El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-17
Joseph Wheeler, Soldier.

Joseph Wheeler, Soldier.
Major General Joseph Wheeler's de-
cision, says the New York Sun, to re-
sign his seat in congress and retain his
commission in the army may have an
other significance than that which be
gives it In q published interview. II
prefer the army life to the life Of .
member of congress-" seys the
general. Has not this fine old soldier
earned che gratitude of his country by
his in estimable services to 1t Is Q
wearer of the blue, and should bis
country he slow to recognize them
substantially? Surely there IL no more
patriotic officer In the army today than
Joseph Wheeler. It must always be
remembered that when on the night of
July l it was proposed to retire from
San Juan ridge and occupy q position
that could be defended with less risk
to the army, General Wheeler protest
ed with euch viRor that the plan WAS
abruptly abandoned. Had he thrown
the weight of his influence In the other
scale, history might have been written
differently.
It can hardly be disputed that Cen
Wheeler's advice in . military exiRen.
cy, and justly 80, for the little general
was q famous warrior and had com.
manded many thousands OF men on
hard fought fields long before he reach-
ed the age Of 30 There was no other
man of any rank in the Santiago cam
paign who could MEASURE careers with
him, and all the veterans of the war OF
the rebellion paid him homage for his
experience and prestige.
It is deliciously humorous OF General
Wheeler to cay: although come
little discussion has been raised ss TO
my age, hope to be old enough soon
to make q good soldier. "Joseph Wheel
err was graduated from the military
of age. When his state by adoption
seeded and Wheeler resigned from
the army, he was appointed colonel Of
the Nineteenth Alabams, an infantry
regiment. In.the national army he had
served as Q dragon. At Shiloh he
commanded brigade and covered the
retreat Of the c0nfederates. He was
1862. About six months later, and 1t
the age of q, he was promoted to be .
major general. At Chickamauga he
led the cavalry. and crossing the Ten
nessee after the battle, he harried
Rosecrans, beat . force sent against
him and destroyed 1900 transportation
wagons, with their stores. Daily he
hung on Sherman's fanks and
fought him a. be advanced into Ceor-
gia. Sometimes Wheeler took the field
with bis command dismounted. Gem
eral o. o. Howard, when he visited
Tampa before the Shafter expedition
sailed for Santiago. used to recall Joe
Wheeler's aggressive attacks on Sher-
mans line of Communication, and How
ard, who served with Sherman, ex.
pressed the greatest admiration for
Wheeler as an active, indefatigable,
indomitable soldier. An incident Of
the Georgia campaign was the
confederate's capture of Cen
eral George Stoneman and his artillery
and transportation. Wheeler became
q lieutenant general on May IL, 1854,
being then % years Of age, and on the
death of Jeb Stuart he WAS the senior
cavalry general of the confederate
armies. Such, in brief, Was the career
from 1851 to 1855 of the little hero Of
Santiago, who says, with his eyes twink
ling. 81 hope to be old enough soon
to make q good soldier"
| Whether . united and eectfOnless
country purposes 70 best0w h0uors and
emoluments on Joseph Wheeler, the
American soldier of 1895. is something
for the administration and congress- to
determine, but if his services before
Santiago should be adequately recOg-
nized there would be no dissenting
voice from sea to sea.