The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1900-02-16
BAD TREATMENT
OF GEN. WHEELER
ls the Primary Cause Of ITS Return
From the Philippines.
WAS IGNORED BY GEN. OTIS
Engaged In Many Fights, But His
Name Was Not Mentioned.

pines throws some light on "Fighting
Joe's" sudden decision to return home
and sever his connection with the
military branch Of the government.
The writer, who is thoroughly re-
liable, confirms the reports received
In Washington and the opinion so
frequently expressed that General Otis
has been successful in his efforts in
depriving General Wheeler Of any
glory whatever in the military opera
tions in the Philippines.
The officer in question not only
charges that General Otis systemati-
cally endeavored to keep General
Wheeler in the background, but
through the red robin scheme pre-
vented any reports Of the operations
OF General Wheeler's command from
entering the states. The letter Of the
officer in part is as follows, his name
being withheld for prudential rea.
sons:
Letters are being received from the
United States asking why General
Otis has never mentioned General
Wheeler in his reports.
A letter from San Francisco address
ed to An officer here in the Philip
pines says:
II have watched the reports from
Manila, as I thought such fine officer
as General Wheeler would be in the
thick of the fight but for some unac-
countable reason his name is not men
toned. I am very much interested in
him, as I read of him in Cuba in the
magazines"
Other letters of the same tenor have
been received. One letter says:
IA statement has been made that
NO matter what General Wheeler did
in the Philippines his name would new.
er be mentioned.
We believe this has been proven to
be literally true.
1t is known that General Wheeler
has constantly studied the location of
the enemy's troops and has repeatedly
solicited authority to attack them, but
every such application has been re-
fused. Notwithstanding this, Gener-
al Wheeler has been in a number Of
engagements, but his service has been
entirely ignored or the credit given to
others.
On September 9th General Wheeler
had fight with force Of insurgents,
infantry and artillery, commanded by
the Filipido general, Tomas Mascardo.
This fight was at Santa Rita.
General Otis cabled an account of
the fight to Washington, but the pub
lished report does not mention Gen.
Wheeler, but does mention other Off
GERS who were not in the fight in such
a way as to convey the impression that
the credit was due to them.
On September 10th General Wheeler
had another fight at Santa Rita, but
no mention whatever was made of it.
On September 28th he commanded
the troops which charged over the
enemy's breastworks at Porac and
pushed through and beyond the town
before any other troops were in the
town, killing and capturing insur-
gents, together with guns and other
property. This fight was reported to
Washington, but General Wheeler's
name was not mentioned, and here
again officers who were not in the
fight and who at the time were miles
away from it are mentioned.
On October 14th General Wheeler's
troops had quite a warm fight at An
geleS with the insurgent brigades of
General Hizon and Colonel Queri, I'M
der General Conception, and portions
of brigades under General Mascardo
and General Akino. The insurgent
force was about $500 strong. The
fight lasted for three hours with
free use of artillery and small arms on
both sides. We lost six wounded.
General Wheeler rode his horse along
the firing line during the action, 60
ing from post to post reinforcing the
points where the enemy appeared to
be strongest, but General Otis dis
patch does not mention his name.
On October 10Th, General Wheeler
was in another fight with still strong
or force of insurgents under the same
insurgent commanders. General
Wheeler again rode the firing line
during all the action. Our loss was
one killed and nine wounded. Here
again no mention was made of General
Wheeler, and yet the insurgent force
engaged in these two fights was far
greater than in most of the fights in
the Philippines.
General Wheeler also engaged in
nine other fights or skirmishes at An