What happened to Major General Lew Wallace at Shiloh?
US Civil War
Lew Wallace was the youngest Major General in the Union Army at the time of his appointment early in the Civil War, which is especially interesting since he never went to West Point. His father was a lawyer and served as Governor of Indiana, while his grandfather was a Circuit Court judge and congressman. Born in Indiana in 1827, Wallace possessed natural talents in writing and drawing. Although he studied law and briefly served as a second lieutenant during the Mexican War, he did not see any action. Subsequently, he ventured into various pursuits such as publishing a newspaper, practicing law, organizing a Zouave unit militia, and being elected as a state attorney. However, his book did not achieve success.
Civil War
The outbreak of the Civil War brought about significant changes in Wallace’s life. As a staunch supporter of the Union, he switched his party allegiance and demonstrated exceptional skills in recruitment. He served as Indiana’s adjutant general and eventually assumed command of a regiment, despite lacking formal military education. In June 1861, he led a successful skirmish, resulting in his promotion to brigadier general and the command of a brigade.
Although he did not participate in the battle, he was entrusted with the command of Fort Henry by General Henry Halleck as the Union advanced towards Fort Donelson. Despite Grant’s orders to remain on defense, Wallace took the initiative to launch a counterattack, preventing the enemy from escaping and reclaiming lost ground. His actions during the Battle of Fort Donelson earned him a promotion to major general at the age of 34.
Shiloh
Shiloh (April 6–7, 1862) was the place where Grant and Sherman came into their own, but it was almost the end of their careers. PGT Beauregard planned a surprise advance and attack at Pittsburg Landing, on the west bank of the Tennessee River. Exactly how involved Albert Sidney Johnston’s role in the planning of the battle has been a subject of controversy. Larry J Daniel argues that Johnston was ill-equipped for the task and lacked the necessary skills. The northern newspapers exaggerated the nature of the surprise at the time. Although there was no entrenchment, Sherman had received prior warning and some elements of the army quickly discovered the southern lines. Despite facing early setbacks, Sherman displayed remarkable tenacity and skill, proving to himself and others that he possessed the emotional and cognitive abilities required to lead an army.
Wallace’s division was at Crump’s Landing, five miles north of the Union line at the start of the battle.
When the battle opened, Grant took his steamboat, Tigress, south to Crump’s Landing, where he ordered Wallace to prepare his division to move, but did not specify the route to be taken. Wallace did not initiate the movement of his division until noon. He then marched his forces towards Sherman’s location, utilizing a road near the river. At 2:00 pm, a messenger informed Wallace that he had taken the wrong road. Wallace believed that he was supposed to reinforce Sherman and McClernand at their original camps, unaware that these divisions had been pushed back towards Pittsburg Landing. Consequently, Wallace found himself behind enemy lines and had to retrace his steps. As a result, he did not arrive on the first day of the battle.
On the second day of the battle, the Army of the Ohio, led by Don Carlos Buell, arrived, along with Lew Wallace’s division. The Union forces launched a successful counterattack, taking advantage of the Confederate lines, which had become disorganized and outnumbered. The fortunes of the battle shifted in favor of the Union, as Beauregard’s men became entangled and exhausted. The Union forces pushed the Confederate lines back entirely, securing a significant victory.
Following the battle, Grant relieved Wallace of his command. Wallace then took charge of organizing the defenses of Cincinnati and northern Kentucky. However, in March 1864, he returned to command as the leader of the VIII Corps, with headquarters in Baltimore.
Battle of Monocacy
Early’s advance into the Shenandoah Valley and subsequent movement into Western Maryland in 1864 encountered a significant obstacle in the form of Lew Wallace’s defense at Monocacy, just outside Frederick, Maryland. At this time, General Robert E. Lee had established his forces in entrenched positions at Petersburg and Richmond, while a Confederate army contingent approached Washington DC. However, the only opposition in their path was a smaller force of inexperienced Union infantry, led by the disgraced General Wallace. This outfit had no battle experience, and all of the resources were going to Grant. His 2300 men were mostly 100-day men: a true backwater command.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, General Ulysses S. Grant dispatched 3,500 men under General Ricketts to support Wallace.
Nevertheless, there were virtually no other Union army units positioned between Frederick and Washington DC. Wallace understood the need to delay Early’s advance until a more substantial defense could be organized.
