The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-11
GORDON AND WHEELER.
The Rank They Had in the Civil
War.

War.
Savannah, Ga, March 9.-Editor sa-
vannah Morning News: I would ask
space in your paper for the following
natter concerning Confederate history.
Recently Mr.. Sidney Herbert, in crit
jcising a book, which referred to Gen.
John B. Gordon as a major general,
c. :. A, took occasion to say that the
author was wrong. and should have
spoken of Gen. Gordon as a lieutenant
general. Surprising that Mr. Herbert
would be glad to have his error cor
rected, l called to his attention in an
impersonal letter, that Gen. Gordon
was a major general, and referred for
proof of the fact to the records of the
confederate War Office now on file in
the War Department at Washington,
wherein Gen. Gordon is listed as ma
tor general, This would fix his rank
up to the evacuation of Richmond, and
it could not have been altered latter
wards, because subsequently to that
date there was no session of the SEN
ate to confirm a promotion, even if
such had been made by the President,
which, however, was not done. BY way
of putting the matter pleasantly,
added that similar mistakes were
quite frequent and that even in APP
pleton's Encyclopedia and the Century.
Gen. Joseph Wheeler is stated to have
been a lieutenant general, C. S. A,
whereas he was in fact a major gen.
eral as proved by the documentary ev-
idence above referred to. l supposed
that this ended the matter.
But in the letter published in your
paper of yesterday Mr.. Herbert again
refers to the titles-not rank-of
Lieft. Gems. Gordon and Wheeler"
1t goes without saying, that the only
title" that any officer can have is
that derived from his actual rank, ;"
unless we mean Kentucky colonels,"
but Mr.. Herbert adds that according
to eX-President Davis decision given
to me in writing after the war was
over he (Wheeler) was entitled to be
classed with the lieutenant generals"
Mi. Herbert attributes to the Presi-
dents words a meaning clearly not
intended and quite inadmisible; they
had no reference at all to titles" or
ranks. And it is idle for US to dis
cuss to what rank an officer should be
considered entitled, for that is a mat
ter OF individual opinion we are only
concerned historically with the ques-
ton as to what rank and title he actu-
died of the Army of Northern Virginia
doubt for a moment that Gen. Gordon
deserved the rank and title of lieuten-
ant general, but, all the same, he end
ed the war major general
White admitting that Gen. Wheeler
was officially addressed by the Con-
federate War Department as major
general" and signed orders by that IT,
tie up to april q, 1865, yet Mr.. Her
d lieutenant general on Feb. %, 1865,
Association so states, and that he fail
ed somehow to receive notice of his
promition. The following will. upset
that conjecture: 4,
In April, 1865, just before the break
up of Johnston's army, Gen, Hampton,
at the Presidents request, went to
meet him near Salisbury, N. c.. for the
purpose of consulting about the best
means to effect the escape of the Pres
ident and government. At this inter-
view Gen. Hampton proposed to bring
at once from Johnston's army about
5000 volunteers, mounted on cavalry
horses, supplemented by animals from
the artillery, and with this force to
escort the President and government
wherever they decided to go. After
reflection the President declined this
proposition on the ground that 50
large a force would attract attention
and pursuit, and would find it diff
cult to forage, and would not be sufii-
GENTLY mobile for his purposes. The
general then said to the President that
Wheeler was well known in the West
ern country, which the party would
have to traverse, and could, therefore,
be of use on the journey and suggest
ed his taking Wheeler with him, and
also Professionally making him lieu
tenant general in order to add to his
prestige and influence, and consequent
usefulness. But the President refused
to make the promotion. This account
was related to me by Gen. Hampton.
Edward L. Wells.