The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-05
MAJOR GENERALS LEE AND
WHEELER.

1t would have been impossible for
President Mckinley to have done a
more popular and patriotic thing than
nominate for major generals Fitzhugh
Lee of Virginia and Joseph Wheeler of
Alabama
Ever since the Cuban trouble began
the name Of Fitzhugh Lee has been in
timately connected with it; this, of
course. comes from the fact that he
has been consul general at Havana,
having been appointed to the position
by President Cleveland, and continued
III it by President Mckinley; and he
became the popular hero of the strug-
gle. He is almost adored in
the south. this as much for his own
worth. as for the fact that he is a
nephew of the late Robert e. Lee.
He was born in Fairfax county, Va,
Nov. 70. 1885. He was graduated from
West Point in 1856, and commissioned
second lieutenant in the Second cav
airy, serving in the west against the
Indians. where he was severely wound
ed. In May, 1860 he was ordered to re-
pert to the military academy at West
Point as instructor of cavalry. II 1861
he resigned from the army and entered
the confederate service, being commits
stoned first lieutenant of cavalry March
16. He served as adjutant general of
EwelIs brigade until August, 1861,
when he was promoted to the lieutenant
colonelcy of the First Virginia cavalry.
He was advanced TO the position Of col
onel in March, 1852, to that Of brigadier
general on July "A, 1852, and to that Of
d major general August 8, 1868. AT
Winchester, Va, Sept. 10, 1864, where
he had three horses shot under him, he
was severely wounded, and was dis
abled for months. During the last
month of the war he had command of
the cavalry corps of the army of north
.ern Virginia. This he surrendered to
General Meade at Farmvllle, Va. After
the war. he retired to his farm in Stat
ford county, and interested himself in
political matters. In 1885 he was elected
governor of Virginia His recent career
is known to all. In 1874 he delivered a
speech at Bunker Hill, which had much
influence in creating a better feeling
throughout the north and south. When
the war was over. he accepted its re-
suits in good faith, and has ever since
been a promoter of harmony and good
feeling
Joseph Wheeler was born in Augusta,
Ga, Sept. 10, 1885, He was graduated
from West Point in 1859, becoming a
lieutenant of artillery, serving in New
Mexico until 1861, when he resigned and
entered the confederate army. There he
became a lieutenant of artillery, being
promoted successfully to the grades of
colonel of infantry, brigadier general,
major general and lieutenant general
of cavalry. He commanded the cavalry
corps of the western army in 1862, and
confederate armies, May II, 1864. AS a
cavalry officer he ranked along with
Forrest and Stuart of the confederates,
and Sheridan of the Union forces. Dur
ing his career in the army, he was
wounded three times: had 16 horses
shot under him: seven of his staff Of
fcers were killed, and SO wounded.
After the close of the war he devoted
himself TO the law. He was elected a
member of the Forty Forty
ninth, Fiftieth, Fifty-frst, Fifty-sec-
ord, Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth and
F'Ifty-fifth congresses.
These two nominations will be en-
received by the whole
country, but to the south they will be
dearer than to all others. This evidence
of the union of the whole country is al
most worth what the war will cost
These nominations are proper and fit
ting, and the president viii have the
thanks of all the people for having
made them.