The Quirky History,Savannah,Georgia And The United States

Joseph Wheeler , another Confederate officer in the Civil War, served in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War. Wheeler (West Point, 1859) commanded the 19th Alabama at the battle of Shiloh and the siege of Corinth, and went on to command the 2nd Cavalry Brigade in Braxton Bragg’s Army of Mississippi. General Wheeler clashed repeatedly with Nathan Bedford Forrest, but retained Bragg’s faith in his ability. Joe Wheeler’s Civil War career ended in 1865, when Union troops captured him at Conyer’s Station, near Atlanta. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898, President William McKinley appointed Wheeler major general of volunteers. General Wheeler took charge of the cavalry division (Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders were part of his command). In 1899 Wheeler headed to the Philippines to command the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division in the Philippine-American War.

Maj. Gen. Matthew Calbraith Butler , Confederate States Army, became a major general of U.S. Volunteers in the Spanish-American War—despite having lost his right foot in the battle of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863.

Discovery of a rebel battery & camp on Vernon River, Ga., by the U.S. gun boats "Ottowa," "Seneca," "Pembina," & "Mary Andrew," under command of Capt. Rogers of the "Wabash" - Position of U.S. gun boats at the time of rebel battery opening fire - Dec. 11, 1861 / pencil drawing by William Crane.