The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-29
From Variolls sources.

| HSNN NE or the most notable character kVJ isties was his muscular activity O A short thin. wiry man. weigh ing only about 10 pounds, his movements were quick and "snappy' even in his 10th year. and made him a remarkable exam pie of the principle that one is only as old as one feels. The late Speaker Reed of Maine. when discussing with some of his colleagues the ravages death was making in the older membership of Con- gress, once said:
 Now, there's Wheeler sitting wonder. He's getting old but the Almighty could never find him in one place long enough to put His finger upon him.
 This tells the story of Gen. Wheeler. He was constantly on the jump; did ev- erythlng nervously and rapidly. When he arose to speak in the House, where he 1 served as a member from Alabama, he invariably said: T arise for a moment just to say one word" It always brought forth laugh from his colleagues
 Gen. Wheeler was 62 years old in the sping of 1898, when this country was mak ing hurried preparations for the inev- itable war with Spain. He was a thin little man with a white beard and part ly bald head. He might easily have posed for a portrait Of a Scottish Covenanter. But he was one of the first to offer his services to the country when it became apparent that a conflict with Spain could not be avoided.
 Gen. Wheeler's offer was the subject of more than one official conference in Washington at the time. Some of the veterans of the war were wondering whether or not Fighting Joe" had been sufficiently reconstructed in the thirty three years that had elapsed since that war came to an end. It was Senator Cushman K. Davis of Minneapolis who first came to the front with strong in- dorsement of the doughty little Southern CT. With several other influential men he called on President Mckinley.
 Why, I'm going to appoint him gen eral, of course," said the President the moment the delegation let their mission be known.
 I'm mighty glad to hear it," said Sen ator Davis. And now l want to o-tell you, MT. President, why l regard Joe Wheeler as one of the greatest generals this country has ever produced. He gave me more trouble during the war than any dozen other men and scared me so that l think 1t must have stunted my growth.
 Incidentally continued the Senator from Minnesota, If you want any testi- mony as to Joe Wheeler's grit, can fur nish plenty of it for you. Before that war ended l found that he had chased all and guess If Lee hadn't surrendered Joe would have taken my scalp, for he was getting closer all the time."
 Gen. Wheeler was one of the foremost American leaders in the campaign at San tiago. When Shafter came to the con elusion. after about two days of inter- rnittent fighting along the lines of the Spanish earthworks, that a retreat might be necessary. 1t was Gen. Wheeler who stood out against 1t. He was for sailing into the Spaniards with every available man and his plan prevailed.
 Gen. Wheeler was out well 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 making war was not new to him, and let ting out a whoop that could be heard even above the din of battle, he started toward that weakening point. The brave men charged up hill. firing at random. There was no stopping that fierce charge and the rain of bullets that poured in on the foe.
 That was the first real taste of battle that Gen. Wheeler had had since the days of the rebellion, and in the excitement of 1t he must have forgotten just where he was. Once more he was leading his Con federate dare devils to the charge He saw the wavering line of the enemy break Waving the old cavalry saber he had used in scores of battles, he yelled:
 Now, at 'em boysi 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 and coatless leader and the battle was won He became the Idol of the men who fought under him. and 1t was one of the privates who stuck close to his heels in that victorious charge who told him day or two later about the strange error he had made in his command for a charge