The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-08-13
GENERAL JOE WHEELER.
San Francisco Post.


are matters Of history. The "Red
Book Of Michigan" tells this story at
the generals expense. It is an incl
dent connected with the repulse of the
Confederates at Strawberry Plains,
August "a, 1864. Eight men Of the
Tenth Michigan cayalry had been de-
tailed to defend McMilligan ford on
the llolston. One of the men disap-
peared, leaving seven, and among this
number was great, husky, giant
named Griggs, the farrier of Company
B.
These seven men actually kept the
Confederate Brigade from crossing the
ford for three hours sand half. The
fighting was severe. Finally the big
farrier vas wounded, and the Confed-
crates, by swimming the river above
and below, succeeded in capturing the
whole party.
General Wheeler was filled with ad-
miration at their valor, and at once
paroled man to stay and take care Of
Griggs. Then he said to the wounded
farrier:
"Well, my man, how many men
had you?'
Seven, sir, answered Griggs.
My poor fellow, don't you know
you are badly wounded? You had
better tell the truth. You may not
live long
I'm telling the truth. SIR" said
the indignant soldier. We had only
seven men.
""ell, what did you expect to do?"
asked the general with laugh.
"To keep you from crossing, sir.
The general was still more amused.
why didn't you do it?' he asked.
""Wrll. sir, sou see, sir, we did un-
til you hit me, and that weakened our
forces so much that you we're too
many for u.s.
General Wheeler, more amused than
ever, inquired of another prisoner,
who happened to be horse farrier,
too
"Are all the Tenth Michigan like
you fcllows?"
"Oh, no, said the man; "we are
the poorest Of the lot. We are mostly
horse farriers and blacksmiths, and
not much accustomed to fighting"
Gen. Wheeler has largely develop
ed vein of poetry in his composition.
Some of his reports, when he was a
general Of cavalry in the Confederate
army are unique in this reepect. In
line of communication he had captur-
ed and burned the tin clad gun boats
of the Sedelle. In his feportjWheeler
wrote:
"Alongside the blazing and crack
ling transports she became cinder
upon the waters which only an hour
before had walked 80 proudly like
thing Of life.
His report Of mis- raid on the Sc.
quatchie valley in September, 1863, is
one of the most remarkable war docu.
ment7 ever published. He wrote
LAS jocund day began to stand tip
toe on the mountain tops on either
side, and the sunbeams to cast their
golden radiance upon the fields Of that
fertile valley, as if to cheer the weary
soldiers for the brilliant achievements
before them, q column Of the enemy
was encountered, and no sooner seen
than the notes of the generals bugle
sounded the charge, and each horse
man, instinct with new life, rushed
forward to the attack.
His escapes from death during the
civil war we're almost miraculous.
From first to last he had sixteen hors-
es killed under him in battle, "besidcs
great number wounded,' as he once
told General Malone. Thirty-.wo of
his staff officers we're either killd or
wounded while ridiog beside him at
the front. He was three times wound
ed himself. In All engagement near
Nashville, after Bragg's defeat in
1862, his horse was torn to pieces by
a. exploding shell, his aid was killed
and himself painfully wou led. He
climbed on another horse, ured an
other aid and continued at the head Of
his troops.
The career Of General Wheeler has
been one long romance. He is o
West Point graduate, served in New
Mexico az lieutenant of cavalry in
the regular army, resigned to enter
the Confederate army, rose to the
rank Of senior cavalry general Of its
armies, was appointed professor of
philosophy in Louisiana State Univer.
,.Ar hoo hooo q 1orvor owl n x,1aoto,