cavalry regiments. With the changes then occurring in them by resignation, I would certainly have been a full colonel within the year. Think what a career, what possibilities were opened open-ed to me! Then 1 could have been a general officer of volunteers besides. Such an opportunity rarely offers itself, it-self, and it almost killed me to decline." de-cline." f One can readily understand it Several years ago, while examining some papers in the war department, the writer came across a brief memorandum mem-orandum reading thus: "Helm, Bon Hardin, nominated for Paymaster in tho United States Army, April 27, 1861. Declined." He soon joined his neighbors in the confederate cause, and promotion after promotion followed until he becamo a full-fledged brigadier general, and on Sept 20, 1863, while leading his command com-mand against Thomas' corps, Holm was fatally wounded, and died on the morning of tho 21st "I never saw Mr. Lincoln raoro moved," said Senator Davis of Kentucky, Ken-tucky, "than when he heard of the death of his young brother-in-law, Ben Hardin Helm, only thirty-two years old, at Chickamauga. I callod to see him about 3 o'clock on the 22d of September, Sep-tember, 186;). I found him in the ...... greatest grief. 'Davis,' said he, 'I feel as David of old did when ho was told of the death of Absalom. Would to God I had died for thee, oh, Absalom, my son!' I saw how grief-stricken he was," said Senator Davis, in a tone full of memories, "so I closed the door" I and left him alone." brother-In-law. He was a strong southern rights Democrat, and a personal friend and follower of John C. Breckinridge. He did not doubt the good intentions of his brother-in-law, Mr. Lincoln, or his desire for peace, but he read the signs of the time aright, and felt that events and destiny would be too strong for any man. Helm fully appreciated the magnitude of the task before Mr. Lincoln. While here he saw a good deal of his old army comrades, and they were nearly all going south. Mr. Lincoln called Helm into his private office, and. handing him a sealed envelope, said: "Ben, here is something some-thing for you. Think it over by yourself, your-self, and lot me know what you will do." Going to his room. Helm opened the envelope. It contained his nomination nomi-nation to be pay-master in the United States army, with the rank of Major! Nothing in his life ever torched Helm like this. ' He knew the position was one of the most coveted In the service; that the rank of major at his age (thirty) was very exceptional in any army; that he could exchange into the line with any old major. In common j with all graduates of the military academy, some time in their lives. Helm had a strong desire to get back into the military service. Here was his opportunity, a chance brighter than ho had ever dreamed of! What should he do? He happened that very afternoon to meet Col. Robert E. Lee, just promoted to the command of the First cavalry, with whom he had some acquaintance. "Are you not well, Col. Lee?" said Helm, seeing he was under strong emotion of some kind. "Well in body, but not in miad." responded the stalely Virginian. He looked the soldier and gentlemen of the long lineage that he was. "I have just resigned my commission In the United States army," Lee continued. "In the prime of life, I quit a service wherein wore nil my expectations and hopes in this world!" Helm handed the let ter offering him the position of m;ijor and paymaster with rank from that date, to Col. L;e, who read it without a word, 'Did you know that Mr. Lincoln was my brother-in-law?" said Helm. "No, I did not," snid Col. Lee, but lot me say one word. I have no doubt of his (Lincoln's) kindly intentions, but he can not control the elements. There must be a great war. I can not strike at my own people, So to-day I wrote my resignation, and have asked Gen. Scott as a favor for its immediate acceptance. My mind is too much disturbed to give you any ndvice. But do what your conscience and honor bids. Good-by." And so they parted, never to meet again on earth. It is no wonder that Helm slept but little that night or theone following. Mr. LKcoln said not a word to him, and his wife did not know of Mr. Lincoln's offer to her husband. Helm was ambitious. He felt that with opportunity, op-portunity, to him might come a great reputation. He knew Chat Lincoln would need no urging to advance him whenever it was possible and proper to do so. Mrs. Helm was desirous of going abroad. She desired for her husband some diplomatic position that would give them an opportunity of seeing Europe, and living in good society. so-ciety. There is no doubt that Mr. |