Galena's 45th Illinois Infantry-- Part 2: Action at Fort Donelson and 'Baptism of Fire'

On February 1, 1862, the 45th was assigned to the Second Brigade, commanded by Colonel W.H.L. Wallace, First Division, commanded by  General John  A. McClernand.

On February 2, the regiment left Cairo with General Grant's Army for the Tennessee River and on the 4th reached Camp Halleck, four miles below Confederate Fort Henry.  On the evening of the 6th, the regiment marched into Fort Henry after its abandonment by the Confederates.

On Feb. 11th, they moved toward Fort Donelson and on the 13th took position on the right of the Union line.  That afternoon, the 45th received its "baptism of fire."  In other words, they "saw the elephant."  The regimet saw plenty of action at Fort Donelson and lost two killed and 26 wounded.

Afterwards, the 45th remained in camp at Fort Donelson until March 4, when it marched to Big Sandy River mouth and took boats up the Tennessee River, arriving at Savannah on March 11.  There they remained until March 25.

Saw the Elephant Indeed.  --Old Secesh

Wallace-Dickey Cemetery, Ottawa, Illinois

From August 28, 2017, WCMY 1430 AM.  "Wallace-Dickey Cemetery plans include making it public eventually."

Money raise at the Civil War reenactments near Seneca over the weekend will help pay for restoration at the Wallace-Dickey Cemetery in Ottawa.  Not many people know where it is, because it is landlocked and there aren't any  public roads to it.

Ottawa Avenue Cemetery Association President  Chuck Sanders says he'd like the public to be able to visit the site someday.  It's where two prominent Ottawa residents of the 1800s, Judge T. Lyle Dickey and General W.H.L. Wallace, are buried.

--Old Secesh

Death and Funeral of Theophilus Lyle Dickey

From Find-A-Grave site.

JUDGE T. LYLE DICKEY LAID TO REST

Ottawa, Ill., July 28, 1885.

The funeral of the late Judge T. Lyle Dickey took the place at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. W.H. Wallace, at three o'clock yesterday afternoon.  Although the heat was excessive at that hour the attendance was very large, nearly all the business houses in town having closed from two until five o'clock.

A special train from Chicago, having on board the State officers and many Chicago friends, arrived at twelve o'clock, the procession, consisting of Company D,  G.A.R.,  the City Council and the Judges of the Supreme Court, formed at  the Supreme Court, formed at the Supreme Courthouse, where the remains had been lying in state, and moved through town to "Two Oaks," where services were held.

After the service the procession moved to the beautiful little private burial ground on the edge of the bluff and consigned  to the final resting place, the remains of T. Lyle Dickey.

--Old secesh

Death of Gen. William Wallace-- Part 3: With His Wife By His Side

And, then things turned for the worse.

Ann Wallace recalled the end of the general's life:

"He seemed so happy and satisfied to have me so near him, but lay in calm self-control, even in death, conscious that  his moments of life were continued only by this rest.  Hope with us grew brighter until a periodical delirium, caused by excessive inflammation, passed away and his pulse began to fail; we knew his moments with us were few.

"My darling knew he was going and pressed my hand long and fondly to his heart.  Then he waved me away as aid, 'We meet in Heaven."

"They were the last words upon those loved lips., and he faded away gently and peacefully and hopefully."

I wonder if any other Civil War soldiers died with their wives at their side?

--Old Secesh

Death of Gen. William H.L. Wallace-- Part 2: Found Alive the Next Day, Meets Wife

A Federal counterattack on April 7th turned the tide at the Battle of Shiloh and the Confederates were driven from the field.  The Union had won.

About 9 a.m., that morning, a Union soldier found William Wallace where he had been left.  Incredibly, despite the severe head wound and the fact that he had lain outside in heavy rains,. Wallace was still alive.  He was placed aboard a river steamer and taken to Cherry Mansion, general Grant's headquarters in Savannah.

Also on board that transport was the general's wife, Ann Wallace.    She had arrived for a surprise visit just prior to the battle, but the two had not gotten together.  She had been told already that her husband was dead and was elated to see him still alive.

The gravely wounded general recognized her and was able to speak with difficulty.  She cared for him and he seemed to be getting better.

Kind of a Coincidence That His Wife Would Be There.  --Old Secesh

The Death of Gen. William H.L. Wallace-- Part 1

From the Iron Brigader blog.  "The Death of General W.H.L. Wallace at the Battle of Shiloh"  by Mark.

