The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-10
ANNIVERSARY OF
LEWIS WALLACE
EIGHTY-TWO YEARS ASo TODAY
NOTED FIGHTER AND Nov
ELlST WAS Bo2n.
Served With Cree'it in Both Mexican
and Civil War Wrote dos. Pop
uIar Religious Novel,.

Lewis Wallace, soldier and author
was born at Brookville, Franklin
county, Ind, April 10, 1927. Ten years
after his birth his father David Wal
lace, was elected governor. His
mother was the daughter of Judge
Test, man who played an important
part in the early judicial history of
Indiana.
School life did not suit young Lewis.
His father used to say he had paid
Lewis tuition sixteen years and he
had hardly gone one. He tried his best,
but could not succeed in putting him
through college. He was, however,
passionately fond of reading. Had his
talent for drawing and painting, which
he showed at an early age, been Gull
tivated, he might have been an artist.
He was prankish youth He wore
in those days white oilcloth cap,
and when taken to church against his
WILL he was apt to decorate the crown
with striking likenesses of the preach
err and various members of the con-
gregation He studied law in his
fathers office after leaving college.
Being admitted to the bar, he prac-
ticed irregularly for number OF
years, but he never expressed
strong liking to the profession.
He took part in both Mexican and
civil wars In the Mexican war he
attained the rank Of first lieutenant,
and in the civil war he rose to adju-
tant- general In 1861 he was adju-
tant- general of the state, but he re-
signed this office for commission as
colonel of the Eleventh Indiana infan-
try. Upon the departure of the regi-
ment the ladies presented it with
handsome stand of colors. Colonel
Wallace on receiving it. raised his
hand and cried, "Now remember
Buena Vista, boys, and on your knees
let us swear to defend this flag with
the last drop of your blood Then
as he Kneeled himself" says an eye
witness, 'the whole regiment with the
same unanimity as when on drill,
dropped to their knees as If but one
man. Raising his right hand the colo
mel said with solemn voice, We pledge
ourselves before God and these our
fellow countrymen, to defend this flag
with our lives, and die for it if neces-
sary, God being our helper, Amen
solemn amen came in one breath
from the regiment, and suppressed
sob from the majority OF the bystand-
erS echoed it.
In the field his services were con-
spicuous and valuable. At the capture
of Fort DonelsOn he led division,
being the first federal officer of high
rank to enter the fort. His gallant
fighting on the second day at the bat
tie of Shiloh gave him a good part o.
the credit for the victory. Despite the
fact that he was a rigid disciplinarlan,
he was a great favorite among the
men. The following anecdote is told
in illustration of his strictness: While |
in camp near Pittsburg Landing, one
day he met four of his men carrying |
to their tent half an OK which they
had appropriated. He ordered as a
punishment, each of the men by |
turns to carry the carcass on his
shoulder around a tree in the broiling |
hot sun for an hour at time. The
next day he compelled them to fan ii |
to keep off the flies, and the third day |
to bury it with suitable hOnors.
He served after the war, on the
commission before which the assassins
of Lincoln were tried. He was a MEM !
Der of the returning board in Florida |
in 1876, and was governor of New
Mexico from 1S78-18S1. In 1875
he was United States Minister to Tur-
key. He made his home at Cranfords- |
vile, Ind, after his return, and en-
gagged in literary work. His fame will
live long for he is the author of what
is acknowledged to be the most popu-
lar religious romance in the English
language, ben Hur." Within ten
years after it's appearance over 100000
copies were sold, and it has been
translated into many foreign lam
guages. He also wrote "A Fair God"
1873, tale Of Aztec Mexico, upon
which he worked at intervals during
20 years and the prince of India"