The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-29
WHEELER WAS A
LIEUT.. GENERAL.
He Was Commissioned by President
Davis in 1865.
COMMISSION NEVER REACHED HIM
But OhiciaI Records Recognize His
Rank. Although Under the Cir
cumstances He Did Not Sign
Himself a. Lieut.. General.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2S.-Speciai.-A
well.known Vireinian has written Ihe
Times letter from Walkers Ford, Va
I'm which he says
"In your biographical sketch Of Cen
eraI Joseph wheeler published during
his recent visit TO Richmond, if mis-
take not. YOU spoke OF him as having
been Lieutenant general in the Con-
federate Army. / have carefully search
cd all the authorities bearing upon the
subject 40 my command, without peiis
able 10 find where he attained ram
higher than that OF major genera,
SIGNED AS MAJOR GENERAL
"In Romans Military Operations oi
General Beauresard. lyOl. 2, page ool)'
Tho following telegram appears:
Raleigh, April. 8, lSe5, IL A. VI.
g.. TO Gen. c. r. Beauregard:
".Am returning TO army with COM
noand bv orders of General Johnston.
-. WHEELER
Major General
As will be seen from the above tele-
Gram dated only a short while before
tba surrender of JohnstOn's army IN
north Carolina. the little hero Of two
wars signed himself Major General
"Wm YOU kindly give your authority
for fhe statement contained In the shetch
of Fighting joe 20 which allude?
"r do not wish 10 detract in any way
from the splendid military record Of
General Wheeler by making the enquiry
but only to ascertain the truth Of his
tory az well as 10 settle contention
o. long standing
GENERAL WHEELEk'S STATEMENT
showed the letter 10 General Naecler
fo-dqv ard he said IL was a matter
which had concerned him very little, ana
that he was content to- be Aaior-GeneFal
lie said. hOweN er. when pressed Tor
further facts that he was informed about
the time named that i'm February. 1900
President Davis appointed him bleuteh-
ant-Gereral. The commission was trans
mitted through General Robert T.. Lee
but for some reason, presumably hDe-
cause OF the defective means OF trans
portation then existing, the commission
never reached him.
1t is of interest in this connection that
during the later days of the Confederacy
a law was passed allowing the fleslu1H'
TO make appointments without the con-
nrmation Of the Senate being required.
General wheeler informs me that when
he was promoted 10 Major-General ne
felt il was due the Senate that the
nomination be sent 10 that body. Con-
sequently another nomination was made
and confirmed. making two appointments
10 the position. which he received.
NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION.
General Wheeler says he had been told
OF his promotion. but was not officially
advised of H. 50 he did not feel at liberty
TO sign himself as ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
which accounts for the above signature.
ii is manifestly not General Wheelers 5
desire 10 raise the question but | have
found several facts from the official re-
cords. published by the government,
which should be told in justice TO him.
on page 1861 OF Serial No. 9s is an OFF,
cial paper. showing the organization Of
the Confederate forces commanded by
General Joseph f. Johnston. as constitute
ed after April sth, upon which date II
was partly reorganized'
Cavalry Corps.
Lieutenant General, Wade Hampton.
consisting OF General
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