The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-08
GENERAL LEW WALLACE
A LITTLE REVIEW OF THE INDIAN
IAN's MILITARY CAREER.
His Part I'm the Civil War Was Impor-
GaIlantry - Shiloh Episode.

Giles or the East. his latest triumph ADDS
another distinction TO the numerous
achievements and the varied accomplish
ments Of a ~many-sided man. Competent
dramatic critics nave literally bestowed
all sorts of compliments upon the artistic
conception and the fine regard for detail
apparent in the staging Of this production.
The demand for tickets cannot be satisfied.
An Indianapolis paper stated, recently.
that every seat at the Broadway Theater
had been reserved for weeks in advance.
Thus, both from the artistic and the finan-
ciaI point of view, the spectacular repre-
sentation of 1.-The Tale of the Christ is a
pronounced success.
Among the group of men now living who
have attained TO positions of eminence,
Gen. Lew Wallace stands as a conspicuous
representative of that class who are ma
tives of Indiana While the composition of
'Ben-Hur'' brought fame and fortune to
its author, it cannot be truthfully said
that his whole Importance resides in his
pen." An examination Of the career of this
distinguished novelist reveals a man pos
sessing rare versatility and attachments,
whose energy and talents adorn and en-
rich many departments of professional
life. Whether as lawyer. as soldier. as
diplomat, as politician, or as a novelist, he
takes high rank.
Lew Wallace was born in franklin coun-
was Governor of Indiana from 1897 to 1910.
The son studied law and began practice in
Charlottesville He was commissioned a
lieutenant and served in the war with
Mexico in a regiment of Indiana volun-
&@z-- 49, H. - -sx- c.
ate. Shortly after the civil war broke out
he was commissioned colonel of the Elev-
enth Indiana Volunteers. This regiment
was recruited and organized by Wallace.
1t was made up OF the best blood and ami
nation of this section of the State. The
regiment was stationed at Evansville early
in 1861, to prevent supplies from being sent
down the Ohio river to the South.
THE DASH ON ROMNEY.
On June 6, 1861. Colonel Wallace, with
his command, was ordered to join General
Patterson, at Cumberland, Md. On the
evening of the 9th the regiment had
reached its destination. There they
learned of a force of 100 Confederates, a
short distance south of Cumberland, at
Romney, Va. Wallace resolved to move
at once against this force, and, under his
personal direction, there began what Los
sing describes as zone of the most i'm
portant Of the earlier military operations
of the late civil war, i'm it's moral effect"
Wallace took 500 of his men, and led by
competent scouts along a rough and un-
even mountain road, INSTRUCTED with
stumps and rocks. made a night march,
arriving at a point near Romney by s
o'clock on the evening of the 18th. The ad-
vance guard was fired upon by the Con-
federate pickets while in a narrow pass
near the town. The Indianians drove the
enemy from a bluff near the village, where
they were camped, capturing their battery
and scattering the Confederates in every
direction. Wallace then returned to Cum
berland, having Travelled with his men a
distance of eighty-seven miles, without
rest. in a space of twenty-four hours, part
of the time engaged in brisk skirmishes.
1.-The indomitable energy, skill and spirit
displayed In this dash on Romney,'' saws
LOSING. had a salutary effect. and made
the insurgents in all that region more eau
tious and circumspect." General Joseph E.
Johnston. with a strong force, was at Har-
per's ferry at the time of this sortie of the
lndianians. Suspecting that wallace's
men were the ~fererunners of a much larger
army. who were advancing on him, John
ston took to his heels and moved up to
Winchester. in the Shenandoah valley.
When Wallace and his regiment fell back
10 Cumberland, after their exploit around
Romney, the Confederates, four thousand
strong, under Colonel Mcdonald. pushed
on to New Creek and destroyed the Balti-
more e. Ohio Railroad bridge which
spanned the stream there. They thus cut
off communication between Cumberland
and Grafton, which threw Wallace upon
his own resource. He had neither artillery
nor cavalry, and his men had but twenty
one rounds of cartridges apiece. The Con-
federates had artillery, cavalry and In
fantry- Wallace planned a retreat to Bed
ford, Pa, In case he was attacked. He sent
his sick and baggage on ahead. and then
led his regiment out on the same road
At a short distance out he halted. changed
front and prepared for battle. The Con-
federates. halted within five miles of the
town, and Wallace retired to Cumberland.
Here the Governor of Pennsylvania re-
inforced the Indianians with two regi-
inents OF pennsylvania reserves, for use
~ 'hey SHOULD De attacked. The Indiana
regiment protected the railroad for about
one hundred miles. squads of men often
engaging In terrific hand-to-hand encoun.
tiers with the enemy, while in the perform-
ance of this duty. In consideration of his
services in this region Colonel Wallace was
rewarded by his promotion to brigadier
general.
AT FORT DONELSON.
February. 1862. found Brigadier General
wallace in of a brigade of Gen.
G. +. Smiths division. He, with $500 men.
had been left to guard Forts Henry and
Heiman while the rest of the troops under
General Grant were concentrating i'm front
of Fort Donelson. Until the arrival of
Wallace and Colonel Thayer on the 18th the
Union troops around Fort Donelson con-
sisted of 5000 men, confronting an in
trenched force of q. 600 Confederates. On
this date General Grant put Wallace i'm
of a division composed of the
brigade of Colonel Thayer and other re-
Inducements that had arrived the same
day Wallace's division was assigned to
the center of the line. between those of
McClernand and Smith. BY this time the
investment OF the fort was completed. The
bombardment was begun In the afternoon
by four amored gunboats. eomnrisinc a