Birthplace of General Joseph Wheeler Marker

HMdb.org

THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE “Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”

Home — My Markers — Add A Marker — Marker Series — Links & Books — Forum — About Us

Word or Phrase

Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print

Augusta in Richmond County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Birthplace of General Joseph Wheeler

By David Seibert, July 17, 2005

1. Birthplace of General Joseph Wheeler Marker

Inscription. A short distance north of this place, General Joseph Wheeler was born on Sept. 10, 1836. He graduated from West Point in 1859 and held the rank of 2nd lieutenant when the Civil War broke out. Resigning his commission in the Mounted Rifles, U.S.A., to join the Confederate Army, Wheeler was promoted within twenty-one months to major general in charge of all cavalry of the Army of Tenn. In Feb. 1865, he was commissioned lieutenant general. Wounded three times, Wheeler played prominent parts in Bragg’s invasion of Ky., and the campaigns of Chattanooga, Atlanta, Savannah, and the Carolinas. Criticized for lack of discipline among his troops, Wheeler was superseded by Lieutenant General Wade Hampton as chief of cavalry.

After the war, Wheeler lived in the town of Wheeler, Ala., which was named for him. He studied law and was admitted to the Ala. bar. Elected to Congress in 1881, he served almost continuously until his resignation in 1900. As a major general of the U.S. Volunteers in the Spanish-American War, Wheeler fought at San Juan Hill, as well as in the Philippines. He retired from the U.S. Regular Army in 1900 with the rank of brigadier general. General Wheeler died in 1906 and is buried in Arlington Cemetery.

Erected 1963 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 121-43.)

Location. 33° 29.399′ N, 82° 3.075′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Georgia, in Richmond County. Marker is at the intersection of Wheeler Road and Aumond Road, on the right when traveling west on Wheeler Road. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Augusta GA 30906, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Bobby Jones and the Beginning of the Grand Slam (approx. 1.2 miles away); Augusta State University (approx. 1.8 miles away); Great Indian Trading Path (approx. 2.2 miles away); Summerville Cemetery (approx. 2.2 miles away); White HouseTract (approx. 3.3 miles away); Samuel Hammond (approx. 3.7 miles away in South Carolina); Stoney Nurses Home (approx. 4.1 miles away); James Ryder Randall (approx. 4.4 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Augusta.

Also see . . .
1. General Joseph Wheeler. Wikipedia biography. (Submitted on December 29, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia.)
2. Major General Joseph Wheeler - the Controversy. While the marker states that Wheeler was promoted to Lieutenant General in February 1865, there is some controversy about this promotion. (Submitted on December 29, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia.)

Credits. This page originally submitted on December 29, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 504 times since then. Photo 1. Submitted on December 29, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.