Wallace's division was farther back from the main Union line, nearer to Pittsburg Landing on April 6, 1862, as the Battle of Shiloh commenced.  He moved two of his brigades up to what became known as the Hornet's Nest.  As the Confederates continued attacks, eventually they got around the flanks of the Union soldiers there.

William Wallace decided to have his men fight their way out.  As this was happening, Wallace's aide-de-camp, Lt. Cyrus E. Dickey (who was also Wallace's brother-in-law) pointed out some advancing Confederate troops.  The two were on horseback and when Wallace rose up from the saddle for a better view a bullet hit him in the head behind his left ear and exited out his left eye.

The general immediately dropped to the ground.

Dickey believed Wallace was dead and with three others attempted to remove him from the field.  After a quarter of a mile they encountered heavy fire from both sides and were nearly overrun by Confederates so they left Wallace near some ammunition boxes hoping he wouldn't be trampled.

--Old Secesh

Funeral of William H.L. Wallace-- Part 1

From Facebook Page:  Gen W.H.L. Wallace.

The remains of General W.H.L. Wallace, who so bravely sacrificed his life his life at the late battle of Pittsburg Landing, arrived in this city Sunday evening about nine o'clock on a special train from Cairo furnished by direction from General Strong.

The body was in charge of Colonel T. Lyle Dickey of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry (father-in-law),  accompanied by  Major M.R.M. Wallace of the Fourth Cavalry, brother of the deceased.  Lieutenant Cyrus E. Dickey (brother-in-law and son of T. Lyle Dickey), Lieutenant I.P. Rumsey, Aides-de-Camp to General Wallace, Captain C.Y.  Hotchkiss, Acting Adjutant-General.

The wife of General Wallace, who arrived at Pittsburg Landing  the same day that her husband received his death wound, also accompanied his remains.

At the depot, they were met by a detachment of about fifty men composed of Companies D and H of the Irish brigade.  The detachment was in charge of Captain Simpson, Company D.

--Old Secesh

Martin R.M. Wallace Buried at Chicago's Rosehill Cemetery-- Part 1

Back in May I had quite a few posts about William H.L. Wallace,  Union general from Illinois who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Shiloh.

His brother, Brigadier General Martin R.M. Wallace, is buried along with his wife Emma Wallace at Chicago's largest cemetery, Rosehill.  The entry gate is impressive and was built in 1864.  Many notables are buried there.

Including:

Several early Chicago mayors including Levi Day Boone  (Know-Nothing Party)  Related to Daniel Boone.

Jack Brickhouse (1916-1998)  Sports announcer
Leo Burnett (1891-1971)  Founded the advertising agency
Albert Blake Dick (1856-1934)  Founded A.B. Dick Co.
Milton S. Florsheim  (1868-1936)  Founder of the shoe company
Bobby Franks (1909-1924)  Famous murder victim
Elisha Gray  (1835-1901)  Founded Western Electric Co.

--Old Secesh

Funeral of William H.L. Wallace-- Part 2: Arrival in Ottawa

The body was placed  in the hearse  which had been provided by order of Mayor Rumsey and about half-past nine the procession started from the depot in the following order:  Two files of soldiers with reversed arms.  Hearse attended by six commissioned officers, four from the Irish brigade, and to from the Scotch  regiment, as pall bearers.  A rear guard of six men with fixed bayonets.

The procession proceeded up  Lake Street to Clark, Up Clark to  Van Buren and thence to the Rock Island depot, and not withstanding the lateness of the hour, was attended by a large concourse of citizens.

The tolling of the Court House bell as the procession passed through the streets startled the whole city, many not being aware of the death of the General.

From the Chicago Tribune.

--Old Secesh

Three of the Wallace Boys Served in the 4th Illinois Cavalry

William H.L. Wallace's three brothers who served in the Union Army were all in the 4th Illinois Cavalry.

Martin R.M. Wallace was initially the regiment's major and then rose to command it and was brevetted to brigadier general after the war ended.

Captain John F. Wallace was a 2nd lieutenant in the 4th Illinois Cavalry and eventually captain of several companies.

First Sergeant Matthew H.W. Wallace was in Company E of the 4th Illinois Cavalry and was one of the two Wallace brothers to die in the war, both in 1862.

William H.L. Wallace was elected colonel of the 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment.

