The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-07-12
STORIES OF WHEELER
Dashing Confederate Veteran
Famed For Brave Deeds.
REMARKABLY COOL UNDER FIRE

REMARKABLY COOL UNDER FIRE
Exploits OF the Cavalry Leader ON
skirmish Line at San Juan Told by
am Orderly A Target For Sharp
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 x-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, "and that Is that my general was
ali 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 tntrenchments. He must have
made beautiful mark for the enemy,
sitting there like q statue on his
horse. was about twenty feet behind,
sheltered by some trees, and as I 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.
,"sGOod Lord I thought. here's my
Anish,' but Of course had to 60. I
felt just then as IL had my whole
stomach In my mouth and that a lump
office 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 outlise on me. - a
Get back at once, Forsharn, and
tell the first officer you meet that there
is q body OF sharpshooters up on the
hill directly behind that tree he said.
pointing to big cottonwood. Wen,
got, and I got quick, you may bet
When I got back to him he was farther
along the line, talking to some officers
about the sharpshooters. I heard him
say, 4 counted four, but rather think
that there were more Now, what do
you think Of that for nerve? Sit still
on horse and count the number OF
dagos that were trying their level best
to hit youl Well. that's Joe Wheeler.
Another time he was up at the front
when I came up with dispatch. He
had just started to read 1t when my
horse was shot. AS climbed to my
feet I saw him looking at me. Not
hurt, / hopeT he said NO, SIR says
I. Good! says he and then starts to
read his letter again. stood there
trying TO hide as much Of myself as
I could behind bis horses legs. When
he nad 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. I
made a good record at running when
he had gone I can tell you that.
Another time up near Santiago I
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 its 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 a fresh grip on the
name and went on talking.
"I 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 IL
Illustrated by the following story told by
q sea captain named Lowden, says the
New Orleans Times emocrat:
'He made several trips on my vessel
to the wrecks of Admiral Cervera's
feet" said Captain Lowden, land If q
bath in the pellucid Caribbean wasn't
his prime object in going, it was al
ways considered In the programme
General Wheeler was great swimmer
and exhibited most inspiring absence
of fear as to sharks, something not ex-
actly shared by his fellow officers. On
our first trip to the famous Vizcaya we
were at anchor near her, at a place
~x,t,ov.o cna rl~o xvorn sold RI aho,,pd