Benjamin Hardin Helm

Infobox Military Person
name=Benjamin Hardin Helm
born= Birth date|1831|6|2
died= death date and age|1863|9|21|1831|6|2
placeofburial=


caption=Benjamin Hardin Helm as a Confederate Officer
placeofbirth=Bardstown, Kentucky
placeofdeath=Chickamauga, Georgia
allegiance=Confederate States of America
serviceyears=1861 – 1863
rank=Brigadier General
commands=1st Kentucky "Orphans" Brigade, CSA

Benjamin Hardin Helm (June 2, 1831 – September 21, 1863 [Eicher, p. 293; Warner, p. 133.] ) 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.

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. [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8925 Benjamin H. Helm's Find a Grave page] accessed September 29, 2006]

In 1856, Helm married Emilie Todd, the half-sister of Mary Todd Lincoln. Helm was a cousin-in-law of U.S. General and Congressman John Blair Smith Todd.

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 September 29, 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. [ "Emilie Todd Helm" available online at [http://mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/content_inside.asp?ID=23&subjectID=2| Mr. Lincoln's White House] Accessed September 29, 2006]

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

Persondata
NAME= Helm, Benjamin Hardin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Confederate Army general
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=