Lew's Gift to the Sultan

As his tour of duty as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Ottoman Empire came to an end in 1884, Lew Wallace was offered a number of gifts from his friend, Sultan Abdul Hamid II. These included Arabian horses, jewels, and works of art. As a representative of the government of the United States, Wallace graciously declined these expressions of friendship and gratitude. According to legend, as Wallace closed his office and packed his residence, the Sultan was able to secretly include the painting called The Turkish Princess, some elaborate carpets and a few other items in the shipping crates. The crates were delivered to Crawfordsville before Lew and Susan returned home. These items sent by the Sultan remained undiscovered by Wallace until he was back in Crawfordsville and opened the crates. The Turkish Princess, said to be one of the Sultan’s daughters, remains one of the highlights of the Study. These were not the only presents exchanged between the Sultan and Wallace.

One of the reasons the crates returned to Crawfordsville in advance of Wallace was because Lew and Susan concluded their time in the Middle East with a tour of Europe. On that tour, Lew stopped in London to fulfill a favor asked of him by the Sultan. The sovereign leader of the Ottoman Empire wanted a dog. As Lew wrote to his son, Henry, in February of 1885, he spent four days in London doing nothing but looking at dogs as London was the greatest dog market in the world. He looked at everything from a King Charles spaniel that was so small it could be put in an overcoat pocket to a boar-hound as big as a burro.

He first considered a St. Bernard but realized the breed would not do well in hot and humid Constantinople. He then considered the boar-hound like Prince Bismarck of Prussia owned. When Wallace inspected the dog, he felt the face was treacherous and full of malice. “He did not seem so much a dog as a dangerous beast of prey.”

Another dog considered was the stag-hound. A breed of dog belonging to Sir Walter Scott that Wallace ultimately felt entirely unsuited for his mission. These were hunting dogs, and in his opinion not particularly handsome, which would not do for the Sultan, who was known for his appreciation of all things beautiful.

English Mastiff from Wikimedia Commons

After considering several breeds, Wallace looked at the English mastiff. The first one brought to him was about two years old and had won first prize in competition in the United Kingdom. Wallace was immediately impressed and asked about buying the animal. Both the dog and its purchase price were fit for a king. The seller noted that the dog was priced at only 500 guineas—or about $3,000!! In Wallace’s day, that was a lot to pay for a dog—even one headed off to be a royal companion. When Wallace declined the purchase, the dealer offered an eight month old offspring from the first dog at a more reasonable price.

Wallace purchased the puppy. It was the finest dog he had ever seen with a head like a lion’s and already standing thirty-six inches at the shoulder and six feet from tip of the tail to muzzle. Not only was he the size of a lion, the dog had the tawny color of a lion. When Wallace was showing the dog at his hotel, one of the curious guests climbed on a window to look in as a burglar or thief might do. When the dog saw this “thief” his eyes reddened, the hair on this back stood up, and he growled in a most menacing manner. Wallace was thrilled at this protective stance taken by the dog.

Wallace named the dog ‘Victorio’ after an Apache Indian chief who caused Wallace great difficulty in New Mexico, but whom Wallace respected for his military prowess. After Wallace shipped the dog, the Sultan began asking after the dog, inquiring about its delivery and was thrilled when it arrived. He immediately ordered that the dog be sent to the palace. When it was brought into the reception room, the crowd scattered believing it was, in fact, a lion. In reports that Wallace received he was pleased to hear that the dog was happily playing with the Sultan’s daughter, perhaps the girl in the painting given to Wallace of The Turkish Princess, and becoming a favorite companion of the Sultan himself. It proved to be a present that held special meaning for both the gift giver and the recipient and represented the special bond between two men of such different backgrounds. 

Dr. Howard Miller speaks about the 1959 Ben-Hur

We were fortunate to have Wallace Scholar Dr. Howard Miller with us in March for the Historic Artcraft Theatre's screening of the 1959 film Ben-Hur. Dr. Miller brought a treasure trove of pieces from his collection of Ben-Hur memorabilia to share with movie-goers. He also spoke briefly before the screening to provide information on the making of the film and what an impact it had in American culture.

Thanks to videographer Nancy Van Arendonk, you can view Dr. Miller's entire talk here on our blog. Dr. Miller is an engaging speaker with a distinguished teaching career. So make yourself some popcorn, turn up the volume, and enjoy!

Lew Wallace, Jr.'s 1930 Duesenberg visits the Study

We have been incredibly fortunate this weekend to receive a visit from Lew Wallace, Jr.'s 1930 Duesenberg, currently owned by Jack and Drena Miller of Georgia. The car was custom built for Lew, Jr. at an estimated $16,000 or more--and in 1930 that was a lot of money! As the Great Depression deepened, the Duesenberg was sold, but fortunately it has been preserved and restored for us to view today.

The car weighs 6100 pounds and gets about 10 to 11 miles per gallon. The 8-cylinder engine features double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, and a mechanical computer. Standard features on the Duesenberg include power brakes, an altimeter, and a chronograph.

