General Lew Wallace

NARRATOR: This Indiana Bicentennial minute is made possible by the Indiana Historical Society and the law firm of Krieg DeVault.

Old photographs and portraits are shown of Lew Wallace from when he was a young boy to when he was serving in the military, and finally as an old man. There are sepia-tinted photos of his houses as well as images of him with a long beard, sitting and writing.

JANE PAULEY: Civil War General, famous author and made a deal with Billy the Kid, Indiana’s own Lew Wallace. Born in Brookville in 1827, Crawfordsville became his home. His darling leadership made him a general in the Civil War. He was U.S minister to the Ottoman Empire and granted Billy the Kid amnesty as territorial governor of New Mexico.

Images are shown of the book, “Ben-Hur, a Tale of the Christ” as well as the motion picture made.

PAULEY: While there, he finished the book he’s been writing titled, “Ben-Hur, a Tale of the Christ.” It was the bestselling American novel of the 19th century and its movie adaptation swept 11 of 12 Oscars in 1960, 80 years after he published it.

Sepia-tinted photos are shown of an older Lew Wallace sitting in rocking chairs and writing. Then images of his statue are shown.

PAULEY: Lew Wallace died in Crawfordsville in 1905 writing his autobiography. What a story it was. I’m Jane Pauley with this Indiana Bicentennial Minute.

NARRATOR: Made possible by the Indiana Historical Society and the law firm of Krieg DeVault.