The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-13

brigade provost gave the command to
fire, and the unhappy men fell dead
without struggle. This account is
given, because it was the first military
execution in the Army OF, Northern
Virginia." and the punishment, so
closely following tho offense, produced
q marked effect. The '"Tigers' gave no
further trouble. and proved hardy, ex-
ceilent soldiers.
Major Robert Wheat deserves q more
extended notice, and to furnish it some
anticipation Of events is necessary. In
the early summer of 1846-after the
first actions of the war with Mexico,
Palo Alto and Resaoa de La Palma the
United States army, under Gen.
Zachary Taylor, Icy near the town
of Matamoros. Visiting tho hos
unteer corps from the States, ] re-
marked beautiful, bright-eyed boy of
some eighteen years, down with
disease, but CHEEKY withsl The inter
est he inspired led to his removal to
army headquarters, where he soon re-
covered health and became pet. This
was Robert Wheat, son of an Episcopal
Clergyman, from the old town of Alex
andria, on the Potomac, who had run
away from school to come to the war.
He next went to Cuba with Lopez, WAS
Woubutu hhu ChptuIeti. Dut esCHpeu tnS
garote to follow Walker to Nicaragua.
Exhausting the capacities Of South
American patriots to pronounce, he
quilted their society in disgust, and
joined Garibaldi in Italy, whence
his keen scent of combat sNm-
moned him home in convenient
time to receive & bullet at Ma
nassas. The most complete 'Dugald
Dalgetty''. possible, he had all the ''de-
fects OF the good qualities" Of that
doughty warrior. Some months after
the time of which [ am now writing, %
| body of horse was captured in the Val
| ley of Virginia. The colonel command
| ing, who had been dismounted in the
| fray, approached me-a stalwart man,
with huge mustaches. cavalry boots
| adorned with spurs worthy of a cabelero,
slouGhed hat, and plume. He strobe
along with the nonchalant air of one
| who had wooed Dame Fortune too long
| to be cast down by her frowns. Sud
denly, Major Wheat, near by, sprapg
| from his horse with q cry OF Percy,
old boyl' why, Bob?" was echoed
back, and warm embrace was ex-
changed. Col. Percy Windham, an
Englishman in the Federal service
or some other country where the
| pleasant business Of "killing" was 60
| ing on, and now fraternized with his
| friend in the manner described. Poor
| Wheatl A month later, and he slept
| his last sleep on the bloody field of
| Gold Harbor. He lies there in sol
dier's grave. Gallant spiritl Let US
hope that his readiness to die for his
cause has made "the scarlet Of his sins
| like unto wool"
AS the autumn of the year 186D passed
away, the question Of army organization
pressed for solution. Divergent opin-
| Richmond and Gen. Johnston and
Beauregard. The former sent me 10
President Davis to explain his views
and urge their adoption. Ny mission
met with no success; but, in discharg-
| ing it. [ was made aware Of the
estrangement growing UP between
these eminent persons, which sub
subsequently became the ''spring Of
woes unnumbered. An earnest effort
made by me to remove the cloud, then
no 'greater than mans hand" failed,
| though the elevation of character Of the
two men, which made them listen pa
tiently to my appeals, justified hope.
| Time but served to widen the breach.
| Without the knowledge and despite the
wishes Of Gen. Johnston, the descend
ants Of the ancient jewellers in the cave
of Adullam gathered themselves be-
hind his shield and shot their arrows at
President Davis and his advisers
weakening the influence Of the head OF
the cause for which all were strug-
CLING. Immediately after the birth
of the Confederacy, resolution was
adopted by the provisional Congress, y
declaring that military and naval
officers resigning the service Of the Uni
| t.I Mt n cntap thDt nj
the Confederate. would preserve their
rank. Later on, the President was au-
thorized to make five appointments to
the grade Of general. These appoint
ments were announced after the action
at Manassas, and in the following order
of seniority: Samuel Cooper, Albert
Sidney Johnston, Robert E. Lee, Joseph
Il. Johnston, and Ct. L. Beauregard.
Near the close of President Buchanan g
Administration in 1860, died Gen. Jes-
sup, the Quartermdster- General OF the
| United States army, and Joseph IL.
Johnston, then lieutenant-colonel OF
cavalry. Was appointed TO the vacancy.
Now. the Ouartermaster-G General OF the
United States army had the rank, pay,
and emoluments Of brigadierg general ;
but the rank was staff, and by law this
officer could exercise no command over
troops unless by special assign
ment of his government. When in the
spring of 1861 the officers in question
offered their services to the Confedera-
cy, Cooper was adjutant general, United
States army, rank Of colonel; Albert
Sidney Johnston, colonel, brigadief
general by brevet, and on duty as such
Lee, lieutenant colonel of cavalry, Sc
Nor to Joseph E. Johnston in the line
before the latter's appointment above
| mentioned. Beaure0ard major OF en-
gineers. President Davis held to the
Superiority Of line to staff rank in ar
ranging the order of seniority of gen
erals. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston took
the opposite view. and sincerely be- d,
After the grave and wondrous scenes
through which we have passed, all this
seems like "a tempest in a teapot,
but it had much influence at the
time, and deserves attention. Gen
Johnston has published his account o
| nh 10 11nIprctnnH that M