Lew, Jr.'s son William Noble Wallace related in an email the following story about the Duesenberg:

The family chauffeur, Arthur Slaughter, was an auto expert. One time he was driving the Duesy alone from Burt Lake back to Rye, a 700-mile trip. The shortest distance was through southern Ontario, from Port Huron-Sarnia to Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Enroute Slaughter was pulled over by a Canadian provincial policeman on a motor cycle. Slaughter, always careful to stay within speed limits, was startled. The officer told him the stop was one of curiosity. He'd never seen a Duesenberg before. Could he, maybe, drive it a bit? "Sure," said Art. And the officer stepped in and drove it around for awhile.

Art told that story to me but I think he kept it from my father.

We're very grateful for Jack and Drena Miller's generosity in bringing the Duesenberg to visit us this weekend, and to Mike Shotwell for researching the Duesenberg's history.

Membership and Sponsor Appreciation Party

If you are a member of the Lew Wallace Study Preservation Society and haven't yet RSVPed for the Membership and Sponsor Appreciation Party on Sunday, June 2, make sure you do so today! You won't want to miss seeing Lew Wallace, Jr.'s Duesenberg automobile, here for this weekend only. We also have ongoing offerings including:

• Refreshments by Juniper Spoon & Iron Gate
• See Lew Wallace, Jr.’s Duesenberg
• Meet Wallace family members
• Update on the Making a Historic Difference Campaign
• Take a Behind the Scenes Tour
• History Beneath Us archaeology with Anne & Chris Moore
• Enjoy live music by The Brass Masters Quintet
• Play lawn games

You won't want to miss out on this fun and informative event. If you're not a LWSPS member, you can join online via Paypal by visiting the Join & Support page of our website.

We hope we'll see you on Sunday from 4-6 p.m.

Cooking With Susan: Memorial Day Edition

With Memorial Day weekend being a popular weekend for cookouts and picnics, we thought we would share some of Susan's recipes. This year Memorial Day looks like it's going to be a bit cool, weather-wise, but the weather is always right for ice cream!

Susan's Ice Cream
Beat yolks of 3 eggs til very light; add one small teacup sugar, one pint new milk. Set in a small metal bucket in a kettle of boiling water; stir til it begins to thicken, then remove from fire. When ice cold, pour this custard into 2-1/2 quarts of fresh, rich cream; add 2 cups of sugar (more or less according to your sweet tooth) then small teaspoon not quite full of vanilla. Ice cream is often spoiled by too much flavoring. Sugar often freezes out. Stir constantly while freezing. So far as I know, the White Mountain Freezer is the best.

-- taken from the Saturday Evening Journal, Dec. 25, 1880

Or if sherbet is more your style, try this one:

Spanish Sherbet 

One can of grated pineapple, two teacupsful or more of sugar, add one pint of cold water and whites of three eggs beaten very stiff, freeze quickly as possible; there is a sharp acid in the fruit which makes poison with tin should it stand melted; if wanted very rich at the last moment before freezing, stir in one pint of fresh cream thoroughly whipped.

-- taken from M. E. Church Cook Book, 1886

If you try one of Susan's recipes, let is know how it turns out! :)

Armed Forces Day

According to the Department of Defense, Armed Forces Day was created in 1949, which means Lew would never have celebrated it. It would probably have been an important holiday to him, however. Lew was very proud of his military service and remained active in veterans' associations and war memorial efforts.

Lew served in both the Mexican War and the Civil War, and actually volunteered for the Spanish-American War. Because he was 71 at the time of the Spanish-American War, his offer was declined. He delivered speeches at occasions such as the dedication of the Greencastle's Soldiers Monument, the reunion of the 11th Indiana in Terre Haute, a United States Naval Academy graduation ceremony, and the dedication ceremony of the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument. He even built a special case in his Study to display some of his military artifacts. With such evidence, we can say confidently that Lew would have appreciated Armed Forces Day.

Lew wasn't the first of his family to serve in the military--his father, David, was a West Point Cadet. Nor was Lew the last. His two grandsons, Tee and Lew, Jr., served in World War I. Tee enlisted in the American Field Ambulance in 1916, before U.S. entry into the war, and drove ambulances for the French Army. After his graduation from Yale, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was killed during a surveillance mission near St. Etienne in October of 1918.

Lew, Jr. was in the National Guard and served in Texas during the Mexican Revolution. In September of 1918, he was sent to France, where he served as a captain in the intelligence service. In 1919 his division was inactivated and he served as aide to General E.M. Lewis until 1920.

Later generations of the Wallace family also continued the tradition of military service. Lew's great-grandsons  III and Bill Wallace both served in World War II, and Lew's great-great-grandson Sanford Miller served in Vietnam.

With such a strong legacy, is it any wonder we think Lew would have approved of a holiday set aside for civilians to thank members of the military for their sacrifices?

