Wheeler (JOSEPH an American military)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

JOSEPH, an American military officer; born in Augusta, Ga., 18 Sept. 10, 1836, was graduated at the BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOSEPH WHEELER United States Military Academy in 1859; served in the cavalry till the outbreak of the Civil War, when he entered the Confederate army, in which he was commis- Vol. X. 23 sioned Major-General and senior commander of cavalry. He won great distinction during the Civil War as a raider. On Oct. 2, 1863, he crossed the Tennessee river and led 4,000 mounted men up the Sequatchie valley, where he burned a Union supply train of nearly 1,000 wagons; and was afterward attacked and forced to withdraw by Col. E. M. Mc- Cook. He then moved to McMinnville, where he destroyed another supply train and captured about 600 men. Gen. George Crook attacked him at Farmington, capturing 200 of his men, four guns, and 1,000 small arms. Wheeler then crossed the Tennessee, having taken property of an estimated value of $3,000,000, but with a loss of 2,000 men. In July, 1864, he was ordered with 8,000 men to harass General Sherman's rear. In August he moved against Sherman's supply depot at Allatoona, ona, but was repulsed. ulsed. Later he made a dash into East Tennessee and threatened McMinnville, Murfreesboro, and Lebanon, but was driven into northern Alabama. After the war he entered the law profession; held a seat in Congress in 1881-1899; and was made Major- General of volunteers in May, 1898. During the Santiago campaign in Cuba he commanded the Cavalry Division; participated in the battles of Las Guasimas and San Juan Hill; was appointed senior member of the commission to make rangements for the surrender of the Spanish army; served in the Philippines as commander of the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, from August, 1899, to January, 1900; was appointed a Brigadier- General, U. S. A., June 16, 1900, 16, 1900, and retired on Sept. 10, following. He died in 1906.