of the old revolution) known as the order of the "Comrades of the Southern Cross," which, though partially philanthropic in its object, was intended mainly to bind together as one man the soldiers of the Southern army, obligating themselves to stand by each other, and never to desert their comrades in distress, or the cause of their country in any adversity, while she maintained an organized opposition to threatened tyranny. He attributed the valour of his troops mainly to the effect of this organization, and he was anxious that it should be extended throughout the Southern armies.

There was a peculiarity of Cleburne's division that distinguished it to the time of the death of its commander. It never fought under the flag of the "Southern Cross," but retained the original blue battle-flag with white moon in the centre, adopted originally by Gen. Hardee, previous to the battle of Shiloh. The union of the Confederate flag, the "St. Andrew's Cross," when adopted as the battle-flag of the Confederate armies, was, on more than one occasion, brought on parade to be presented to the different regiments of this division, but at the urgent solicitation of the Major-General and his entire command, they were allowed to retain their old bullet-riddled blue flags, each of which had earned the significant device of the "crossed cannon inverted," and the name of every battle in which they had been engaged. It was, indeed, a compliment to their commander and the gallantry of the men that this division should have been the only one in the Confederate service allowed to carry into battle other than the national colours. This azure flag became well known to friends and foes; it clearly defined Cleburne's position. in the line; and if not always on the track of victory, it never moved where lurked disaster and shame.

LIEUT.-GEN. JOSEPH WHEELER.

CHAPTER LXIII.

Services in the United States Army.-His command of cavalry under Gen. Bragg.— Important service at Murfreesboro.-Desperate encounter with the enemy at Shelbyville.-Personal gallantry of Gen. Wheeler.-His famous raid into Ten

nessee. Summary of services in the Western Army.-Operations of Wheeler's cavalry on Sherman's march through Georgia.-Gen. Wheeler's farewell address to his troops. What he accomplished in the war.-His career and genius.

JOSEPH WHEELER was born in Augusta, Georgia, on the 10th September, 1836. His youth was spent in the first schools of the country, and, in 1854, he was appointed to West Point, and was among the first that graduated under the five year rule.

In October, 1859, he was ordered to the cavalry school at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and there remained on duty during the winter. In the spring of 1860, we find him in New Mexico, stationed, successively, at Forts Union, Craig, and Fillmore, and engaging in several important scouts against the hostile Indians. Early in March, 1861, seeing the storm-cloud gathering over his country, he at once decided his course, and when his native State seceeded, forwarded his resignation and returned to Georgia. On his arrival, he was commissioned 1st lieutenant of artillery in the regular army, and assigned to duty at Pensacola, Florida. He was subsequently promoted to the Colonelcy of the 19th Alabama Infantry Regiment, and bore brave part in the great battle of Shiloh.

In the latter part of July, 1861, he was placed in command of the cavalry of the Army of Mississippi, which had been idle, and had worn away, for want of care, to a mere squad. In four days after taking command, he had penetrated the ene

my's lines, and was destroying bridges on the line of communication near Bolivar and Jackson, Tennessee. A large force, not less than twenty times his own, was sent to capture him, but he eluded his pursuers and brought his command out in safety. From this period, the true genius of the young soldier began to expand and show itself, and it soon became manifest that the cavalry was to shine forth and aid our cause in a manner never before conceived by our military men.

Upon the march of Bragg's army into Kentucky, Col. Wheeler struck many a well-aimed blow at the flanks of the enemy, as he rapidly retreated to the Ohio River. His gallantry and the brilliancy of his charges at Mumfordsville, elicited the admiration and compliments of the enemy. During the battle of Perryville, he handled his command with ability, keeping back, during the day, by his stubborn resistance, an entire corps of the enemy. Gen. Polk commended his gallantry for leading a charge in which a battery and a number of prisoners were taken.

