The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-28

under ..their great commander" Johnston, and were sure in the richest fruits or success in his good time.
 General Hood succeeded General John yton in command of the Army or lehnes- see in front of Atlanta on July IS. Ten days later Sherman started three caVdiry forces out to accomplish certain opJeots' The whole comprised 9000 picked men. one section, commanded by General stone man, was to destroy Macon, Ga', and the Confederate supplies there, and break up the Atlanta and Macon railroad so as 10 starye Hood. Another section, command ed by General Garrard, was sent 10 De- catur, a few miles out on the Augusta railroad. The third section, commanded by General Cook, was to destroy Jones boro few miles out on the Macon rali- road while all three would meet at Ma con. march on to Andersonville, and there release and arm SO,OO0 prisoners and turn them loose on the country. Thus Sher- man calculated to envelope Hood and squeeze the life out of him. Ills three raiders were West Pointers, young men supplied with perfectly equipped forces, three times the number that Wheeler had to meet them.
 General Wheeler was fighting In the trenches when he heard of these raids As soon as he could get permission from General Hood in few hours, he started out at midnight. He sent General Al fred Iyerson after Stoneman; he sent = force after Garrard: he led force In person after McCook. lverson captured Stoneman; Garrard escaped, utterly rout- ed; McCoolx fled across the Chattahooche in a thoroughly djsorganized state and got away only because a certain colonel that Wheeler had ordered to guard the crossing of the river went to sleep ana failea of his part in the work This per formanee of General Wheelers was a display of tact, courage, energy and ca pacity that hardly has parallel in war. Sherman was grievously disappointed ana thoroughly disgusted.
 There is no pretense here, it may be re- peated, to follow in detail the career of General Wheeler in the war. Happy IS Alabama to claim a peculiar right In his fame! In every report he made Of his more important expeditions Alabama commanders under him and Alabama troops with him were exalted to the skies specially and by names. Of some of his officers he complained. of Alabama of fcers, never. H. Clay Reynolds of Mon teyallo was among his favorite scouts. and the scout that satisfied Wheeler was intrepid and faithful indeed. The last scout he sent out was commanded by A. F. Hardie of Talladega. Eight in this party met eleven of the enemy in mar row lane, in broad day, face to face, all mounted and the eight killed or captured every man of the eleven, losing one of their number killed only.
 It made small difference to Wheeler un- der what army commander he served ne pleased each and satisfied him abso- Iutely Bragg, Polk, Hardee, Hood, Beau regard. Johnston, Hampton commanded Wheeler and view with one another in |. II- esltQ arate and independent command. When Sherman on November 15, 1864, burned Atlanta and started for the sea with 56 900 infantry and artillery and 5000 cav airy under the young West Pointer Wheeler's old friend and college mate Gen. Judson Fitzpatrick. Wheeler started to ride along on his Hanks with 400 men to narrow the sword of rapine, death ana destruction which the invader pledged himself to his army to leave behind him There was nothing but Wheeler with a handful to check Sherman He captured I<ilpatrick's hat near Waynesporoush Ga. as that gallant officer was In dead run to get out of his way. lie ran i>li- patrick out of his bed near Fayetteville N. C., March 10, 1SC5. and would nave captured him bodily, bun the fleeing of dcs, s,ot into one of those sand hill bogs in the darkness that no horse could stand in
 In all the Savannah campaign, as it was known. why did not fitzpatrick, with a thousand men more than Wheeler, sup ported by thirteen times as many intan- fry and artillery as Wheeler had cavalry, capture or drive Wheeler away? He could not. That is the answer, and the only possible answer. No force, however great in proportion, ever did drive Wheeler.
 Let us relate an example or the re- sources of mind in General Wheeler
 sherman. while headed for Savannah, was very anxious to destroy the railroad bridge at Augusta over the Savannah river, because all supplies for the Com