The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-02-02
Gen. Joe Wheeler Has Joined
His Comrades Under the
SHADE OF THE TRE ES.
he Was Hero of Two Wars. Was Of
ficially Thanked By the South
Carolina Legislature For His
Defense of Aiken Dur.
Ing Sherman's Raid.
Ing Sherman's 8 Raid.

iuX oHeTman Kafd.
Gen. Joseph Wheeler, the famous
Confederate cavalry leader and a bri-
gad.sr general Of the United States
army since the war with Spain, died
at 6,S5 O'Clock Thursday afternoon at
the home Of his sister, Mrs. Sterling
Smith, In Brooklyn. The veteran OF
two wars was 80 years old, but in
spite OF his age, there was hope until
Thursday Of his recovery from the at.
tack OF pneumonia, which caused the
death.
1t has not yet been announced
where the body will be buried, but
prcb IDLY 1t will be In Arlington cem-
etery, near Washington. Announce
ment for the plans for the funeral
Will be made tomorrow. Gen. Wheeler
was taken Ill six days ago at his sisters
home, where he has been living re.
c,ntly. He contracted q severe cold
which developed into plcurlsy and
pneumonia. From the first his age
told against him but the family did
not give up hope until Wednesday
night, when the disease was found to
have aff,cted both lungs.
Gen. Wheeler immediate relatives
were all with him. His daughters,
Mrs. W. ]. Harris and the Mis- es
Anne, Lucille ard Carrie Wheeler,
had been summoned from the South
and arrived early in the week. His
son, MAJ, Jos. Wheeler, Jr., U. s. A., ,
now stahioned at West Point, was also
present'ea as we'll as Gen. Wheeler's
sister, Mrs. Sterling Smith, and her
son.
The family were summoned to the
bedside4of the patient at midnight
"Wednesday night, when the DOCTORS
In consultation concluded that the end
was bu0sa matter Of hours. The gen
eral was then awake and conscious and
his miEa was apparently active. He
seemed 10 know that death was ap
nrno ~e"d thGuJh too weak to
spea 4suCceeo5uTIng giving Signs III
recognition and encours G sment to his
children.
Later the general sank into peace.
full slumber, and at the request of the
doctors the family quietly withdre "
from the sick mans bedside.
Gen. Wheeler was never again more
than semi. conscious. He fingered un.
til this evening and passed away
quietly.
GEN. WIIEELER'S CAREER.
Joseph Wheeler, soldier, born in
Augusta, Ga, Sept. 10, 1886. He was
graduated at the United States Mill.
tary academy In 1859 and assigned to
the dragons. After years service
1T the cavalry school for practice at
Carlisle, Pa, he received the full rank
Of second lieutenant, but on April 20,
1861, resigned and entered the Con-
federate army. He was made colonel
Of the Nineteenth Alabama infantry
on Sept. 4 1861, and served princi.
pally in the West.
At Shiloh he commanded brigade
and covered the Confederate retreat
from the field. In July, 1862, he was
transferred to cavalry command and
engaged in raidlng Western Tennessee
During the Kentucky CAMPAIGN of
that year he had charge OF Gen. Brax-
ton Bregg's cavalry and fought at
Green RIVER and Perryville. He com.
manded the rear guard Of the Confed.
crate army when 1t retreated into
Tennessee and on October 80, 1862,
was promoted to br!gadier general. at
Murfreesboro he was In charge Of the
cavalry, and thereafter he was contir..
uously active In contesting Gen. WI,
liam s. RoSecrans' advance, also at.
tacking his tanks, rai"ing in the rear
and destroying his trains. Ol Janu.
ary 10, 1863, he received his commits
sion as major general and opposed the
Union advance at Chattanooga. He
commanded the cavalry at Chioka.
mauRa and after the battle crossed
Tennessee river and fell upon Rose.
GRAMS line OF communications, defeat
Ing the force that was sent against
him and destroying over l 200 wagons
With stores. On this raid he succeeded
In damaging federal property to the
value OF $1,000, 900, but, after losing
600 men, was driven back to notherr
Alabama. Subsequently he took part
Ia the Siege Of Knoxville and covered
Bragg'S retreat from Lincoln Ridge
and Lookout Mountain.
During the winter and spring h,
continually h8rassed the Union troops
and, on the advance OF Gen. william
II. Sherman's army toward Atlanta
he opposed every movement and Tough
almost daily, often with his men dis
mounted. July 81 30 he ,ught TIN
raiding force Of Gen. Geo. Stoneman
General Kenner Gerard and Gen. E !
ward M. McCook, and captured man
prisoners, including Gan. Stonema
and al the artillery and Transports
ZION. On Aug. 8, 1864, he was sent b
Gen. John ID. Hood to capture the ma
t!onal supplies, burn bridges ant
break up railways In the rear OF Ger
Sherman's army. Passing throug
northern Georgia, he went into east
ern Tennessee as far as the Kentuck
line, and thence through middle Tel
nessee back into northern Alabama
During this raid, which lasted or
month, he was continuously engage
and ruined much operty. He VIZ
unsuccessful In destroying Sherman
communications. and was finally 'ri
en back by the national cavalry. Wht
jhe Confederate commander becan
convinced Of the impossibility OF q
resting Sherman's advance, Weelt
was sent In front OF the army to pr
!, vent the Union troops from raidir
: end foraS!ng. He then engaged
tba dafanae pf Savannah and for I,