| Show FIGHTING JOE the news is requested to give a biographical mention of joseph wheeler the confederate federal general who just now is occupying a post of considerable sid erable importance and a corresponding amount of danger we do so with pleasure joseph wheeler was born on the of september 1836 being sent to west point as a cadet he graduated from the academy in 1859 and was at once assigned to the dragoons he then put in a year at the practice school at carlisle pennsylvania at the conclusion of which he received the rank ot second lieutenant this position he resigned in april 1861 whereupon he cast his fortunes with the southern confederacy in the army of which he was made a colonel he commanded a brigade at shiloh and in july 1862 he was given a cavalry command and devoted most of his time and talents to making things unpleasant for the west Tennesse eans he did considerable fighting there and in kentucky and on the of october following he was waa promoted to a brigadier generalship he met the late general rosecrans Rose emna several times and caused him greatless great loas loss and infinite annoyance on one or two occasions destroying the union commanders supply trains after the chickamauga battle wheeler as a major general went again to tennessee and again paid his respects to rosecrans cutting off his communication destroying 1200 to 1400 wagons and ad inflicting a terrible defeat upon the federal force sent against him the union property which he damaged or destroyed during that raid mid was waa estimated at he was almost continuously in the saddle and the forces which he could not whip were harassed and impeded at every step one of his greatest achievements took place in july 1863 and occupied three or four days when he fell upon a union raiding force commanded by generals george stoneman kenner garrard and edward M mccook these were defeated with severe losses in killed and prisoners among the latter being gen stoneman himself general sherman man doubtless wished wheeler were in spain or some other distant place many a time during the march through georgia the ubiquitous and tireless confederate douning pou pounding nIng upon his detached forces continually preventing them from destroying or capturing property and all the while himself destroying federal property and supplies to an enormous aggregate amount and succeeding in breaking shermans Sher mans line of communication wheeler became a lieutenant general on oft feb 28 1865 and continued fighting tin till the war ended I 1 settling down to the ways of peace peace gen wheeler began the study of law which together with the business of planter he followed until 1880 when he was elected to congress taking the seat in december 1881 but it was subsequently given to william M lowe contestant A few months later mr lowe died and wheeler was again elected was seated and has been there ever since up to the time of his departure for the field he Is not a large man weighing only some pounds he is a whirlwind fighter of NaPo napoleonic leonle characteristics and has doubtless led commands into more ac eions than any other officer of this country living or dead he has assuredly earned the sobriquet of lighting fighting joe and we are now all looking confidently for a new and lm press lve exemplification of his qualities in that line |
