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To Lyman B. Todd1Jump to section
Lexington Ky October 15th. 1863
I send the following pass to your care A. LINCOLN
``Washington D.C.
``To whom it may concern Oct 15th. 63
Allow Mrs Robert S. Todd, widow, to go south and bring her daughter, Mrs Genl B. Hardin Helm, with her children, North to Kentucky. ``signed'' A. LINCOLN''
Annotation
[1] LS, RPB. This telegram has been reproduced as nearly as possible to the original but requires some description because of emendations made by the War Department in the effort to make the copy received at Lexington more suitable. Lincoln's autograph signature to the first portion was deleted but replaced. Quotation marks and the date line were added to the second part and ``signed'' inserted before Lincoln's second autograph signature. No communication from Lyman B. Todd requesting the pass has been located, but a letter from E. M. Bruce, Madison, Georgia, October 6, 1863, reads as follows:
``At the instance of Mrs. E. T. Helm it becomes my painful duty to announce to you the death of General Ben. Hardin Helm---your Brother-in-law. . . . Mrs. Helm is crushed by the blow---almost broken hearted---, and desires to return to her mother and friends in Kentucky---indeed, this is a necessity as you must be aware that her means are very small, and expenses of living in the South much more than in the United States---she is now at my home in this place---, and it will afford me pleasure to minister to her wants and comfort so long as it may be agreeable for her to remain under my roof; mean time she asks that you order the War department to send her a pass to enter the Federal truce Boat at City Point---and would suggest that you send triplicates, say, one to me here, one to care Col Wm Preston Johnston, Richmond, and one to Mrs. Helm here by different Boats.
``Would also be obliged if you would send at the same time a pass for Mrs. Bruce and her sister---Mrs Hutchinson---to accompany Mrs. Helm, to Kentucky, their father having recently died leaving mother in a very desolate condition. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).
On October 11, John L. Helm, Elizabethtown, wrote to Mrs. Robert S. Todd, Lexington, Kentucky: ``It is due to you that I announce the death of my son. He fell in the battle south of Chattanooga I have unquestionable information. He was buried at Atlanta. It is probable Emilie was there. Could you through friends or by your own relationship secure for Emilie a passport home. . . . I am totally at a loss to know how to begin. Could you or one of your daughters write to Mrs. Lincoln and through her secure a pass?'' (Katherine Helm, Mary, Wife of Lincoln, p. 219).
See further, Lincoln to Todd, October 31, infra.