The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-02-14

lstlcs was his muscular activity. A
short, thin, wiry mao, weighing only
about ITO pounds, his movements
were quick and "snappy" even in his
10th year, and made him q remarkable
example Of the principle that one is
only as otd as one feels. The late
Speaker Reed, of Maine, when discus.
sing with some OF his colleagues the
ravages death was making in the older
membership Of congress, once said
"Now, there's Wheeler sitting yon-
der. Hes getting old, but the AL
mighty could never find him in one
place long enough to put His fuger
upon him.
This tells the story of Gen. Wheel
er. lie was constantly on the jump;
iiI everything nervously and rapidly.
When he arose to speak in the house
where he served as a member from
Alabama, he invariably said: II arise
.or moment just to Say one word"
1t always brought forth laugh from
his colleagues.
Gen. Wheeler was 81 years old in
the spring of 1893, when this country
was making hurried preparations for
the inevitable war with Spain. he
was thin little man, with o white
beard and o partly bald head. He
might easily have posed for a portrait
Of Scottish Convenater. But he
was one Of tho first to offer his servi.
ces to the country when it became ap-
parent that conflict with Spain could
not be avoided.
Gen. Wheeler's offer was the sub.
jeot Of more than one official confer.
ence in Washington at the time.
Some of the veterans Of the war were
wondering whether or not "Fighting
Joe" had been sufficiently reconstruct.
ed in the 'thivty.three years that had
elapsed since that war came to On end.
Il was Senator Cashusl Z. Davis, Of
Minneapolis, who frst came to the
front With q streng endorsement Of
the doughty little Southerner. With
several other influential men he called
on President Mckinley.
"Why, Tn soisg &c appoint him a
general, Of COURSE" said the ,presiden.
the moment the delegation let their
mission be known. .... -,
Tim mighty glad to hear it," said
Senator Davis. ."And now I want 20
tell you, Mr.. President, Why I regard
Joe Wheeler as one of tho greatest
generals this country has ever pro.
duced. He gave me mors trouble dur.
ing the var than any dozen other men
and seared me 80 thae / think il must
have stunted my growth. -: ... >.
"Iuoidentally," coutiuued.the seus.
*os from Minnesota. 's,f you want any
testimony as TO- joe W heeter's gris, I
can furnish plenty OF it for you. Be.
fore that war ended I found chat hs
had chased mo pretty much all over
seven States, and I guess If Lee hadu's
surrendered Joe would have taken sny
scalp, for he Ras getting olosss all the
time. i. +: +. = = e"
Gen. Wheelsr was; one OF .shs FORE.
most American leaders in che Gam.
:paisn at Santiago. !. When: shaster
came to the eonoluaion,: sitter about
two days Of iassrmittsns Sighting along o,n.l |,
the lines Of the spaniah easthvosks.
thAtsa retreat might be nscessaryp, ID
Was Gen, Whealer who stood Out
against Il. he was for sailing into. iil,
tnN sspaniards with avery available
S=:= ESD biz :,len nrava,lad :. III. .3; :ss5E
!. Cen Wheeler vas out we'll ia ia shs Is
front, where he could see what wss ,a;ss
going on and direct che Gre or hia dl. |
vision 70 the best effeot. 1At last 10 /
saw the: thin line Of the enemy BEGIN |
TO wavsr. The ass Of s;mskin,Rlt sar nas |
not new TO him, and letting & ont 1 !
whoop that could DO heard even sboiy,s., |
The din Of battle, he started toward
the weakening point. !. The brave 3, men lei
charged up : hill; aring ~ random.
There Was ,ao: stopping thas asfsssI
'hk 90 and the rain 5of bullets :ths.,tt |
poured in on The foe. !. : i; S.51
That wss shs zaist real taste % 4 l,, 81 g.s.I
Elesshat i Gen, Whssler had had sinsal
The daya OF the.. xsbellion, ana "a in f 5shai
,xoitsment Of ID ha1$ muiIss hayae,3 faor. /
rotten asjuss twhsre 1; he5e Va. II I:l Ores
more he vAs leading his UonfsdislrateI q
to the ohargs,. .,, si3 81 He ~ u
he vavsring line Of shs snsan,Y 81, uai, sblrs.k I
md waving hia 3old aeiyslsy B sssismabre% d % %hcl
had ussd tin scores ~ battlss.,; s. ia /
relied: 81 }fstS} ii 81
{ s.s. ou, 5at enai Givs' 4 tsll, ia 81 hsillI;
We've gothic damned YAM nksss b, 81 Il tEsl
.uu and we riauak srak :.Sanss, 8 n I'll