The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-09-22
FIGHTING
JOE WHEELER
r. B. Cramer, who was
With him in Cuba.
Talks About the Hero of
Santiago.

II. B. Cramer, q we'll known news
paper man, who was with the army in
front of Santiago, as the representa-
tive of the Atlanta Constitution and of
the Associated Press, and whose stories
were published daily all over the coun-
try, was in the city yesterday en- route
to Atlanta Mr.. Cramer is a staunch
friend and admirer of Gen. Joe Wheel
er, and was with him the most of the
time while at the front and was in
position to observe everything that was
going on during the engagements at
Santiago.
Mr.. Cramer talked Interestingly yes
day afternoon with Times man about
the part General Wheeler played in the
Santiago campaign. He gives General
Wheeler all the credit for the brilliant
triumph of the American arms and be-
lieves that he is the real hero of San
tiago.
General Wheeler" said he, "was
the back bone of the campaign. 1t was
he who paved the way for the success
of Americas arms. Though nominal
ly in charge of q division of General
Skaters army. he was the real com
mander- in-chief of the army and was
looked upon as such by the men who
did the fighting. Gen. Wheeler was
an inspiration to the whole army and
success attended his every movement.
While an engineer officer was provid-
ing for the transportation of General
Shafter, General Wheeler was at the
trenches directing the fight. But for
the stand taken by Gen. Wheeler after
the first fighting, the whole army
would have retreated to the hills around
Santiago. When Gen. Shafter issued
the order for the army to fall back to
the hills Gen. Wheeler said no, the
American forces would not yield an
inch of the ground for which they had
so bravely struggled. He opposed the
retreat from the beginning and his bold
stand induced Gen. Shafter to allow
the army to remain where it was.
''From the start to the finish of the
campaign the execution of the plans
deyoled upon Gen. Wheeler, though as
! said before, he was nominally the
commander of division.
cit was Gen. Wheeler who conduct
ed the preliminaries and paved the way
for the surrender Of The Spanish forces
under Gen. Toral Under the mango
tree where the surrender was agreed to
Gen. Wheeler did nearly all the talk
ing, while Gen. Shafter sat upon an
empty candle box almost as dumb as an
oyster. At these conferences, as in the
battles, Gen. Wheeler was as calm and
self possessed as he ever was on the
floor of the house Of representatives.
He at no time lost his head. General
Wheeler exercised great diplomacy in
treating with Gen. Toral. When the
latter said there were a good many
things worse than death Gen. Wheeler
used arguments that convinced Gen.
Toral that surrender was far more pref
cradle under the circumstances than
death. With outstretched hands he
pointed toward the hills and told Gen.
Toral to think of the death and de-
struction that would be wrought when
the siege guns of our army were turned
upon the Spanish entertainments and
the city of Santiago. General Toral
pleaded strongly that his army be al
lowed to keep all arms and ammnni-
ton. To this Gen. Wheeler firmly
made the answer that to surrender
meant the turning over of all arms and
ammunitions. "But, general, " asked
General Toral through his interpre-
ter, "cannot my officers keep their
side arms?"
Without hesitating a second General
Wheeler replied, "Why, certainly,
Gen. Toral, each officers side arms are
his badge of honor, and he shall be al
lowed to retain them. I never thought
of compelling you to surrender them.
"I tell you," continued Mr.. Cramer
"Little Fighting Joe is as great as Ma
poleon ever was. His heart is as big al
bushel basket, and q more intrepid
leader never lived. But he is as modes
as he is brave. He takes no credit for
himself. If you were to ask him to-day
about Gen. Shafter he would compli
ment him and give him all credit fo
the successful ending of the campaign.
Mr.. Cramer tells an interesting stor,
concerning Gen. Wheeler that has nev
er been printed before. AT San Jral
before the final battle about 4 o'clocl
in the afternoon the adiutant of Roose
velt's Rough Riders came to Genera
Wheeler and informed him that tn
men could not dig trenches.
"Now lieutenant" said Gen. Wheel
er, ego and bring me one man VIII
says he can't dig a trench.
"All right, general" he answered
'T can bring you regiment that can
do it.