The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-16

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The Late General Lew Wallace.
one of the most important events in
the career of General Wallace was the
period Immediately following the close
of the civil war. when he was sent to
Mexico as tn secret agent of the gov
eminent 20 aid the Mexicans in their
fight against the French under Maxi
milan. The close of the war had left
the country IL such an unsettled condi--
ton that ii was not advisable 10 risk
war with France over the attempted
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Mexican territory by
Macmillan. who was backed by Louis
NAPOLEON without the knowledge of
Secretary Seward, General Wallace was
sent by General Grant to consult with
General Jaurez, the Mexican president
to see if some way could not be devils
ed whereby the United States could as
sist Mexico When General Wallace ar
rived at Chihuahua he found General
Jaurez with few troops and no arms
st the same time every indication
pointed to the success of Macmillan.
A fter the consai. alton between General
Wallace and General Jaurez, the COVER
nor of Tamaulipas was ordered by
Jaurez 70 accompany General Wallace
back to the United States. In company
with Matias Romero, the Mexican min
lister to Washington, $5,O0O,OOO worth OF
Winchester rifles, cannon, and other
munitions of war were bought and paid
for WITH Mexican government bonds.
These were quietly shipped to the
mouth of tie Rio Grande and passed on
to the Mexican troops. From then on
the tide turned, and the Mexicans fin
ally conquered.
During the administration of Presi-
dent HAYES General Wallace was ap-
pointed territorial governor Of New
Mexico After many stormy scenes in
which he was almost constantly IN per
sonal danger, General Wallace succeed
ed in eradicatinS the bad man ana
,aetorfnc tho country to a very good !
semblance of order -.
fSr,e,sss had man Billy the Kid was
killed. Billy the Kid had been captured I
He was known to have killed twenty-one |
men, and q. heavy reward was omered TOT
his capture, dead or alive. THE Kid was |
bold and sent word to General Wallace |
that he would never be captured Finally /
after many exciting escapes me c aesps4tt-
sheriff of Lincoln county Garrett re-
crived the rewards, which aggregated sew
eral thousand dollars, and Went TO Europe
When the first call for soldiers for the
civil war came. General Wallace was ap-
pointed by Governor Morton adjutant gen
eraI of the state. OF the Indiana reg1- l
ments the first to be ready for service
was tho Eleventh Indiana infantry, of |
which General Wallace had been ap-
During the Mexican war Jefferson Da-
Wis, the same who was later president. OF .
the confederacy, had while acting as
in an official report in which the Second /
Indiana regiment had been accused of
Vista The report ranked in the mind
Of General Wallace. When the Eleventh I
Indiana was about 70 start for the front
in the rebellion, General WaLace ao-
dressed the soldiers of his regiment;
Boys" he said, I'VE are soon TO depart
for the seat of war to discharge a patrl-
otto duty. but before we go want to re-
mind you that it has been charged by the
official reports that during the Mexican
war part of the Second Indiana reg1-
men ran during the battle of Buena vista
want you to kneel down and swear to
remember Buena Vista and Jen Davis"
Before the old state house at Indian
apolis every soldier of the regiment knelt,
and with appraised hands swore. full and
strong, to remember Buena Vista and
Jeff Davis. remember Buena VISTA
became the battle cry of the regiment,
shouted at critical times on many nard
fought field. :.
one bitter dreg in all the overlooking cup
OF honors showered upon this illustrious
At the battle of Shiloh in 1853. Wallace
commanded the third division of the army
ing. six miles below Pittsburg Landing,
at which the unexpected and fierce as
SAut q ihe conIeueraxe army unuel
General Albert Sydney Johnston, threat
ened dire defeat to the unprepared federal
About II o'clock on the morning of SUM-
day. April 6, an orderly came from Cen
aral Grant with orders for General Wal
ace's division to go to the federal right.
In going to the federal right Wallace took
MS troops along what was known as the
Purday road. This was road which had
previously been selected and prepared for
The movement of troops by General Wal
Illinois soldier now dead. After march ;
1t several miles. Wallace's division came
70 a point WITHIN a mile of where General
with the federal right, should
have been. only to find that the federal
troops had been al iven back. 1t then
became necessary for General Wallace to
axe his division back to cross road ,
md lead them To what was known as the
Yer road The division. from II D clock ,
n the morning 10 o'clock at night Gov
ared p miles. and did not participate in
he first days battle.
General Grant Insisted that he had sent
orders to General Wallace to advance 5y I
ne river road. which should have brought q
lin to the battlefield within a few hours |
aces division reacing the battlefield the
ederal casualties had been greatly in
reused.
In his memoirs General Grant referred
o the incident in a way which to great :
xtent removed the blame from General !
Wallace.
General Wallace was commander of the '
erms. He was also member of the h
irand Army He was also a member of Z
he commission that tried the assassins of 4
resident Lincoln Practically every :.
pooh of the country's history from the !
deXican war to the time when he ended l;
lis service as minister to Turkey has been I
marked indelibly with the imprint of his Il
lustrious service. I,
Don't wait until your blood is irnpover-
shed and you are sick and ailfnR h114
AXE HOLSTERS Rocky Mountain Tea II