Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-09-05
WALHALLA, $. c.:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8, 1000.
WHEELER'S WAR STORIES.
Tales OF American Soldiers Told by "Soushs S
Fighting Joc."
[Dy Brig. Gen. Joseph Whcclcr.

When went to West Point as
cadet, in 1856, the first thing | di,
was to report to Colonel Robert T.
Lee, who was at that time Superin
tcndcnt of the military academy
Reaching his Office, | Knocked at thc
door, and when, in response TO ;
summons to "Comc in" entered
one of the handsomcst men ! eve
saw rose from table, walked around
it and put hand upon my shoulder
in kind and fathcrly manner. !
told him that had come to report
and, with a few pleasant words, h,
badc me welcome and sent me alone
to the adjutant.
RECoLLECTloNS or GEN. Il. T.. LEE
| never met the great leader OF
the Confedcracy during the war in
which we both served but by
schoolboy rccollcctions Of him arc
even more valuable to me on that
account. lie was very diguilicd
man and could be stern on occasions
but extremely kindhcartcd. Ills
ideas of duty were inllcxiblc, and
his son, Austin Lee, who was a,
that time cadet at the Point, was
treated by him with no favorable
discrimination the fact, indeed, was
rather the opposite. Once the boy
got into serious trouble, and his en-
tire class had to come to his rescue
with persuasion and pledges in order
to redeem him from punishment.
Colonel Lee remained at the Poin,
for year after went there, and
was then made Lieutenant Colonel
of cavalry.
FACING YELLOW FEVER.
witnessed great deal Of fight
ing during the Civil War; but not
any in which the men on either side
showed more bravery than I have
seen them exhibit recently in Cuba
and in the Philippines. Never
shall forget the occasion when, vel
low fever having broken out in Sibo-
ncy, the Twcnty-four,h infantry vol
untcercd to 60 back and nurse the
slck-to encounter, in word, a
plague ten times more terrifying
than any human enemy they could
be called upon to face in battle
array. Though very few, probably
not over five per cent, Of the men
who went to attack Santiago, had
not been under fire before, they be-
haved like veterans. In every case
where they were ordered TO take
position they marched against it
with as much precision as if on a
parade or executing manmuvrcs.
Each soldier seemed to feel il n
privilege to be there, and TO be i'm
bucd with determination to con
conquer.
on PARADE IN BATTLE.
1t was the same way in the Philip-
pines. rccollcct an instance at
Porac, in the cacturc Of which took
part on the 2Sth day Of last Scptom-
bcr. Six hundred men Of the Ninth
infantry were ordered to take very
strong position, to do which they
were obliged to advance 200 wards
through open fields, every step Of
the movement being in such order
as if the troops were at drills.
have seen armies Of other nations ::
but the more opportunities have
had to compare them with our own
soldiers the more impressed ! have
been with the superiority Of our own
fighting men. The Americans are
the best fighters in the world TODAY
the best thc world has eyer pro-
duccd
a REMARKABLE COINCIDENCE.
One Of the most remarkable Incl
dents OF the San Juan fight had to
do with two officers Of the Tenth
cavalry Lieutenant William II.
Smith and I.icutcnant William f..
Ship. These young men had en-
tered West Point together, one of