On U.S. House of Representatives stationary, this typewritten letter is clearly signed in brown ink at the bottom by former Confederate General Joe Wheeler. Addressed to P.A. Greene, Seale, Alabama. Peter Alexander Greene 1838-1902 moved from Georgia to Russell County, AL, in 1869, and served as clerk to a circuit court. He enlisted as a private in the 31^st Georgia May 15, 1861, serving in the Army of Northern Virginia, was wounded twice (1862 and 1864,) rose to 2^nd Lieutenant August 1863 and 1^st Lieutenant April 1864, and was captured at Sailor’s Creek April 6, 1865.

The content of the letter is interesting. Greene had requested “a relic” from Wheeler, who regretfully answers that his “store has been exhausted long since…” In addition to his wartime service, Greene was something of a collector. An obituary noted, “Mr. Greene gathered together a rare and valuable collection of Indian relics, ancient and curious fire arms, rare specimens of minerals and other curios which is considered one of the finest of its kind in the country and worth several thousand dollars.”

The letter is nicely matted and framed, fully legible, and Wheeler’s signature is strong. There are tape or glue residue marks at top and bottom, but they are neat and not obtrusive.

Wheeler’s record will be familiar: graduating West Point in 1859, he served in the 1^st Dragoons and regiment of Mounted Rifles. He resigned from the US army in 1861, served in the Georgia, militia, commanded the 19^th Alabama, acted as brigade commander after Shiloh and went back to cavalry service, making brigadier general in late 1862 and commanding the cavalry of the Army of Tennessee and was promoted Major General in January 1863. He was praised by Bragg and the Confederate Congress, but fell out with Forrest, served Johnston well, and was the only effective opposition to Sherman in the March to the Sea, but lack of discipline among his troops was a source of complaint by civilians. He was wounded three times and lost 16 horses shot under him, well earning the nickname “Fighting Joe Wheeler” and is regarded by many as the best Confederate cavalry commander next to Forrest. He was elected to Congress in 1880, and served continuously from 1884 to 1900. One of his more remarkable feats was reentering the U.S. Army for the Spanish-American War, serving in Cuba and the Philippines, gaining a commission as major general in the volunteer forces and eventually a commission as brigadier general in the U.S. Army in 1900. He died in 1906 and was buried at Arlington.  [sr] [ph:L]

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