Union General Prentiss usually gets credit for the valiant fight at Hornet's Nest at the battle of Shiloh where Union soldiers withstood six hours of frantic Confederate attacks which gave General Grant time to rally his forces and bring up reinforcements, but perhaps the "real" hero of the battle was Brigadier General William Hervey Lamme Wallace of Ottawa, Illinois.
He was born in Urbana, Ohio and came to Illinois, initially to learn law under Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, but ended up going to Ottawa, Illinois, and setting up a law practice.
He had a brief experience in the Mexican War and at the outset of the Civil War, volunteered as a private in the 11th Illinois before being elected its colonel. He became known as Grant's greatest general.
At Fort Donelson in 1862, he made the acquaintance of General Lew Wallace, with whom he is often confused (including me). Of course, Lew Wallace later wrote "Ben Hur."
More to Come. --B-R'er
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