The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-03-08
STORIES OF WHEELER
Dashing Confederate Veteran
Famed For Brave Deeds.
REMARKABLY COOL UNDER FIRE

Exploits OF the Cavalry Leader ON
Skirmish Line at San Juan Told by
an OrderIy-A Target For Sharp
shooters, but Not Bothered - His
Lack of Fear While Swimming
Among Sharks.
One of the orderlies who had served
with the late General Joseph Wheeler
during the Cuban campaign related the
following stories about the bravery of
the Confederate cavalry leader and
veteran Of the civil and Spanish-Ameri-
can wars to a reporter Of the New
York Globe:
There is one thing that you can
gamble your immortal soul on" he
said, land that is that my general was
all right. Honestly, I'll take my Bible
oath that he didn't know what fear was.
And cool! An iceberg wasn't in it with
him. One time when he was riding
along the skirmish line at the post Of
San Juan, just as quiet and uncon-
cerned as though he might be riding
through the lines here Camp Wikoff, at
Montauk, on Long Island), though the
Mausers were kicking up didos all
around him, he came to little open
glade in the jungle. He stopped and
pulled the brim Of his campaign hat
down over his face to keep the sun out
Of his eyes while he reconnoitered the
Spanish intrenchments. He must have
made a beautiful mark for the enemy,
sitting there like q statue on his
horse. / was about twenty feet behind,
sheltered by some trees, and as 1 sat
and watched him my heart was in my
mouth for fear the old man would get
hit. In a minute he turned around
and beckoned to me.
"'Good Lord I thought, here's my
fnish,' but of course I had to go.
felt just then as If / had my whole
stomach in my mouth and that lump
OF ice had taken its place. / rode out
and saluted, trying hard not to make
bolt and get on the lee side Of the gen
eral, though, heaven knows, they could
have shot all around him and riddled
his outli.,e on me.
sect back at once, ForshaIn, and
tell the first officer you meet that there
Is body of sharpshooters up on the
hill directly behind that tree he said,
pointing to a big cottonwood. Well,
got, and got quick, you may bet.
When l got back to him he was farther
along the line, talking to some officers
about the sharpshooters. heard him
say, I counted four, but / rather think
that there were more Now, what do
you think Of that for nerve? Sit still
on a horse and count the number Of
dagos that were trying their level best
to hit you! Well. that's Joe Wheeler.
another time he was up at the front
when l came UP with dispatch. He
had just started to read it when my
horse was shot As | climbed to my
feet l saw him looking at me- Not
hurt, l hope? he said. No, SIR says
read his letter again. l stood there
trying to hide as much of myself as
could behind his horses legs. When
he had finished he said: You had bet
ter go and skirmish for another horse
Forsham. Say sent you And then
he trotted off. He didn't seem to think
any one else could be scared either ]
made a good record at running when
he had gone, I can tell you that
another time up near Santiago ]
| saw him talking to an officer. He had
his bride held short, with his left hand
holding ON to part of his horses name
He had turned half round, and his
right hand was on the horses back
just behind the saddle. He was laugh.
| ing at something. Suddenly his horse
gave a little jump and SHE'D to one
side. A bullet had grazed It's neck
| just under the generals wrist, cutting
away part Of the name The general
turned around and found that part
Of the name he had been holding was
cut by the bullet. He never stopped
laughing, but took fresh grip on the
| name and went on talking.
| ST saw him ride hard once In the
! firing line, and that was to tell squad
of colored men to get little to one
| side, as some sharpshooters had spotted
them and were firing at them"
General Wheeler's lack of fear is II
Illustrated by the following story told by
a sea captain named Lowden, says thu
New Orleans Times-Democrat:
"He made several trips on my vesse
to the wrecks Of Admiral Cervera's
fleet" said Captain Lowden, "and if {
| bath in the pellucid Caribbean WASH
his prime object in going, it was al
ways considered in the programme
| General Wheeler was a great swimme
| and exhibited most inspiring absence
| of fear as to sharks, something not ex
actly shared by his fellow officers. On
| orr first trip to the famous ViZcaya W,