Without receiving any specific orders from his superiors, Wallace made the strategic decision to position his forces along the Monocacy River, a few miles south of Frederick. This defensive stance aimed to protect the routes to both Baltimore and Washington DC. Following several skirmishes, a full-scale battle took place on July 9. Despite being heavily outnumbered, with Early’s forces totaling 16,000 compared to Wallace’s 4,500, the Union army held its ground. Even a cavalry attack failed to dislodge them, despite the Confederates attempting to outflank the Union forces. Eventually, the Confederate infantry executed a double envelopment maneuver, forcing the Union army to retreat across a stone bridge.
Remarkably, the Union army survived five attacks from one of the most skilled division commanders in the Confederate army at that time!
The proud heritage of the 9th Illinois is carried on today by the 130th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard.
After 24 hours of intense fighting, the Union forces were compelled to fall back. Early’s losses amounted to approximately 800 men out of the 14,000 engaged, while Wallace’s forces suffered 1,300 casualties out of their 5,800. Wallace subsequently retreated to Baltimore. However, Early’s delay in breaching this defensive line provided crucial time for the fortification of Fort Stevens. In his memoirs, Early himself acknowledged the critical impact that the Battle of Monocacy had on his ability to launch an attack on Washington DC.
The disgraced general, despite his valiant stand, initially faced blame from General Grant for yet another error. Consequently, following the Union’s defeat, he experienced a brief demotion. Grant promptly relieved Wallace of his command, appointing Edward Ord as the new commander of the troops. However, once Federal officials recognized Wallace’s accomplishments, he was reinstated to his position. Grant, in his memoirs, generously acknowledges Wallace’s contribution.
It was only later realized that, despite facing overwhelming odds, Wallace had bought crucial time that ultimately saved Washington DC.
Although the battle at Monocacy was relatively small, its impact was significant. The engagement effectively halted General Early, providing Washington with a day’s worth of time to secure reinforcements. This delay cost Early the initiative, from which he could never fully recover. The subsequent battle near Washington DC at Fort Fisher proved unsuccessful.
Sheridan pursued Early back into the Shenandoah Valley and defeated him in multiple battles, most notably at Cedar Creek. Furthermore, the preservation of Washington influenced the course of the War and played a role in Lincoln’s re-election. Wallace’s actions at Monocacy should have been sufficient for Grant to recognize and revive his career.
Instead, Grant entrusted Wallace with non-command responsibilities. He sent Wallace to Texas in 1865 to negotiate surrender with Kirby Smith. Wallace also served on the Lincoln Conspiracy Commission and headed the Wirz Commission. Later, he assumed the role of governor of the New Mexico territory, served as a minister to the Ottoman Empire, and, of course, became an esteemed author of a significant piece of American literature.
Governor Of New Mexico Territory
Billy the Kid, also known as Henry McCarty, adopted the alias William H Bonney, which was not his true name. Despite his young age of 21, he had already taken the lives of 21 men before his own demise. Although his connection to Lew Wallace and the Civil War was not direct, it provides an intriguing insight into the historical context of that era.
At the tender age of 15, McCarty found himself orphaned. His first brush with the law occurred at 16 when he was arrested for stealing food in 1875. Merely ten days later, he committed another offense by robbing a Chinese laundry. Although he was apprehended, he managed to escape shortly after. Fleeing from the New Mexico Territory to the neighboring Arizona Territory, McCarty effectively transformed himself into an outlaw and a federal fugitive. It was during this time, in 1877, that he began using the name “William H. Bonney”.
Following an altercation in August 1877, Bonney took the life of a blacksmith, making him a wanted man in Arizona. He subsequently returned to New Mexico and joined a group of cattle rustlers. Bonney gained notoriety in the region when he became a member of the Regulators and participated in the Lincoln County War of 1878. Alongside two other Regulators, he was later accused of killing three individuals, including Lincoln County Sheriff William J. Brady and one of his deputies.
Bonney’s notoriety reached new heights in December 1880 when his crimes were reported by the Las Vegas Gazette and The Sun in New York City.
Sheriff Pat Garrett successfully apprehended Bonney later that month. In April 1881, Bonney stood trial and was convicted for the murder of Brady. He was sentenced to be hanged in May of the same year. However, on April 28, Bonney managed to escape from jail, killing two sheriff’s deputies in the process. He remained on the run for over two months before Garrett eventually caught up with him. On July 14, 1881, at the age of 21, Bonney was shot and killed by Garrett in Fort Sumner. It is worth noting that rumors circulated suggesting that Garrett did not actually kill Bonney, but rather orchestrated his escape.