--Old Secesh

Matthew H.W. Wallace-- Part 2: Drowned Feb. 2, 1862

Marital Status:  Single
Occupation:  Farmer
Nativity:  Polo, Illinois

Joined When:  September 6, 1861
Joined Where:  Ottawa, Illinois

Period:  Three Years
Muster In:  September 26, 1861
Muster In Where:  Ottawa, Illinois

Remarks:  Drowned at Cairo, Illinois
When:  February 2, 1862

So, the Wallace family lost two sons in 1862.  The other one was Brig. Gen. William H.L. Wallace.

--Old Secesh

Matthew H.W. Wallace-- Part 1: 1st Sergeant, 4th Illinois Cavalry

From Find-A-Grave.

Another one of William H.L. Wallace's half brothers who fought for the Union.

Born 1837
Died 2 February 1862 (aged 24-25)

Buried in Oakwood Cemetery,  Mount Morris, Ogle County, Illinois.

Rank:  1st Sergeant
Company E
Unit:  4th Illinois Cavalry

Residence:  Polo, Illinois, Ogle County
Age: 23
Height:  5 feet 11 3/4 inches

Hair:  Light
Eyes:  Blue

--Old Secesh

Martin R.M. Wallace-- Part 2: At Battles of Fort Henry, Donelson and Shiloh

With the coming of the Civil war, Martin Wallace helped organize the 4th Illinois Cavalry with Theophilus Dickey (where he studied law with his brother William Wallace).  He was commissioned as major of the unit on October 12, 1861.  Theophilus Dickey was the regiment's colonel (William Wallace was married to Dickey's daughter.)

Martin Wallace led troops at the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh.  His brother William was killed at Shiloh.

He assumed command of the 4th Illinois Cavalry following the death of Col.William McCullough in December 1862.  Promotions to lieutenant colonel and colonel came in January and June.  He was mustered out  on November 3, 1864.

On May 4, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated him Wallace to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March  13, 1865.The United States Senate confirmed it on May 16, 1866.

After the war, Wallace was named U.S.  Assessor in the Chicago District.  In 1869, he was elected to the Cook County Court and served for eight years.  He also served as attorney on the Cook County Board.  His wife, Emma, became a noted philanthropist.

Martin R.M. Wallace died on March 6, 1902, in Chicago and is buried in Rosehill Cemetery.

--Old Secesh

Martin R. M. Wallace-- Part 1: Brother of William H.L. Wallace

From Wikipedia.

MARTIN REUBEN MERRITT WALLACE  (September 29, 1829 to March  6, 1902)

Brother of Brigadier General William H.L. Wallace.

Union Army officer from  October 12, 1861 to November  3, 1864.  Colonel of the 4th Illinois Cavalry when mustered out.  In recognition of  his service, in May 1866 he was nominated and confirmed to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from  March 13, 1865.

Born in Urbana, Ohio,   In 1834, his family moved to LaSalle County, Illinois.  In 1839 the family moved to Ogle County, Illinois.  He attended Rock River seminary and became a lawyer after studying with his older brother at the firm of Dickey & Wallace in Ottawa, Illinois, and when he passed the bar, moved to Chicago to form a practice with Thomas Dent.

--Old Secesh

The Family of William H.L. Wallace in the War

From Find-A-Grave.

William H.L. Wallace had three half brothers who fought on the Union side during the war.

Brevet Brig. General  Martin Reuben Merritt Wallace

Captain John F. Wallace,  Co. D, 4th Illinois Cavalry and Co. L, 12th Illinois Cavalry Consolidated.

1st Sergeant  Matthew H.W. Wallace.

--Old Secesh

Battle of Shiloh-- Part 2: A "Great Profanity in the Army Post Office"

Lew Wallace met W.H.L. Wallace at the Battle of Fort Donelson.  Lew Wallace's first impression of W.H.L. Wallace was describing him as looking like a "farmer coming from a hard day's plowing."  As far as them having the same last names, Lew said  that it must have caused "great profanity in the army post office."

For his conspicuous service at Fort Donelson, W.H.L. Wallace was promoted to brigadier general.  During the Army of the Tennessee's movement to Savannah, Tennessee, Union Major General Charles Ferguson Smith injured his leg and turned his division command over to W.H.L.

This is how W.H.L. Wallace came to command troops fighting next to the famous Hornet's Nest at the Battle of Shiloh where they withstood six hours of repeated Confederate attacks, buying time for the Union Army to regroup.

