The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-05
BREWERS TRIBUTE ID GEN, WHEELER. Was Johnston'S Right Hand in
 Georgia Campaign HARASSED SHERMAN'S MEN Montgomery Man Delivers Notable Ad- dress at Memorial Exercises Held in that City for Deceased
 Warrior.
HARASSED SHERMAN'S MEN

Montgomery, February 4-(Special)- )- The following are the remarks of the Rev. George E. Brewer at the memorial exercises held in honor of Gen. Joseph Wheeler February ?, 1906, in the city hall:
 After the many excellent and well de- served eulogiums passed upon the eharac- ter and services of our now departed gal lant and most worthy cavalry chieftaln, statesman and beloved citizen, nothing new remains to be said. Yet l would feel recreant to duty if I did not lay some tribute. if but a withered, faded flower upon the tomb of that one to whom so many thousands owe perhaps the preser- yation of lives, homes and military honor
 In the civil war of sucn grand propor- tions and vast consequences waged oe- tween the states of thls great country from 1861 to 1865, unsurpassed in the large ness of forces, the expenditure ot treas ure. the bravery of the combatants and the casualties of the carnage the light or history has been so concentrated upon the deeds around Richmond, under the immortal Robert E. Lee, and the match less army which so well executed the daring but masterful plans of it's great chieftain. that the eyes of the world ana even our own people have been so m tently fixed as to almost rail to see III the semi-darkness the heroic deeds ana strenuous achievements, and patiently en- dured hunger. nakedness, and sleepless vigilance of the no less devoted band or patriots known as The Army of the Tennessee
 Richmond the Chief Prize.
 The reason for this is doubtless found in the fact that Richmond was the capltol of the young Confederaey-the chief prize desired by the Federals. Here they con- centrated their largest forces; equipped them with every thing that could promise success; and brought every force 10 bear that could aid in breaking through the lines to the heart of what, they were pleased to call the rebellion.
 With equal determination the confed- eracy brought every available resource to bear in it's effort to protect the lire of the new born nation.
 The eyes of all the people were turned in this direction to see the issue as to whether Richmond should fall and the Confederacy go to pieces, or whether the invaders should be driven from southern soil and back to their own homes, and permit the Confectionery to step to the front and take her place in the sister, hood of nations.
 These mighty interests turned the popu- lar gaze to the stirring and tragic scenes in Virginia, and rightly so, and for four long years the hearts of the people of the south throbbed with proud delight at the unequaled success of the noble Lee and his no less noble army. The Federals were no less chagrined at the failure so long attending the most strenuous efforts of a country possessed of almost unlim- tied resources.
 But I wish to say that while these events held the popular gaze fixed upon Virginia, the mother of states" there was a struggle going on in Georgia, the empire state of the south that is enti- tied to a page in our history that ought to awaken a glow in every southern heart equal to that inspired by the heroic deeds done in Virginia.
 General Sherman's Plan.
 General sherman, than whom the north produced no finer strategist or general, was trying to cut his way through the heart of Georgia. hoping to sever the Confederacy into three parts, each hem med in on every side by a hostile foe. He had a large army as well equipped as d equip 1t. They were cheered and en- couraged also by some, to them, happy successes crowning their efforts just pre- ceding the campaign of 1864
 In front of this force, so well prepared for the onset was the superb Gen. Joseph E. Johnston with about half as many men who had never had a leader to inspire confidence, nor any for much length of time together. They were poor- ly equipped. But A nobler or better set of soldiers never\ lived. The campaign from Dalton to Atlanta may well chal- lenge comparison with any other for seepless vigilance, undaunted courage, and cheerful endurance. The enemy by his large numbers was able to overlap Johnston's lines, spare large bodies to make attempts upon his Hanks, and hurl great masses upon the attenuated lines of the Confederates. But they were always hurled back with immense slaughter and