"All of my research doesn't support desertion. It proves he went AWOLn and was tried on charges before an illegal court-martial," said Bobbie Reno. He was sent to the provost marshal jail at Greenbush Cantonment, a major Army base during the War of 1812, where some 4,000 soldiers were housed and trained.
Samuel Helms always intended to return and was not running from military services as the desertion charges indicated. War of 1812 records show that he was listed as AWOL on October 2, 1812, and he was back in camp and placed on muster rolls on October 22, 1812.
It appears that Private Helms became an example for what would happen to deserters.
Helmswas ordered to be tried in July 1813 at Greenbush Cantonment for desertion. he was convicted and executed by firing squad in either late August 1813 or early September 1813. Reno says she believes he was buried in an unmarked grave somewhere on the grounds of the cantonment, perhps at the school fields.
With the 210th anniversary of his execution coming up this year, Reno said, "I thought it might be a good thing to go to the governor."
(Hopefully, the governor will clear Private Helms' name.)
--Brock-Perry
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