BENJAMIN HARDIN HELM

'Benjamin Hardin Helm' (June 2 1831 – September 21 1863^[1]) was a Kentucky politician, attorney, Confederate brigadier general, and a brother-in-law of Abraham Lincoln. He was also the son of Kentucky Governor John L. Helm.

Contents

Early life

Civil War

Trivia

References

Notes

Early life

Benjamin Hardin Helm was born in Bardstown, Kentucky, to John L. Helm and Lucinda Barbour Hardin on June 2 1831. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1851, 9th in his class of 42 cadets. He was appointed a brevet second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Dragoons, but resigned his commission the following year, after serving at a cavalry school at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and at Fort Lincoln, Texas.
Following the resignation of his commission, Helm studied law, was elected a Kentucky state legislator for one term, and became the state's attorney for the 3rd district of Kentucky.^[2]
In 1856, Helm married Emilie Todd, the half-sister of Mary Todd Lincoln. As Kentucky's status in the American Civil War remained neutral in 1861, Helm was offered the job of Union Army paymaster by his brother-in-law, President Abraham Lincoln. He declined the job, instead returning to Kentucky to raise the 1st Kentucky Cavalry for the Confederate States of America.

Civil War

Helm was commissioned a colonel on October 19, 1861, and served under Brig. Gen. Simon B. Buckner in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Helm's group was then ordered south. He was promoted to brigadier general on March 14 1862, and was given command of the 1st Kentucky "Orphan" Brigade several months later."John LaRue Helm: Life and times of an Historic Kentuckian" Steven Lindsey. Available online at http://www.aths.com/johnLaRueHelm.html Accessed 29 September 2006
Helm maintained command of the Orphan Brigade through the Battle of Baton Rouge and with the brigade joined the Army of Tennessee, where he was with Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge throughout the Tullahoma and Chickamauga Campaigns in 1863, when he was mortally wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 20 1863. He died on the battlefield the following day, with his last word being "Victory." Following his death, Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln went into mourning at the White House, and allowed Emilie Todd Helm safe passage to the White House in December 1863.^[3]

Trivia

★ Benjamin Hardin Helm was also a cousin-in-law of U.S. General and Congressman John Blair Smith Todd.

★ One of the 1st Kentucky Artillery's 12-pound Napoleon guns was named "Lady Buckner" after his wife.

References

★ Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., ''Civil War High Commands'', Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

★ Warner, Ezra J., ''Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders'', Louisiana State University Press, 1959, ISBN 0-8071-0823-5.

Notes

1. Eicher, p. 293; Warner, p. 133.
2. Benjamin H. Helm's Find a Grave page accessed 29 September 2006
3. "Emilie Todd Helm" available online at Mr. Lincoln's White House Accessed 29 September 2006