The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-02-02
Gen. WheeIer's EventfuI Career.


Gen. Wheeler's Eventful Career.
Gen. Joseph Wheeler, soldier, states
man and man of affairs, was born in
Augusta, Ga, September 10, 1886. His
ancestors were early settlers of Mas
sachusetts, from which State Gen.
Wheeler's father removed to Georgia
when a young man. After attending
schools in New England, including the
Episcopal Academy at Cheshire, Conn,
and in New York State, Gen. Wheeler
entered the United States Military
Academy at West Point, n. Y, where
he was graduated in 1859. He spent
year at the school for cavalry practice
at Carlisle, Pa. Later he served in
Kansas and New Mexico in several
scouting expeditions against the In
dians.
Known as Fighting joe"
When the South seeded from the
Union, young Wheeler cast his for
tunes with the Southern Confederacy,
and was on April 8, 1861, appointed
Lieutenant of artillery in the Confeder-
ate army, having resigned his position
in the United States army on Febru-
AIRY 27 preceding. He was commits
stoned Colonel of the Nineteenth
Alabama regiment Infantry on Sep
TENDER of the same year, and be-
Mississippi He commanded a brigade
at the battle of Shiloh, Tenn, April
and Z, 1862, and had two horses shot
from under him. He distinguished
himself in the last charge made at that
battle and by the capture of Gen. B.
M. Prentiss' division. 1t was on this
account that he received the cogno-
men of Fighting Joe" which after
ward chung to him. He was prominent
ly engaged in contesting the advance
of the Federal army on Corinth, Miss,
and when the evacuation of that city
was determined upon he was selected
by Gen Beauregard to cover the re-
treat.
In Kentucky Fights.
In July, 1862, he was placed in COM
mand of the cavalry of the Army of
the Mississippi, and led several raid
ing expeditions in Western Tennessee
and Kentucky. He again distinguish
ed himself in fights at Green River,
and Perryville in the
last named battle holding back an en-
tire corps of the enemy during the
day. The retreat of the Confederate
forces into Tennessee was covered by
him with signal ability. AS a conse-
quence of his brilliant record, on DC,
tober 30 of that year he was promoted
to brigadier generalship. He resist
ed the advance of Gen. Rosecran's ar
my on Murfreesbcro, Tenn, and dur
ng the engagements there commanded
he cavalry, attacking the enemy's
banks and raiding the rear, capturing
many prisoners and destroying hun
lreds of wagons loaded with supplies.
Shortly afterward he destroyed the
Federal gunboats and transports on
he Cumberland River.
Made Major General.
On January 10, 1863, he was com
nissioned Major General of the Con-
ederate army. He was then contin-
lously engaged in opposing Rose
rams advance and at Chickamauga,
Tenn, September Is and 20, was en-
tagged in the most desperate battle Of
he war. Afterward he crossed the
tennessee River and attacked the rear
# Rosecran's army, destroying more
han 1920 wagons with stores and de-
eating the force sent against him.
lie was driven back, however, into
North Alabama, but soon returned I'M
Ter Gen. Braggs orders to operate in
fiddle Tennessee. He took part in
he siege of Knoxville and covered
'ragg's retreat from Missionary hidge
nd Lookout Mountain to Dalton, Ga.
During the winter Of 1s6s-64 and the
blowing spring, Gen. Wheeler aided
a opposition to Sherman's march to
be sea, as commander of the cavalry
f the right wing under Gems. John
ton and Hood. On May he put to
light 5000 Federal cavalry and on
lay 27 at Picket's mill, commanded
9th infantrysand cavalry in severely
Ontested' battle with Gen Towards
lfantry corps. He covered The right
Continued on page two.