The Atlanta constitution., 1898-05-09
FIGHTING JOE WHEELER"
AND WILSON, The RAIDER

A generation ago when that bold federal
raider General j. H. Wilson, was giving
the confederates no end OF trouble. and
was being roundly whacked in return by
General Joe Wheeler and his fearless gray
Jackets nobody dreamed that the two foe
men would live to see the day when they
would both hold high rank under the folds
of "Od Glory in crisis demanding the
best generals and the braVest and most
loyal Americans!
And yet the whrlgig Of time has brought
a bout this very result. and these men who
during four long wears fought each other
under rival flags will now draw their will
ing swords against the common enemy OF
their reunited country.
The major generalshipS now conferred
upon these old federal and confederate COM
manders who more than once narrowly
missed a hand-to-hand combat in some or
their desperate forays. have been worthily
won. and 1t requires no prophet to predict
| that these two thunderbo!ts of war will be
heard from in way that will help our
| cause and make the Spaniards mourn.
General Joe Wheeler is one of the best
| known men in congress. where he has serv-
! ed eight terms as representative from
! Alabama. His long white beard and thin,
| sharp features attract attenton in any
crowd. and the visitors in the house gal
! IerieS always study him and discuss MS
| interesting personality.
| At the age of slxty-one the veteran is re-
| markedly active and it IS evident at
| glance that he Is able to stand the fatigue
! of at least one more hard campaign.
When the civil war broke out he was
| serving as a cavalry lieutenant in New
! Mexico. but he resigned early in 1861 and
| entered the confederate army. where he
| was promoted to the command OF a reSl-
| ment brigade, division and army corps. lie
was the hero of so many daslinG exploits
| that he rose to the rank OF senior CaFalfy
| general of the confederate armies The
| congress al Richmond thanked him for his
! distinguished services. and the South car
olina legislature thanked him in the name
| of the state for his defense of Aiken
Wheeler was called "F.ghtinG Joe IN the
! confederate army because he was the most
| restless and active man in the service in his
unceasing efforts to worry tn" enemy. lie
never ordered his men TO 90 forward
| "Come on" was his usual command, and
without waiting a moment he would make
q dash to the front.
TOUGH wiry and absolutely fearless. he
was an IDEAL trooper in those days. lie ate
| sDarincIy and slept little. The guerrill1
| STYLE of warfare suited him. and 1t was pest
| ad?pted to his conditions and surroundings.
! When he was at their head IN command ms
| men never lost a fight. His troops were
! kept constantly in motion and their leader
| was always seeking danger. 1t IS Said
| that he generally wore out even the pest
| horse in a week and on the march he was
always galloping from the advance fuaFh
| to the rear and back again. Nheh II was
| necessary to capture trains and cut the
armv's communications he was at his best
| and the federals felt panicky whenever 1t
was rumored that Wheeler was within
| hundred miles of them.
| In his command were hundreds OIL the
most gallant young men of the south Many
| of the survivors are now scattered all over
| tbn country and it has been frequently re-
| marked that they are at the front in peace
/ as well as in war. Some of them whose
| names will readily be recalled by the read
! ers Of this article are now occupying very
| high positions in state and federai ohlcla'
! circles.