The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-02

offered to do the work for him; his Off
GERS pointed out the danger of making
a target of himself but Fighting Joe''
fought it out with his staff and had his
own way.
Nor is he a selfish officer. "A tired
fellow-officer can always get lift behind
General Joe; a sick or disabled one is
lifted into his saddle. He is a rough and
tumble fighter, just such as Antonio
Maeeo was, though so much older and
more hardened in war, that he stands
above and ahead of all comparisons.
NOT SELFISH.
Nor in the mess room is General Wheel
er on the lookout for creature comforts.
Whether on ship-board or in the field he
takes what comes and is thankful for
anything. No one ever heard him COM
plain of army beef for himself; though
for his men he is constant kicker
When he first went into the field
Fighting Joe" took with him a very
pretty daughter known as Angel Annie
to the soldiers in camp. Miss Wheeler
went as Red Cross nurse and took
care of the soldiers who were wounded
or down; all diseases were the same to
her, typhoid or inconsistencies, she did
what she could for each and all.
Now Miss Wheeler is to be married
but Fighting Joe" is at the front still
fighting, though he does not think it will
be for long,
OF this he himself saws:
My recent investigation led me to
conclude that the prevailing sentiment.
the great desire of the people. was for
the restoration of peace so that they
could quietly pursue their avocations;
and L am quite convinced that when they
learn that such will be the case under
American rule they viii be perfectly sat
ls1ed with our control of the islands.
The priest and some of the members
OF his family were very agreeable and
intelligent gentlemen.
Il went with members of my staff to
his church and showed all respect posi-
bic to their order of service. TIE music
was very sweet and this found to be
the case in all the other churches visited
by me- At the time when l was present
only the women partook of communion.
They seemed very devout, and nothing
IN my whole tour in Luzon impressed me
more favorably than the devotion Of the
women. They are devoted to their
churches, their religion, their children,
i their parents and all their relatives
They are industrious in the extreme, and
l never saw anything that could be said
to approximate frivolity.''
General Wheeler is a Georgian BY
birth, although he has lived in Alabama
the greater portion of his life. He was
! born in Augusta, September 10, 1888
and spent his early childhood there
His father was Joseph Wheeler, well
known merchant and planter Hi.
mother was a Miss Hull, of Connecticut
While visiting her sister, who had mar
ried Edward Campbell, close relativ,
of Mr.. Wheeler, Miss Hull met the youn.
southerner, and was wooed and wol
by him. Fighting Joe" Wheeler wal
the issue of that union.
Young Joe Wheeler spent many of hi
boyhood days visiting his relatives il
Cheshire, Conn, and attended the acade
my there, receiving his first instruction
under Yankee tutorage.
In 1854 he was given an appointment
as a cadet in the United States military
| academy, West Point, through a distant
relative who represented the Sixth New
York congressional district in Congress
| Graduating from there four years later
Young Wheeler entered the First regi
! ment of cavalry as a second lieutenant
| He was soon promoted to a first lieu
tenancy in the Third cavalry.
On April %, 1861, Lieutenant Wheeler
resigned from the United States Arm,
and accepted an appointment as coIone
| in Alabama cavalry.
His first brilliant military stroke il
the Confederate service was done a
temporary commander of a brigade Oh
the left of General Folks forces at Perry
| vile. Here his qualities as fighter AM
commander so impressed his superio
officers that he was promptly made
brigadier general, and put in command 0
the cavalry. From that time forth h
commanded the vanguard of the arm
when advances were made, and the rear
guard in retreats.
In summing up his work Presiden
Davis said of General Wheeler:
HE displayed dash, activity, Wig
lance and consummate skill which justl
entitle him to place on the roll of grea
cavalry leaders. By his indomitable Ell
ergy. operating on both sides of Shel
/ mans column, he was enabled to kee
the government and commanders of on
troops advised of the enemy's move
ments, and by preventing foraging pa
ties from leaving the main body, he save
from spoilation all but a narrow tract {
country, and from the torch million
worth of property which would otherwis
have been consumed"
The rumor that General JOSEF
Wheeler is engaged to be married to Mr.
George w Child, widow of the philal
thropist, has been repeated and agai
denied Friends of both still insist tn;
it is true.
General Wheeler viii neither affirl
nor deny saying that It is out of h