The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-17
GEN. JOSEPH WHEELER.
He "Hopes to BE Old Enough soon
to Make Il Good Soldier"
Frou The New York Evening Sun.

~
From the New York Evening sun
Mai. Gen. Joseph Wheeler's decision TO
resign his seat in Congress and retain his
commission in the army may have an
other Significance than that which he
gives it in a published interview
nrAfer the army life to the life of mem
her Of Congress" says the general Has
NOT this fine old soldier earned the graft
t-de of his country by his inestimable
services to it as wearer OF the blue ana
should his country be slow to recognize
them substantially? Surely there is no
more patriotic officer in the army to-day
than Gen. Joseph Wheeler. 1t must al
WAYS be remembered that when on the
night of July / it was proposed to retire
from San juan ridge and occupy position
that could be defended with less risk TO
the army, Gen. Wheeler protested with
such vigor that the plan was abruptly
abandoned Had he thrown the weight
Of his influence in the other scale, history
might have been written differently.
1t can hardly be disputed that Gen. Shat
ter set a very high value on Wheelers adj
vice in military exigency, and justly
90 for the little general was a famous
warrior and had commanded many thou
sands Of men on hard-fought feds long
before he reached the age of 80 There
was no other man of any rank in the
Santiago campaign who could measure ca
reers with him, and all the veterans or
the war Of secession paid him homage for
his experience and prestige.
lx n11r7lOTO1Ig of Cen Wheel
er to saw: although some little discus
sion has been raised as to my age, I hope
to be old enough soon to make a good
soldier" Joseph Wheeler was graduated
from the Military Academy in 1853, being
then % years of age. When his state by
adoption seeded and Wheeler resigned
from the army, he was appointed colonel
of the Nineteenth Alabama, an infantry
regiment In the national army he had
served as a dragon. At Shiloh he COM
mauded a brigade and covered the retreat
of the cavalry in July, 1862. About six
months later. and al the age of o. he was
promoted to be major general. At Chick
amauga he led the cavalry and crossing
the Tennessee after that battle, he harried
Rosecrans, beat a force sent againt him,
and destroyed 200 transportation wagons,
with their stores. Daily he hung on
Sherman's TANKS and fought him as he
or took the fed with his command dis
mounted Gen. 0. o. Howard, when he
visited Tampa before the Shafter expedi-
ton sailed for Santiago used to recall
Joe Wheeler's aggressive tactics on Sher-
mans line Of communication, and How
ard. who served with Sherman, expressed
the greatest admiration for Wheeler as
an active. interchangeable indomltabe sol
der. An incident Of the Georgia cam
paien was the Confederate's capture Of
Gen George Stoneman and his artillery
and transportation. Wheeler became
lieutenant general on May n. 1864 being
then Is years OF age and on the death
Of Jeb Stuart he was the senior cavalry
general of the Confederate armies. Such.
m brief was the career from 1861 10 1866
of the little hero OF Santiago, who says
with his eyes twinkling, II hope 20 be old
enough soon 10 make q good soldier"
Whether a united and sectionless cOun-
try purposes 10 bestow honors ana em0lu-
menta on Joseph wheeler. thc American
colder OF 1905 ls something for the ad-
minlFtrauon and Congress 60 determine.
hut II bis services before Santiago should
H. adequately reeogu.zei there would be
40 dissenl!ng yolee from SEA ~ SEA,