Biography of Joseph Wheeler, Lawrence, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/lawrence/bios/jwheeler.txt ==================================================================== USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Barbara Walker Winge ==================================================================== February 2002 JOSEPH WHEELER, OF ALABAMA Joseph Wheeler, of Wheeler, who represents the Eighth Congressional District of Alabama in the Congress of the United States, was born in Augusta, Georgia, September 10, 1836. His ancestors, both in this country and England, have been people of the highest respectability. His early education included a course of study at the Seabury College, of Cheshire, Conn., and other schools in New England and New York. Graduating at the Military Academy at West Point in 1859, he was promoted to a Lieutenancy in the cavalry service of the United States, and served in various Indian scouting expeditions in Kansas and New Mexico... In February he tendered his resignation, and was appointed First Lieutenant, Corps of Artillery, in the Confederate army... (This is a very long biography} He had two horses shot under him, and so conspicuous was his bravery that he was recommended by his commanding General for promotion to the rank of Brigadier=General. In the many conflicts, including the fight at Farmington, by which he commanded bore a prominent part... His exploits, at this time, won the glad recognition of his native State, and the ladies of Georgia made and presented to Colonel Wheeler a beautiful silk flag, accompanied by a letter signed by eighteen ladies of Augusta... At Wheeler, Lawrence County, Alabama he has made a delightful home for himself and family... The celebration of the Fourth of July in Montgomery was one of the most brilliant displays ever witnessed in our country. It was conducted under the auspices of the Confederate Generals whose address they could ascertain... General Wheeler was the orator of the day, and delivered an address replete with noble, patriotic sentiments and eloquent passages, from which we have barely space for the briefest quotations... Ref: Headley, P. C., PUBLIC MEN OF TO-DAY, 1882, S. S. Scranton & Company, Hartford, pp. 638-642.