The June 1st Ottawa (Il) Times had an article about the possible slide into a ravine that might be taken by home town hero of the Battle of Shiloh, W.H.L. Wallace, that will take place if action is not soon taken.
His troops held off successive Confederate attacks at the Hornet's Nest for hours giving US forces a chance to regroup and eventually win the battle. In the process, Wallace was mortally wounded. After he died, his body was returned to Ottawa and buried on the family plot on the north edge of the city. The 40 by 60 foot plot is in bad need of repair and is on the edge of a steep ravine with the possibility of the whole thing going over the edge.
His father-in-law, T. Lyle Dickey, also a Union officer, and horse Prince (ridden into battle by Wallace) are also buried on the site. Both men were acquaintances of Lincoln. In 1941, the state bought his home, The Oaks and land, and turned it into a museum which was later closed. The relics were eventually lost. The state turned the cemetery over to the Ottawa Avenue Cemetery Board for care. Now, that group says they can't afford the upkeep or expense of reinforcing the land to prevent the slide.
There has been consideration of removing the graves to the main cemetery, but nothing has been done yet.
This Wallace is not the General Lew Wallace who later wrote "Ben Hur." Union General Prentiss took credit for stopping the Confederates at the Hornet's Nest.
Let's Hope Something Gets Done Before the Slide. --Old B-R
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