William Seward, Jr. and the Battle of Monocacy

A photo taken in 1906 of the 1832 Frederick, MD, B&O
station; photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

In the summer of 1864, John W. Garrett, President of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, came to see General Lew Wallace. Mr. Garrett expressed concern for the safety of Washington (as well as his railroad). His personnel were reporting detachments of Confederate troops in the Shenandoah Valley and, according to him, such appearances were precursors of trouble. General Wallace decided to go to the western limit of his command, the Monocacy River, southwest of Frederick, Maryland. Upon his arrival at the blockhouse guarding the rail junction (Monocacy Junction) he found the country alive with rumor. A Confederate army, reported to be between 5,000 and 35,000 men strong, was thought to have crossed the Potomac River on the 2^nd or 3^{rd of} July. Its exact whereabouts and destination were both unknown. The civilians that General Wallace sent to gather information were turned back by rebel cavalry at every pass in the mountains west of Frederick. General Wallace believed this cavalry was screening a larger army.

Two miles north of the junction, a stone bridge called the Jug Bridge crossed the Monocacy, carrying the National Road that led to Baltimore. At the junction there was an iron railroad bridge and, a few hundred yards southwest of it, the wooden covered bridge of the Georgetown Pike, the road to Washington. Any invading army intent on Washington or Baltimore would have to come this way. After brief consideration, General Wallace believed that Washington was the objective. He began putting men in place. 

On July 9, 1864, 6,500 troops under the command of General Wallace met 14,000 battle–hardened veterans of the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Jubal Early, on the farm fields near Monocacy Junction. Confederate troops held the field at day’s end, but Wallace and his men had delayed them long enough that reinforcements ultimately sent by Union General-in-Chief U.S. Grant would reach the lightly-defended U.S. capital just in time. Early’s plans to capture Washington were quashed. The battle of Monocacy is now known as the “battle that saved Washington.”

General Grant later wrote that Wallace had done more for the cause by losing this battle than many generals had accomplished by winning.

As the Battle of Monocacy loomed, the city of Washington panicked. One of the men in Wallace’s small army was Colonel William Seward, son of Lincoln’s Secretary of State, William Henry Seward, and the commander of the hard-fighting Ninth New York Heavy Artillery. Seward’s regiment was in the middle of the Monocacy battle and according to Wallace’s official report the Ninth New York had 102 killed and wounded with 99 missing for a total of 201 casualties. Seward’s family, in Washington, received continuing reports from the battlefield and was well aware of Wallace’s valiant defense but ultimate defeat.

William Henry Seward, Jr.

The Secretary of State stayed at the War Department reading telegrams coming in from the battle until almost midnight. He had just returned home when Secretary of War Edwin Stanton arrived at the Seward residence to tell the family that there were reports that young William was wounded and taken prisoner. Colonel Seward’s brother, Augustus, left early the next day to go to Baltimore in an effort to ascertain the truth of the rumors. Based on reports he could gather, Augustus determined that his brother had been wounded, but not captured—although his whereabouts were unknown in the panic and chaos that was gripping both Washington and Baltimore.

By that evening there was a telegram at the Seward home from General Wallace: “I have the pleasure of contradicting my statement of last night. Colonel Seward is not a prisoner, and I am now told he is unhurt. He behaved with rare gallantry.” While Colonel Seward was reported safe on July 10, Washington definitely was not—Jubal Early’s veterans were marching on the city. On July 11, Early’s army arrived in front of Ft. Stevens, the northernmost fort in Washington’s defensive chain. Early could see the flag flying on the dome of the U.S. Capitol.

The city was in real jeopardy--Grant’s reinforcements had not yet arrived--but luck was on the Union side because Early delayed his attack. Grant’s reinforcements arrived on the night of the 11^th and battled with Early’s men on July 12. During this fighting, President Lincoln arrived at Ft. Stevens and insisted on watching the action from the ramparts. He was thus exposed to Confederate sharpshooters, who killed an officer standing nearby, whereupon the President was convinced to move off the walls.

As it turned out, Wallace’s information relayed to the Seward family was still not correct. Colonel Seward had in fact been injured. He suffered a slight wound to his arm and broke his leg when his horse was shot and fell on him during the battle. Seward was unable to walk off the battlefield and only escaped capture when he found a mule and, using his silk handkerchief as a bridle, was able to ride off the field ahead of the Confederates. Within eight weeks Seward was promoted to brigadier general and served throughout the remainder of the war. A banker before the war, General Seward returned to a successful career in banking after his time in the military. He followed politics, supported charitable causes, served as a director for a number of corporations, and was involved in historical and patriotic societies until his death in 1920, over 50 years after Lew Wallace’s battle that saved Washington—a battle that directly affected the outcome of the Civil War and likely changed the history of the nation.

Many years later General Wallace encountered one of the Confederate commanders, J. B. Gordon, at a White House reception. Gordon told Wallace he was the only Yankee who ever whipped him. Wallace replied that, in the end, his men ran from the field. “In that sense you are right,” Gordon countered, “but you snatched Washington out of our hands.”

Sources: Shadow of Shiloh, Gail Stephens, Indiana Historical Society Press, 2010

                Seward, Lincoln’s Indispensable Man, Walter Stahr, Simon & Schuster, 2012

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