Portrait, Joseph Wheeler, Major General

by American Landscapes

Title

Portrait, Joseph Wheeler, Major General

Artist

American Landscapes

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Photographer: Unknown
Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-cwpb-05987
Source: Civil war photographs, 1861-1865, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

Joseph Wheeler began his Civil War service in the Confederate Army after resigning from the U.S. Army in 1861. Initially serving as an artillery officer, he quickly transitioned to cavalry and rose through the ranks due to his aggressive tactics and leadership skills. By late 1862, Wheeler was promoted to major general and appointed chief of cavalry for the Army of Tennessee under General Braxton Bragg. He earned a reputation as a bold and relentless cavalry commander, often conducting deep raids into Union territory to disrupt supply lines, gather intelligence, and harass enemy movements. His cavalry played key roles in battles such as Perryville, Chickamauga, and the Tullahoma and Chattanooga campaigns.

Despite occasional criticism for being overly reckless and for clashing with other Confederate commanders, Wheeler remained one of the South’s most active and prominent cavalry leaders throughout the war. He led numerous raids across Tennessee, Georgia, and even into Union-held territory during General Sherman’s campaigns. During the Atlanta Campaign and Sherman's March to the Sea, Wheeler's cavalry was tasked with slowing Union advances, often fighting a vastly superior force. Though his efforts could not stop Sherman, Wheeler’s tenacity kept his command active until the closing months of the war. He surrendered in May 1865 in North Carolina, having served nearly the entire duration of the war as one of the Confederacy’s most trusted cavalry officers.

Despite his Confederate background, he became a strong supporter of national unity and reconciliation and in 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Wheeler (then in his 60s) was appointed a major general of volunteers in the United States Army by President William McKinley. He famously served with distinction in Cuba, even commanding U.S. cavalry forces at the Battle of Las Guasimas and being present at the Battle of San Juan Hill, where he reportedly cried out, “Let’s go, boys! We’ve got the damn Yankees on the run!”, momentarily forgetting he was now fighting for the U.S. Army. Wheeler later served briefly in the Philippine–American War as well, making him one of the few former Confederate officers to serve the United States in combat after the Civil War.

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August 20th, 2025

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