Saint of the Month: Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace

Hello, Friends! In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and the general interest in things relating to the American Civil War, I'd like to pay a small tribute to one of the finest Americans most people have never heard of, Major General Lew Wallace.

Recently, while giving a lesson on Biblical prophets, I asked a group of Confirmation students to tell me about famous people they found inspirational. The only name mentioned by these earnest young scholars was that of Kim Kardashian. Based on that answer, I began to suspect that our society was in really deep trouble.

For the next lesson, I produced a series of pictures of famous people whom I have found inspiring. These saints, whether officially canonized or not, have by their lives, works, and examples, furthered the Kingdom of God.

Lew Wallace (1827-1905) would be impressive as a purely secular hero. As you can tell from his photograph above, he served as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. In spite of a controversial episode during the Battle of Shiloh, he proved a very able soldier, battling a vastly superior force at the Battle of Monocacy and saving Washington, D.C. from Confederate capture. As an attorney, he distinguished himself in two landmark trials: that of the Lincoln assassination conspirators and as president of the country's first war crimes trial, that of Henry Wirz, the commander of the Confederate prison camp at Andersonville, Georgia. As a politician, Wallace governed the New Mexico Territory and worked diligently to end the Lincoln County War--even offering a pardon to Billy the Kid. As a clandestine agent of the federal government, he worked to overthrow French control of Mexico. As a diplomat, he made the first overture to the Ottoman Turks and opened the way for American involvement in the Middle East. Wallace was also a talented sketch artist, a devoted husband, and a popular and gifted author and novelist. Indeed, it is this last achievement to which his lasting fame belongs.

In 1880, while serving as Governor of New Mexico, Wallace published his classic novel, Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ. Many of us know the movie version with Charlton Heston, famous for its epic chariot race; however, not many people know that this book was the best-selling American book of the last half of the 19th Century, outselling every book in print except the Bible, and remained the best-read American work until the publication of  Gone With the Wind in the 1930's. It has never been out of print in 130 years.

Although not initially an abolitionist, Wallace was won to the Republican cause through his personal relationship with and respect for Abraham Lincoln. After seeing first-hand the brutality of human slavery during the war, Wallace became a firm and committed crusader for freedom and human dignity. It is not hard to imagine that the galley slave episode in Ben Hur may have been inspired by the horrors Wallace witnessed personally.

Wallace's Christian faith developed over time. He was not, initially, an extremely pious man; nevertheless, deep contemplation led him to a sound system of belief. I imagine that his faith evolved through his struggles with the most pivotal event of his illustrious life--the Battle of Shiloh.

On April 6, 1862, Wallace commanded a reserve division near Adamsville, TN. Ambiguous orders from General Ulysses S. Grant at the front caused Wallace to march his division in the wrong direction when ordered forward to relieve the beleaguered troops of General William Sherman. Wallace soon realized his error and counter marched his troops, arriving at the skirmish at sunset. On the following day Wallace's division fought bravely, and greatly assisted in the Union victory. Unfortunately, the civilian outcry over the enormous  amount of casualties from this battle caused the Army command to look for a scapegoat. Wallace was blamed for the carnage, and relieved of command.

The sting of this rebuke haunted Wallace for the remainder of his days. In letters to Grant he continually begged to have the record set straight. Although Grant later admitted to the confusing orders at Shiloh, his published autobiography still blamed Wallace.

There is much conjecture that the wound Shiloh did to Wallace's reputation is at the core of his great opus, Ben Hur. The title character and his family suffer persecution from an accidental injury done to an influential man (inspired by Grant, perhaps?). Ben Hur first seeks revenge against this antagonist, but is later moved to forgiveness by the example of Jesus Christ. In the crucifixion chapter which concludes the novel Wallace imagines the thoughts of his hero at the foot of the cross:

"...as men repeat a question to grasp and fix the meaning, he asked gazing at the figure on the hill fainting under its crown, Who the Resurrection? and who the Life? 'I AM,' the figure seemed to say--and say it for him; for instantly he was sensible of a peace such as he had never known--the peace which is the end of doubt and mystery, and the beginning of faith and love and clear understanding."

Wallace's novel was scrupulously researched for historic detail. It's publication gave the Christians of 19th Century America two stirring gifts: first, an imaginative look at the historical Jesus, and, second, a strong doctrinal theme of justification by faith in God's grace alone and the power which flows from forgiveness. The work would be called the most influential Christian book of the 19th Century, making Wallace one of the century's most influential Christians.

For me, the lesson of Lew Wallace's life is that we do not need our enemies to be contrite in order to forgive them--and forgive them we must because no peace can be found otherwise. Similarly, no amount of personal achievement can free us and heal us like the power of Christ's blood. Finally, Wallace's personal faith in the face of disgrace and misfortune inspires me to remember that some of our most creative moments are born out of our deepest pain.

Thank you for allowing me to share this obscure saint's story with you. Thanks for stopping by!