General Joseph Wheeler gained “three stars” on his coat-collar, in
contending for the “Lost Cause.” He now has the two stars of a United
States major-general in the Cuban war. General Wheeler was, from
boyhood, a careful and painstaking student of the profession which
he adopted. He was born at Augusta, Georgia, September 10, 1836,
and was sent to West Point at seventeen. While others were passing
their leisure moments in sport, young Wheeler could be found in the
library, poring, with deepest interest, over those volumes which spoke
of campaigns and battles, both ancient and modern, and examining
military maps and plans of battle of distinguished generals. From
the cavalry school at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he went, in the spring
of 1860, to New Mexico, and, in March, 1861, returned to Georgia. He
became a first lieutenant of Confederate artillery at Pensacola, and
led the Nineteenth Alabama infantry regiment as colonel. At Shiloh
he had two horses shot under him, and is said to have carried the
regimental colors in his own hands. On the retreat from Kentucky,
Colonel Wheeler, as chief of cavalry, covered the movement. During this
campaign, he met the enemy in thirty fights and skirmishes. Having
been made a brigadier-general, on recommendation of Bragg, Polk,
Hardee and Buckner, he was sent to Middle Tennessee. The Union troops
at that time reported that “not a nubbin of corn was obtained without
fighting for it.” Here he received the _sobriquet_ of “The Little
Hero.” General Wheeler was sick when the American troops attacked
Santiago, but he hastened on a litter to the point of danger, and by
his words and example stimulated his men to victory. He was retired as
brigadier-general September 10, 1900.