Sweet Lew

Today I learned Union General Lew Wallace wrote Ben Hur. Wha-? Actually I learned this two days ago, but I'm only now coming to accept it. So this means Sweet Lew, who commanded at Shiloh -- General Lew Wallace who successfully defended Washington DC against Confederate forces, also wrote the Ben Hur book? The one made into a movie starring Charlton Heston? Shoot, there were 4 -- four! -- film versions of that book! You mean General Wallace could have won an Academy Award? Huh? Blimey! Tis true. He wrote it in 1880 while he was Governor of New Mexico Territory. Plus it was the first novel to be blessed by a pope. I've held the two-volume illustrated 1889 edition in my hands. Can you say SLAMMIN'? Hot stuff. He wrote lots of other things too. After the war Wallace, as a lawyer, participated in the trials of the Lincoln assassination conspirators and of Henry Wirz, commandant of the Andersonville prison camp. And while he was Gov of New Mex he went after Billy the Kid so he's got good ol' William Bonney tied up in his life too. Also we can thank him for The Battle of Monocacy in July 1864, the "Battle That Saved Washington." Give it up to Sweetass Lew.