Billy the Kid
Wallace’s arrival in Santa Fe on September 29, 1878, marked the beginning of his tenure as governor of the New Mexico Territory. This period was characterized by rampant lawlessness and political corruption, posing significant challenges for Wallace. One of his primary objectives was to address the Lincoln County War, a violent and contentious conflict among the county’s residents. Additionally, Wallace sought to put an end to the series of Apache raids on territorial settlers.
In his efforts to restore order in Lincoln County, Wallace took decisive action on March 1, 1879. Recognizing that previous attempts had failed, he issued orders for the arrest of those responsible for the local killings. Notably, one of the outlaws apprehended was Billy the Kid. Subsequently, on March 17, 1879, Wallace held a clandestine meeting with Bonney, who had witnessed the murder of a prominent Lincoln County lawyer named Huston Chapman. Wallace’s objective was to secure Bonney’s testimony in the trial of Chapman’s accused murderers.
However, Bonney had his own demands, seeking protection from his enemies and amnesty for his past crimes.
During their meeting, an agreement was reached, with Bonney becoming an informant in exchange for a full pardon. To ensure Bonney’s safety, Wallace orchestrated a “fake” arrest and confined him in a local jail on March 20. As agreed, Bonney testified in court on April 14, providing crucial information against those involved in Chapman’s murder. However, the local district attorney reneged on the agreement, refusing to release the outlaw. Faced with this betrayal, Bonney managed to escape and resumed his violent activities. In response, Garrett, a friend of Wallace, offered a $500 reward for Bonney’s capture. This turn of events raises questions about whether Wallace genuinely intended to grant Bonney the promised pardon or if it was merely a ploy to gain his cooperation. The controversy remains whether or not he offered the bargain cited above.
Ben Hur
Wallace’s literary career was born out of his boredom with studying law, as he openly admitted. Among his various works, his most renowned novel is the historical adventure tale titled “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ” (1880). This book achieved remarkable success, becoming the best-selling American novel of the 19th century and maintaining that distinction until Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone With the Wind” surpassed it. Interestingly, Wallace completed this masterpiece while serving as the territorial governor of New Mexico in Santa Fe. “Ben-Hur” narrates the gripping story of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman who endures false accusations and subsequent enslavement by the Romans after being wrongly convicted of attempting to assassinate the Roman governor of Judaea. The novel not only explores themes of revenge and redemption but also intertwines the hero’s journey with that of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Grant harbored lingering resentment towards Wallace for years afterward, and never really forgave him for Day 1 at Shiloh. Only in his memoirs, following Wallace’s death, did Grant acknowledge his misinterpretation of the situation. Grant held Wallace accountable for the delay, as evidenced by his article in Battles and Leaders. However, it was not until his Memoirs that Grant finally comprehended the true events that transpired.
Moreover, this realization came about after receiving a letter from the other Mrs. Wallace, General WHL Wallace’s wife, who was present at Shiloh. Grant’s memoirs, specifically on page 286, contain his admission that Lew Wallace’s actions were understandable. Wallace spent a significant portion of his life attempting to make amends for the perceived mistake, a theme that he also incorporated into his novel “Ben-Hur.”Wallace had spent most of the years of his life trying to atone for the supposed error, a theme incorporated into his novel Ben Hur.
Civil War Historian Dr. Lloyd W Klein Dr. Lloyd W. Klein is Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Cardiology Division of the University of California, San Francisco. In addition, Dr. Klein is an accomplished consultant, author, lecturer and investigator. In addition, with over thirty-five years’ experience and expertise in managing myocardial infarction and tailoring coronary revascularization strategies.
Moreover, Dr. Klein is a nationally recognized expert in individualizing coronary revascularization strategies. He has published extensively on analyzing operator quality and decision making.
Dr. Klein is also an amateur historian who has read extensively on the Civil War with a particular interest in political and military leadership and their economic ramifications. Furthermore, Dr. Klein has published numerous articles on the Civil War. Moreover, with a special concentration in why decisions were made and the people who made them. Lastly, using his professional experience in appraising leadership, he is especially insightful in evaluating the internal and external motivations which influenced decisions in battle and in the political hall.
Please see Dr. Klein’s Works:
- Siege of Vicksburg
- The Battle of Shiloh
- The Hampton Roads Conference
- Sherman’s March To The Sea
- Why Did the North Win the Civil War (and, Alternatively, Why Did the South Lose?)
- The Atlanta Campaign : The Conundrum of General Joseph E Johnston
- The “Lost Order” Of General Lee
- What caused the South to start the Civil War?
- Was the Reconstruction of the Civil War successful?
- Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Greatest Victory
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/lewis-lew-wallace
