The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-01-08

than the country boys accustomed to
regular early hours, work and food.
Wheeler's battery was full one of
SIX light steel rifed field guns, some
200 men, and 14o horses, and was
commanded by young Wheeler when
he was only FL years of age. 1t is
said be was never absent from his COM
mand single day, even when sick and
disabled.
There is a romance of considerable
interest connected with his services be-
tore Petersburg not generally known
to-day. During that memorable
siege he was captured Gin heart) by one
of Virginia's daughters, whose father
and brothers were in the Southern
army. Their residence was between
the lines of the armies, and members
and officers of the battery say their
Captain ran many risks of capture aud
of his life in visiting the young lady,
who was niece of ex-President Tyler.
Confederate officers were said to have
been at the house frequently when
Major Wheeler would dash up with
squad of men, drive them from the
house, quietly take possession and stay
to dinner or supper.
Frequently they could not get away
and were concealed in the house, but
the Major would eat their meals and
gallantly ignore their presence. He
was married the year following the war.
1t IS said that afterward his strange
and romantic experience was written
up by one of the battery and published
in a leading Northern magazine and
read with great interest at the time,
although considered fictitious. 1t has
also been stated that Gillette's great
play of "Held by the Enemy" was
founded upon incidents in the Majors
history.
After the war, in 1866, Major
Wheeler went into the postofhce de-
partment at Richmond, and held vari-
Gus offices including chief clerk of the
money order and register department.
For short time he was special agent
of the department; and while in charge
of the Danville, Va, office, was made
postmaster there, upon the petition OF
the entire business community, Demo-
cratic and Republican, a position
which he held fifteen years. On one
occasion while in the discharge of his
duties, he was shot and stabbed with a
bowie knife. He was exceedingly
popular in that city and inquiries made
by Postmaster Gentsch developed
testimonials from leading men, bankers
and others, of the most fattering char
aCter.
These were remarkable as the Major
was an active Republican during the
dangerous and stormy days Of recon
struction when the "Ku Klux" were
riding rough shod over his party and
when Judge Tourgee was passing
through the same experience only
few miles distant, which he SO graphi
cally describes in ga FOOLS Errand."
Major Wheeler was personally &C
quainted with many of the characters
and incidents in that book, and it is
exceedingly interesting to converse
with him regarding them.
The Major was also present and an
eye witness to the Danville massacre in
which a number of negroes were killed
and wounded. His evidence before an
investigating committee reads like
novel and discloses the plans and
schemes of the perpetrators of those
outrages.
Even at that time and place. he was
recognized as man of nerve and de-
cision, as he was the only Republican
who appeared on the scene of action.
Few persons, however, would recog-
nize his admirable qualities, coolness
! and bravery, as he is as remarkable for
his reserve and quiet demeanor and
amiable qualities as for his nerve and
! indifference to danger in positions that
! tried mems sc Lls.
He returned to Buffalo in 1884, and
for some years held an important Rs;S
ton in the city excise departmenWd d
; His son, VIM. Agar Wheelefd,%A.
LlYI1,