WHEELER, Joseph, American soldier and statesman: b. Augusta, Ga., 10 Sept. 1836; d. Brooklyn, N. Y., 25 Jan. 1906. He was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1859; served in several scouting expeditions against Indians in Kansas and New Mexico; in February 1861, resigned his com mission, and in April following was made a first lieutenant of artillery in the army of the Con federate States. In September, he became colonel of the 19th Alabama infantry. He corn =sided a brigade at Shiloh (6-7 April 1862), distinguished himself by his services, and was selected to command the rear guard when, at the end of the second day's fighting, the Confed erates retired from the field. By reason of his success as commander of the rear guard when the Confederates withdrew from before Hal leek's army (30 May 18O2). and his equally suc cessful command of the salient outpost at Corinth, led to his appointment as head of the cavalr• of Bragg's army. As such he led the advance in every forward movement of the forces and commanded the rear guard with the exception of Hood's Nashville campaign (winter of 1A's4). In August and September 1862 he led Bragg's advance into Kentucky, and de tained Buell until Bragg had captured Mum fords%ilk. with cannon, munitions and supplies. At Perryville (see PEKAYVILLE, BATTLE or, and THE KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN or 1862), 8 Oct. 1862, Wheeler commanded the cavalry and displayed twat energy and skill. He led a brilliant charge and captured a battery. Ordered to cover the retreat of Bragg's army, he made possible that general's successful escape, with large supply trains, to Cumberland Gap. Rosecrans on 25 December moved forward to attack Bragg be fore Murfreesboro. Wheeler skilfully retarded Rosecran's advance, and during the battle (31 Dec. 11362 to 3 Jan. 1863) (KC STONE Rivea, or ileeritassaoso) was, in the words of Bragg's official report, •pre-eminently distinguished.' He was conmussioned major-general in January 1863, and in June and July took a prominent part the battles attending 13ragg's retreat to Chat tal At Chickamauga (19-a) September) defeated the right flank of Rosecrans' army (20 September), penetrated to the rear, and de feated Watkins in a severe combat. On 20 September he crossed the Tennessee and cap tured substaatially all of Rosecrans' ordnance and supply trains. He fought in the Knoxville campaign in November. and on the 27th with Cleburne, defeated Hooker at Ringgold Gap. During the spring of 1864 he aided in opposing Shenuan's advance from Dalton to Atlanta, com manding the cavalry of the Confederate right wing, under Johnston and Hood. He fought almost daily, his force frequently being dis mounted. On 28-31 July he defeated a Federal
raiding force under (enerals Stoneman, Garrard and McCook, capturing many prisoners and all the transportation and artillery. On 10 Aug. 1864 he was again in the rear of Sherman's army, capturing supplies, burning bridges and destroying railways. He went as far as the Kentucky line in eastern Tennessee, and then proceeded to northern Alabama. It was impos sible, however, to arrest Sherman's advance or destroy his communications. %%leder was then sent in advance of Sherman's army, keeping the Con f edel., C and commanders ad vised of the enemy's movements and preventing foraging parties from caving the main force. He thus poliation of Georgia to a comparatively narrow area. He defended Macon, Augusta and Savannah, and defeated Kilpatrick at Aiken and Johnsonville. During the operations in North Carolina in 1865, he dis tinguished himself at Bentonville (19-21 March) by opening an avenue for Johnston's retreat. He was promoted lieutenant-general on 28 Feb ruary, and commanded Johnston's cavalry until the surrender of the Confederate armies. Sub sequent to the war he studied law, and followed that profession and the occupation of a planter until 1880, when he was elected a Democratic representative in the 47th Congress. He was unseated by W. M. Lowe in 1882, but on Lowe's death not long after was re-elected, and in 1884 was returned to the 49th. He was continually re-elected, and was serving at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. In April 1898 he volunteered for duty, and on 4 May 1898 was commissioned major-general of United States volunteers. On 14 May he was assigned to command the cavalry divisiott, United States army, about to leave for die invasion of Cuba. He and commanded in, the bat tle of Las lamas, 24 June 1898, and partici paled in the battle of San Juan, 1-2 July 1898. He commanded the cavalry division of the Fifth corps in Cuba from 22 June to the surrender at Santiago, 17 July. Subsequently he was in com mand of the troops at Montauk Point, L. I., and from 7 October to 3 December was in command of the Fourth army corps at Huntsville, Ala. From August 1899 to January 1900 he corns manded the First brigade. Second division, Eighth corps, in Luzon, Philippine Islands. On 16 June 1900 he was conmussioned brigadier general, United States army, and in June-Sep tember commanded the Department of the Lakes. On 10 September he retired from the service. His publications include 'Account of the Kentucky Campaign' (1862) ; 'History of the Santiago Campaign' (1898); a 'History of Cuba' (1899). and eight volumes of Congres sional speeches (1883-98)