George Washington Helms

In 1860 he was a 21 year old farm worker at Erin in the Line Creek District, Spalding County, GA. He enlisted as a Private in Company E, 53rd Georgia Infantry on 3 May 1862 in Newton County, GA.

He was wounded in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862.

He was wounded again, shot through the chest and in the leg at Gettysburg, PA in July 1863, left behind, and captured on 5 July. He was treated at the US Army General Hospital in Chester, PA to the end of July. He had been paroled and was in a CS hospital in Petersburg on 20 August 1863, and was furloughed on 28 August. He died of his wound in Spalding County, GA on 30 September 1864.

His service from the Roster 1 and his Compiled Service Records,2 online via fold3. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860; at which time he was living with wife Rhoda and 2 year old daughter Mary, a few doors from his widowed mother Mary McGuirt Helms.

He married Rhoda Ann Akins (1834-1888) and they had 2 daughters: Mary Elizabeth (1858-) and Martha Georgiana Ann (1862-1936).

03/18/1839; Pike County, GA

09/30/1864; Griffin, GA