It was here that Wallace was mortally wounded.  He was carried to Grant's headquarters at Cherry Mansion in Savannah and where he met his wife, who provided care and love to him in his final days.  He died in his wife's arms with his last words, "We meet in  heaven."

His body was taken home and buried in Ottawa, Illinois.

He was brother to future Brevet Brigadier General Martin M. Wallace.   Wallace County, Kansas, is named for him.

--Old Secesh

The Battle of Shiloh-- Part 1: USS Tyler, USS Lexington and Brig. Gen. William H.L. Wallace

As far as my research for the discussion group on this battle, I concentrated on several aspects of the battle.
**  The first was the role played by the two U.S. Navy ships, the USS Lexington and the USS Tyler.  I am writing about those two ships in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog.

**  I also did some research on William H.L. Wallace (July 8, 1821 to April 10, 1862)  since he was from Illinois.  Of course, he was one of the two Wallaces commanding divisions at  the battle (the other one was Lew Wallace who wrote "Ben Hur" after the war).

W.H.L. Wallace was the original commander of the 11th Illinois Volunteer Infantry regiment which had suffered over 60% of its strength at the Battle of Fort Donelson.  His gallantry was noticed and with it a promotion from colonel to brigadier general.

A lawyer by trade, he had enlisted in the regiment as a private but was elected its colonel by the time it mustered in on July 30, 1861.

--Old Secesh

Answers to the Battle of Shiloh Quiz

I wrote down by quiz questions for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group in my last two posts.  Here are the answers:

1.  USS Lexington and USS Tyler

2.  Army of the Tennessee, Army of the Ohio were the Union ones.  The Confederate one was the Army of Mississippi.

Side Question:  Union Armies named after Rivers and would be the Army of the Tennessee.  Confederate named after regions, so their would be the Army of Tennessee.

3.  Southwest

4.  Strike Grant before Buell's troops arrived.

5.  Hornet's Nest

6   Corinth, Mississippi

7.  W. H. L. Wallace and Lew Wallace

Frank Question   William Hervey Lamar Wallace.

Second Frank Question.  Lew Wallace commanded the 11th Indiana and W.H.L. Wallace the 11th Illinois.

Did Ya' Pass?  Yaw'l.  --Old Secesh

MCCWRT Battle of Shiloh Quiz

Continuing with the quiz.

Side Question, there was a Confederate Army and a Union Army both with the name Tennessee.  How could you tell them apart (and don't say uniforms).  Hint:  The name.

3.  In what intermediate direction would Shiloh be in the state of Tennessee?  (Hint:  Not E,S,W, or N)

4.  What was the objective of Confederate General Johnston?  (to strike Grant before what?)

5.   What was the name given to the sunken road where the very fierce fighting took place?

6.  Where was Johnston's base of operations?

7.  Who were the two Union division commanders named Wallace?

FRANK QUESTION:  (THAT MEANS REALLY HARD):  One of the Wallace's had two middle names,  what were they?  (Hint:  The letters were H.L.)

WAIT, ONE MORE FRANK QUESTION:  Besides the same last name, both Wallaces had commanded the 11th regiment of their respective states.  What were the two states?

Good Luck.  Answers in the Next Post.  --Old Secesh

W.H.L. Wallace: Grant's Greatest General?-- Part 2

Continued from October 6th.

The two Union generals with Wallace as both their last names causes a lot of confusion. When I first came across W.H.L. Wallace, I thought he was the one who wrote "Ben Hur." But, it was fellow General Lew Wallace who wrote that story.  Lew Wallace had commanded the 11th Indiana, wrote that the two generals being in the same army probably caused "great profanity in the army post office."

Before the war, W.H.L. Wallace had planned to study law under one Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, but ended up studying law and becoming a lawyer in Ottawa, Illinois.

At the onset of the Civil War, Wallace volunteered as a private in the 11th Illinois and soon was elected colonel of the regiment. For his conspicuous service at Fort Donelson, Wallace was appointed brigadier general.

At the Battle of Shiloh, Wallace's men were next to the Hornet's Nest and the Sunken Road and withstood six hours of Confederate attacks. Wallace was in command of the division there and was mortally wounded. Union soldiers found him barely alive and carried him to his wife in a home nearby. He died three days later on April 10, 1862.

He is buried in Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, at his family cemetery at 815 LaSalle Street along with his war horse Prince. There is a mural of him in Ottawa.

It would have been interesting to see how he would have done in the war had he not been killed so early.

A Great, But Little-Known General. -B-R'er