The Washington herald., 1906-12-01
STATUE OF GEN. WALLACE.
should Have Place in statuary Hall,
Indianians Say.

Editor The Washington Herald.
4 movement has been started by the
comrades OF Gen. Lew Wallace here in
Washington TO have placed in Statuary
Ran statue Of the great Indianian. Capt.
John = Megrew, commander Of the Capt.
tol police. who was one Of WaIlace's cap
tains, originated the proposition here.
and after n conference with several ex-
members of the Eleventh Indiana, Of
which Wallace was the first colonel. IL
was was concluded that their chief should
have the honor Of a place by the side OF
Morton.
When the war Of the rebellion was i'm
minent Wallace hurried 10 the State cap
itaI TO confer with the great war gov
ernor. and was asked TO accept the place
of adjutant general While holding this
office he applied his experience as a sol
dier Of the Mexican war TO the formation
Of volunteers into military shape, and it
is claimed that his experience, coupled
with his exalted patriotism, did more 10
intecl the sGldierly spirit into the Hoosier
soldiers OF the republic for which they
were famed. than the efforts of any other
man He marched away 20 the front,
commanding his regiment and from that
time his name formed a salient part OF
the history Of the war for the supremacy
OF the flag 1t is claimed that his stand
az Monocacy prevented the sacking OF
the Capital Of the nation, and that claim
can hardly be overridden. Wallace was
equally as forcible In holding the place of
major general as he was in the primary
organization of raw recl uits at the be-
ginning Of the great war.
After the rebellion had been conquered
Wallace was clrosen TO watch the in
fringement Of the Monroe doctrine. on
the border of Mexico, and history in
forms US that his efforts did more to re-
sist the persistent assaults upon that un-
written law than has been accorded him.
In word he was the greatest soldier In
diana ever produced.
1t seems proper to print a brief history
of this wonderful man. which will ex-
hibit a record unequaled, perhaps, by any
other Indianian.
Born at Brookville. Franklin County.
Indiana, April 10, 1877; began the study
of law;-seTved in the Mexican war, sec
ond lieutenant. Company II. First Indiana
Infantry; located in C0vington, and later
in Charlottesville Ind; in the year 1852
married Susan Arnold Elston; adjutant
general Of his State and colonel Of the
Eleventh Indiana Volunteers: served in
West Virginia: brigadier general Septem-
Der 8. 1861; commanded a division at Don
elsOn; major general March q, 1852:
commanded division at Shiloh; prepared
defenses Of Cincinnati in 1853, and saved
that town from capture by Kirby Smith:
later commanded the Middle Department
and Eight Army Corps; intercepted march
of Early on Washington at Monocacy,
and saved the Capital from capture July
9. 1854; was second member of the court
that tried the Lincoln murdere<s. and
president Of the court-martial which
properly hung Wirz. of Andersonville
atrocities; governor of New Mexico. 1873
81; United States Minister to Turkey.
ISIS; author of Ben Hur," a tale of the
Christ, "The Fair God" an Aztec
story; THE Prince of India, The Boy
hood of Christ, Life of Benjamin Harri-
son. The Wooing of Malkatoon," and
other books of Importance.
Had Wallace accomplished little else
than the production of those incompara-
BILE stories OF Ben HGr" and THE Prince
of India" his fame would be well-nigh
complete. His scholarly, unique presenta-
tion Of THE Christ has probably been
read by more thoughtful readers than any
other book, save one, and that fact alone
should entitle him to a place in the Hall
of Fame in the nations Capitol
Indiana has hOnored its great governor
and Senator. The admirers Of its great
est soldier, author, and diplomat do not
fear analysis of their reasons for honor
ing Wallace, and they hope, with In
diana's sweetest singer, that he
Shall wear coOl-wreathen laurel, wrought
With crimson berries in the leaTes1'
and that the laurel shall be placed with
the other immortals in the Capitol he
saved from destruction.
II EDWARD A. KELLER.
Washingtors November %.