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Meet Lew Wallace: The Soldier
Soldier | Governor | Author | Ambassador | His Words | Genealogy
"I never heard music as fascinating and grand as that of battle."
The military was a passion of Wallace’s that developed early in his life. His father, David, was a West Point graduate. When young Wallace was growing up in Covington, Indiana near the Indiana-Illinois border, there was a fear that the community might come under attack by Chief Black Hawk and his Indian confederation. Wallace became fascinated watching his father prepare the citizens with military drills in the event Black Hawk ever ventured into Indiana.
Lew Wallace’s first military experience came with a militia unit at Indianapolis known as the "City Greys." He was elected second sergeant of the company while still a teenager. When the Mexican War began, he recruited and organized what became Company H, 1st Indiana Volunteer Infantry and entered the service on June 18, 1846, as a 2nd Lieutenant and was mustered out June 14, 1847. In 1856 he recruited a company of men in Montgomery County, Indiana, known as the "Montgomery Guards" and was captain of the unit and authored their manual of arms.
In April of 1861, Lew received an appointment from Indiana Governor Oliver P. Morton as Adjutant General of Indiana. He organized the first six regiments from Indiana to serve in the Civil War. After resigning that position he was commissioned Colonel of the 11th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry for a three-month enlistment. The 11th Indiana was mustered in April 25, 1861. The 11th Indiana was first assigned to picket the Ohio River near Evansville, but on June 7 was ordered to West Virginia. They routed Confederate troops at Romney, Virginia, and on June 13, his men fought a skirmish at Kelly’s Island on the Potomac River. The unit then joined Patterson’s Army in operations against Winchester, Virginia. They were mustered out at Indianapolis, August 2, 1861. Wallace re-enlisted for three years and re-organized the 11th, which was assigned to Paducah, Kentucky.
Wallace was promoted to Brigadier-General of U.S. Volunteers on September 3, 1861 "for meritorious services in West Virginia." In command of the Third Division of the Army of the Tennessee from February to June 1862, he participated in operations along the Cumberland River in Tennessee and was instrumental at the battle of Fort Donelson. As a result of his actions at Fort Donelson, Wallace was promoted to Major-General of U.S. Volunteers on March 21, 1862.
"Battle has a fascination which draws men as birds are said to be drawn by serpents. They listen; then wish to see; lingering upon the edge, they catch its spirit, and finally thrill with fierce delight to find themselves within the heat and fury of its deadly circle."
He commanded the Third Division during the Battle of Shiloh on April 6 & 7, 1862. After Shiloh, Wallace continued his command during the advance and siege of Corinth, Mississippi, and was in command briefly at Memphis, Tennessee. In September 1862, he was sent to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he organized a civilian defense to withstand an attack by Gen. Kirby Smith. Due to his strong fortifications, Kirby Smith chose not to attack the city. On November 20, 1862, General Wallace was assigned to duty as president of the Buell Commission, which investigated the operations of the army under Union General Don Carlos Buell in Kentucky and Tennessee. On March 22, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln asked that Gen. Lew Wallace be appointed to command the 8th Army Corps and Middle Department, headquartered at Baltimore, Maryland. On July 9, 1864, he fought the Battle at Monocacy, which is said to have saved the city of Washington, D.C.
From February to April 1865 he was detached on a secret service assignment to Mexico where he was to investigate reports of Confederates attempts to continue their fight south of the border. Wallace was also to make contact with Benito Juarez, who was fighting for Mexican Independence from the French. After the Civil War, Wallace would sell Juarez arms to help continue the Mexicans’ fight.
On April 1, 1865, Wallace was assigned as second officer of the military court, which tried those involved in the assassination plot against President Lincoln. In August of 1865, Wallace was assigned to duty as President of the military court for the trial of Henry Wirz, commandant of Andersonville Prison. Wallace resigned his commission on November 30, 1865, honorably discharged from the service.
In 1898 General Wallace tried to re-enter the military one last time. At the age of seventy-one, he volunteered for service in the Spanish-American War. He was turned down due to his age. |
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