The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-26

regard Joe Wheeler as, one Of the greatest
generals this country has ever produced.
He gave me more trouble during the war
than a dozen other men, and scared me so
that think it must have stunted my
growth. " .:~ a. p. ~. r-*ss
Incidentally" continued the senator
from Minnesota, 'if you want any testi-
mony as to Joe Wheeler's grit, can fur
nish plenty yof it for you Before that
war ended found that he had chased me
pretty much all over seven states, and
guess If Lee hadn't surrendered, Joe
Wheeler would have taken my scalp, for
he was getting closer to it all the time
- A Leader a" Santiago. - ~
General Wheeler was one Of the fore
most American leaders in the campaign
at Santiago. When sShafter carnes to the
conclusions, after about two days Of inter-
mittent nghtihg ''aIong tths91ines of the
| Spanish earthworks, itl,atIa retreat might
be necessary 1t waH Geaefaf Wheeler who
stood out against it., Il He was for sailing
| into the Spaniards with every available
man, and his plan prevailed. w. ;
General Wheeler was out weIl~in the
| front where he could see what was going
on and direct the fire of his division to the
best effect. At last he saw the thin line
| of the enemy begin to waver. The art of
|
| ting out whoop that could be heard even
above the din of battle, he started toward
that weakening point. The brave men
| charged up a, hill, firing at random. There
was no stopping that fierce charge and
| the rain of bullets that poured in on the
foe. ..H
That was the first real taste Of battle
! that General Wheeler had since the days
of the rebellion, and in the excitement OF
7.
was. Once more he was leading his con-
federate daredevils to the charge. He
saw the wavering line of the enemy break
Waving the old cavalry sabre heghad used
in scores of battles he yelled: Nov al
'em, boys! Give 'em hell We've got the
damned Yankees on the run and we must
get every last one Of 'em. Follow me-
The boys did follow the hatless anc
coatless leader and the battle was won
He became the idol Of the men who fought
under him and it was one Of the private:
who stuck close to his heels in that vic
torious charge who told him a day or two
later about the strange error he had mad,
in his command for charge up that hill
General Wheeler laughed as heartily a.
: anyone at it and said: ~~~.
'eWhy, that is funny indeed. mus
!. have forgotten just where was"
No Insignia in Rank.
General Wheeler was then major gen
eral and yet no one would have suspected
it from his equipment. His campaign out
fit consisted of an old SLOUGH hat tina
had seen years of hard service, a blu
? flannel shirt and pair Of khaki trouser
! that had seen better days. There wa
not a single insignia Of his high rank
At the close of this war General Wheel
er came back with the army that wa
: landed at Montauk Point, and in tn
} weeks when the camp there was fever
' stricken, he rendered heroic service. j
I was while he was in command there tina
his youngest son, a naval cadet, who wa
serving on his staff, was drowned Will
bathing in the turf. ii
| General Wheeler became an officer i
the regular army after the victoriou
campaign in Cuba and he saw six months
hard service in the Philippines. He wa
retired some three years ago..