Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 19.djvu/286

 280 Southern Historical Society Papers.

an editor he was kept busy pretty much all of the time. In Ken- tucky Mr. Prentice was looked upon as the poet, and O'Hara's bril- liant production flashed like a meteor over the State. It satisfies in every respect, and may be pronounced perfect.

Colonel O'Hara was born near Danville, Ky., on the nth of Feb- ruary, 1820, and graduated at St. Joseph College, Bardstown. For a time he was editor of the Mobile Register, and afterward editorially connected with the Louisville Times and the Frankfort Yeoman. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1845. He made several addresses in Kentucky which were well received, and he be- came known as an orator of much eloquence. His speeches were prepared with great care, and evinced close acquaintance with the best American models. His diction was flowery and at the same time clear, giving his hearers to understand that he had studied the matter in hand in all of its bearings, and was able to throw light upon it. It was always pleasant to hear him speak, as he was never loud, harsh or unkind. He believed in several things with the utmost intensity, but never wished to push his views upon the minds of others, where they were not wanted. He had been reared with great care, and his kind disposition made him many friends. His father had laid out a broad career for him, and instilled in his mind noble senti- ments of truth and honor. He was quite indifferent about money matters, perhaps too much so for his own good, in these days when money is such a power in the land. He was content to let life run on, taking little heed of the future.

Colonel O'Hara resigned his commission December i, 1856, and returned to Kentucky, where he remained a short time, and then went to Washington city. He subsequently went to Alabama, and when the civil war broke out became lieutenant-colonel of the Twelfth Regiment of Alabama Volunteers, and served under his old commander, General Albert Sydney Johnston. There seems always to have been a feeling of warm friendship between these two men, and Colonel O'Hara was very near General Johnston when the latter was fatally struck by a bullet at the battle of Shiloh. He helped him off his horse, and did what he could for him, but it availed nothing, as the general died in a short time, no surgeon being readily found on the field. With the death of his chief, O'Hara lost one of his most influential friends. Later he served as inspector-general for some time, being thorough in his work and performing it conscientiously. He was acting adjutant-general for Major-General John C. Breckin-