The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-26
GENERAL sosrrH wHrELER.

The announcement of the death of Gen. Joseph Wheeler will be received with regret. net only in the United nobility of character are admired. His reputation was not confined to the lim- it's of his own country. for there Is not place In Europe that would not have paid him distinguished consider ation on any visit, he might have made.
 While he had a worldwide fame Alabama claims him as peculiarly her own. His first military service with the southern confederacy, after his.re- signation from the United States Army, was as commander of an Alabama reg iment He was an officer of cavalry and serving in New Mexico when the troubles began in 1881. He promptly resigned and in short while was as- signed to command of Alabama infant ry troops. From that time on he was thoroughly identified with Alabama. His military services were of great value and his rise in rank was rapid. After he was assigned to the cavalry branch, for which he was peculiarly fitted. many Alabama cavalrymen were under him. A numberA of Alabamians were on his staff.
 He was a terror to the Federal Army and was the main stay on numberless occasions of Confederate commanders. Adequate justice can not be done to his great military genius in short news w.an ia 4.xY history of the country from 's1 to '65 is inxed beyond chance of cavil or mis- representation. So thoroughly was he imbued with patriotic spirit that he promptly offered his services to the United States Government in the war with Spain in 1ssse His services in Cuba were invaluable. and impartial writers will not fall to give him great credit for the victory of Santiago. His voice was raised against all proposf- tions of withdrawal or surrender, and in the end great victory crowned our arms. He also served in the Philip l pine islands.
 Although he is so well known for .his great military achievements his re- l cord as a civilian is one of which Ala bamians may we'll be proud He quiet I ly settled down as q planter and law yer in North Alabama as soon as the war was over and there he had planned l to spend with his family the remaining years of his life. His fellow citizens knew his great ability and worth and ! placeu him as their representatives Ill 1 Congress On niue different occasions l he was elected He served sixteen | years and was elected for another term, ! but his service in Cuba prevented, and l he did not qualify. If he had not made 1 a great reputation as soldier his ser vices as a legislator would have given him national fame No people were ever better represented in Congress than those of the Eighth Alabama Dis trict were represented by Genera wheeler. It Is probable that he kne" more of the people than any man. who ever served an Alabama constituency
 So great was, he appreciated that few years ago he was made Brigadlei General in the United States army ana was retired with thatsrank- Fitzhugi
 
 kee was the only other Southern sol dier to receive that distinction
 The whole country can well unite il paying tribute to the memory and thu worth of General Wheeler All Amer
 ican citizens can well be proud of sucl a man, There was no stain on his re
 cord, and \his friends and family cal proudly recount his great deeds in mil itary and civil life.
 A few days ago The Advertiser con
 tained a very touching statement iron General Wheeler of his love for tn
 State, and of his determination to clos
 up as soon as he could the bushes
 which kept him so much of his tim
 away from home. and that he hope, very soon to be at the old homestea'
 and there pass the remaining years O his life. This was in refutatlon of
 publication that he would probably liv
 in New York.
 A great American has fallen and tn
 nation will bow in grief and sorrow. | ---S-9-~---