When Gen. Bragg determined to leave Kentucky, he appointed Col. Wheeler chief of cavalry, and entrusted to him the work of covering the retreat. Although this responsibility was of a magnitude sufficient to appal many an older soldier, this gallant and intrepid soldier bore it, and distinguished himself in many a bril liant engagement. From Danville to Loudon, the blush of the grey dawn and the shades of night alike bore testimony to the able manner in which the enemy's exultant columns were met and handsomely repulsed. His soldiers soon learned, from his always being in front and ever watchful at night, that their labour was not only one of great importance, but about to reflect honour alike upon officer and man. During this retreat, his effective force did not exceed, at any time, one thousand men; but so ingeniously did he dispose it, that he protected every approach to the Confederate army, and forced the enemy to advance in long lines of battle, under the impression that a large infantry force was in his front. Thus was his advance restricted to six or seven miles per day. So successfully was the retreat covered by the cavalry, that, in no instance, was an infantry soldier ever called upon to fire his musket. Gen. Buell, who was severely censured and relieved from the command of his army, for allowing Gen. Bragg to escape from Kentucky, stated,

officially, that the Confederate rear was covered by cavalry, handled with more skill than had ever been known under similar circumstances.

After this campaign, Wheeler, upon the combined recommendation of Gens. Bragg, Polk, Hardee and Buckner, was commissioned Brigadier-General, and immediately sent to Middle Tennessee. Here he was very active, sallying forth almost daily, frequently capturing foraging parties with their trains from Nashville, and keeping his pickets in view of the spires of that city. In one of these engagements his horse was torn to pieces by a cannon ball, his aide killed at his side, and he himself painfully wounded by the fragment of a shell. During two months, he was engaged in twenty distinct fights, besides many skirmishes, at all times exhibiting so dauntless a spirit that the soldiers of his com mand gave him the sobriquet of "the Little Hero."

Just before the battle of Murfreesboro, Gen. Wheeler did most valuable service in manoeuvring his command so as to hold the enemy in check until the Confederate army was prepared to grapple with him on the banks of Stono River. In his official report of the battle, Gen. Bragg stated: "To the skillful manner in which the cavalry, thus ably supported, was handled, and the exceeding gallantry of its officers and men, must be attributed the four days' time engaged by the enemy in reaching the battlefield, a distance of only twenty miles from his encampments, over fine macadamized roads." During these four days it is said that Gen. Wheeler did not sleep as many hours, and was in the saddle eighteen hours out of every twenty-four, now directing a scout, now posting a picket, and then dashing like a phantom on some unsuspecting body of the enemy.

After the battle of Murfreesboro, Wheeler was at work on the enemy's communications, and subsequently covered Gen. Bragg's front, picketing close up to the enemy's main army. Whenever any part of his command could be spared from the front of the army, he would make rapid incursions into the lines of the enemy. After the lapse of some months in this service, he was again called upon to cover the retreat of the Confederate army, as it left the fertile lands of the hospitable and patriotic people of Middle Tennessee, and sought the line of the Tennessee River at Chattanooga. In this movement occurred a desperate encounter at

Shelbyville, and a remarkable display of personal gallantry on the part of Gen. Wheeler. He had been left at Shelbyville to cover the movement of the army to Tullahoma; and, forming his command in front of the Court-House, he fought the enemy warmly as he approached. Finally a column was seen moving rapidly down the road upon which Forrest was expected. Suddenly, as the column drew near, it was discovered they were Federals instead of friends. Three other heavy columns were pressing upon him. One of them had charged a portion of his forces and driven them over the Tullahoma Bridge. Finding himself so completely surrounded, Wheeler started the remainder of his command out of town, and remained with his escort, and checked one column which threatened their destruction. Charge after charge was made, and his sabre flashed over the head of many an invader. When entirely surrounded, he charged through a column which held his line of retreat, and might have himself retired without further danger. He then saw that a portion of his forces had been cut off, and the Federals held the bridge over Duck River, which, if permitted without further resistance, would have enabled them to have pursued and overtaken the army trains. Regardless of his own life, he quickly gathered some fifty or sixty brave spirits, and like a brave "Navarre,” hurled himself upon the enemy's flanks, driving them back into the town in utter confusion, opening the road for the escape of his command, and placing the waggon train out of danger. The enemy rallied, and charged again and again, but Wheeler met them with volleys of pistol shots and the clatter of sabres, and repulsed them. It was now sundown; everything was across Duck River in security, and he was about to make still another charge, when a staff officer came up and pointed to his rear, where the enemy had again surrounded him. Wheeling quickly, he charged through a column of the enemy and plunged headlong into the river, then swollen to a mighty torrent, and amid a shower of bullets, he clambered up the opposite bank. Of the sixty who formed this "forlorn hope," but thirteen escaped, and three of these were badly wounded. Gen. Wheeler was dressed in full uniform, and citizens and prisoners taken early in the fight so described him that the Federals easily recognized him, and repeatedly called to each other to capture him. They afterwards