From collection Member List
Lewis Wallace (April 10, 1827 – February 15, 1905) was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, governor of New Mexico Territory, politician, diplomat, artist, and author from Indiana. Among his novels and biographies, Wallace is best known for his historical adventure story, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880), a bestselling novel that has been called "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century."[1]
Wallace's military career included service in the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. He was appointed Indiana's adjutant general and commanded the 11th Indiana Infantry Regiment. Wallace, who attained the rank of major general, participated in the Battle of Fort Donelson, the Battle of Shiloh, and the Battle of Monocacy. He also served on the military commission for the trials of the Lincoln assassination conspirators, and presided over the trial of Henry Wirz, the Confederate commandant of the Andersonville prison camp.
Wallace resigned from the U.S. Army in November 1865 and briefly served as a major general in the Mexican Army, before returning to the United States. Wallace was appointed governor of the New Mexico Territory (1878–1881) and served as U.S. minister to the Ottoman Empire (1881–1885). Wallace retired to his home in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he continued to write until his death in 1905.
Military Service:
Adjutant general of Indiana 1861. April 1861 Colonel, 11th Indiana; in West Virginia. September 3, 1861 appointed brigadier general, Fort Donelson. March 21, 1862 promoted major general; commanded 3rd Division at Shiloh. Commander of 8th Corps at Baltimore. Delayed General J. A. Early at Monocacy, saving Washington from capture. Member of the military commission which tried the Lincoln conspirators; president of court-martial of Henry Wirz (Andersonville commandant).
Fraternity Service:
Archon President of Phi Gamma Delta from 1898 to 1900. Initiated at DePauw, January 10, 1868. [Photo, Carlisle, uniformed]
Additional Information
Archon President from 1898-1900 - Lew Wallace (DePauw initiate)
Archon President from 1898-1900 - Lew Wallace (DePauw initiate).
Elected Archon President on October 18, 1898
Admitted to the bar at an early age
Served in the Mexican War as a Second Lieutenant
Wrote the "Fair God"
Elected member of Indiana State's Senate
Served for the Union Army in the Civil War and rose to the rank of Major-General
Appointed Governor of New Mexico in 1878
Wrote "Ben Hur" in 1880
Served as Minister to Turkey
Served as Minister to Constantinople
Served as Charge d' Affairs to Paraguay and Uruguay
Charter member of Phi Beta Kappa at DePauw University
A statue of him stands in the Statuary Hall of the Capitol in Washington D.C.
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State senate 1857-1859, US Senate candidate 1897, US Congress candidate 1870, Indiana; Territorial Governor 1878-1881, New Mexico Territory; US Minister to Turkey 1881-1885.
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from the DAR:
Crawfordsville IN. Born April 10, 1827, Brookville IN. Attended Wabash College. Initiated by Lambda Chapter as a graduate, January 10, 1868. Fought in Mexican War. State senate 1857-59. Adjutant general of Indiana 1861. April 1861 Colonel, 11th Indiana; in West Virginia. September 3, 1861 appointed brigadier general, Fort Donelson. March 21, 1862 promoted major general; commanded 3rd Division at Shiloh. Commander of 8th Corps at Baltimore. Delayed General J. A. Early at Monocacy, saving Washington from capture. Member of the military commission which tried the Lincoln conspirators; president of court-martial of Henry Wirtz (Andersonville commandant). US Congress candidate 1870. Territorial Governor 1878-1881, New Mexico Territory; US Minister to Turkey 1881-85.Author, The Prince of India and Ben Hur. US Senate candidate 1897. Archon President of Phi Gamma Delta from 1898 to 1900.
