During the Civil War, General John M. Thayer provided a description of Lew Wallace and his favorite horse, Old John. I shall never forget the splendid picture the man and scene presented. The sun was barely rising of a cold, frosty morning. General Wallace was a princely figure, particularly in […]
Old John
5 posts
So what did we find this weekend during this spring’s History Beneath Us excavation? Probably the most dramatic find was the metal vessel – bowl, pot, chamber pot, pitcher, whatever. The crew removed it from the ground and have taken it back to the lab at the University of Indianapolis […]
The crew and public started excavating what may be Old John’s grave. The late start due to morning rain held up progress a little, but the crew still opened two units and in the screens found glass and nails. This is one of the most active areas for members of […]
The crew from University of Indianapolis is here preparing for this weekend’s History Beneath Us public archaeology program! One group of UIndy students are removing the backfill from the initial excavation of the reflecting pool so that they can begin digging where they left off in September. Dr. Christopher Moore, […]
Where is the grave of Old John? Local lore has it that Lew Wallace buried his favorite horse, named John, somewhere on the grounds. Last fall, surveyer Jim Swift brought out ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to investigate the southwestern corner of the grounds, where many people remember there being a marker […]