The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-21

faVSfeQ, DuC LOT tne reason that he couldn't
keep out q fuss" and lived In an ora
full OF proSocation to lively minded young
fellows wearied with humdrum; and then
he was q minister's son, born to the vice of
ecratcism. If NOS to that of genius Wheat
wes Christian, q man Of culture and SEN
timent. with an abundance OF pride aud
Jealous self respect thrownin. The Tigers
weTe touRhs from the toughest of all rem
degvouses for hard characters, the New
Orleans levees. How the Tigers and the
lamb cameA to take the wsrpath together
Is strange story.
Col. Chatham Roberdeau Wheat was
born Virginia cavalier, an r. F. v. of
Huguenot blood, and was bred TO manhood
in that nursery ground OF soldiers, the stste
Of Tennessee His grandfather ON his
mothers side was that Gen. Roberdeau, Of
Philadelphia, who footed Continental bills
to the tune Of thousands, raised troops and
led them, built forts and defended them,
opened lead mines to manufacture bullets
and put in good work generally in aid of
revolution.
The streak of tho odd patriots blood
that fell to Bob took fire when tho Next
can war broke out, aud he was the first re-
cruit on the roll at Memphis, where he was
law student just out Of his teens
Wheet's father was responsible for the
tare. He was rector OF Christ church at
Nashville, and within few hours after
the call to arms reached the Mississippi
valley, two war letters were travelling In
opposite directions over the stage route
between Memphis anil Nashville One let
ter was from the peace loving rector to tho
young law student, saying in effect: My
son, don't be carried OF your feet By the
war news. Wait awhile, and if more troops
are really needed. and think it your duty
to volunteer, you may go. But grid your
loins in patience until that hour comes.
This WIS the letter that passed the
other OH It's way to the rectory In Nash
Vile: Dear PA chip of the old block
l knew you would BIO ashamed of me If
did not volunteer as soon IA tho cell came
My name l am proud to say is the very
first on the list. have been unanimously
elected second lieutenant of a company Of
cavalry. Please send Jim by some careful
hand"
& The Jim asked for was a highly tpained
blooded horse, the pride and pet of the
family, and he was soon making PAGES to-
ward Memphis OH the way to the Rio
Grande. Wheat served In the Tennessee
Mounted volunteers in Gen Taylor's bat
ties and afterwarl organized and led Gen.
Scott's bodyguard. His men were we'll
mounted, deliberately uniformed and
equipped and well up in the ornamental
work Of headquarters nonsense, and per
haps the young soldier lived too much
amid wars dazzling splendor and thought
that was the whole of It,
The scattering of the volunteers after
peace was declared landed hosts of them
in New Orleans, where the "Jingo" spirit
was always up against our southern neigh.
bors Wheat settled there and quickly
made fame as criminal lawyer. He was
in politics, and was success as a stump
orator, but yet lie was not happy. At any
rate he couldn't see war flag floating on
the broad surface of the earth but lie must
get behind or in front of It,
His first adventure Rs a foreign COM
blatant was with the Spanish-American
patriot, Lopez. in the Cuban invasion of
1850. Lopez WAS an exiled Spaniartl,
whom the Cuban revolutionists had won
to their cause, Gud raised two expeditions
in the United States to invade the little
island and stand by the insurgent natives.
Wheat was leader of the New Orleans
contingent and sailed from that port with
several hundred men. He had secret
orders from Lopez, and on opening them
at sea found directions TO meet Lopez at a
certain point and proceed to Cuba.
Wheat summoned his men, and in "a stir
ring speech told them chat they must at
once throw off all disguise, haul down the
stars and stripes, and like Hagar in the
wilderness, when cast off from the protec-
ton OF Abraham call upon the Almighty
TO- deliver them from peril and distress
While the flag was lowered he hailed the
crowd as soldiers OF the liberating army
Of Cuba" closing with the challenge
Docs any one doubt the proprety of our
undertakings Does any one fear to go for
sSsMMsM