David Porter Wheeler

David P. Wheeler as a Lieutenant.
He wears the model 1898-1899 khaki Field Service uniform
with white shoulder straps, to denote Infantry branch.

Photo from the Thirty-Sixth Annual Reunion book of the Association of Graduates
of the United States Military Academy 1905

David Porter Wheeler was born in Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio on July 18, 1876.

He graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point on April 26, 1898, and on that date was commissioned
a 2nd Lieutenant in the 23rd Infantry. This was the day after the formal Declaration of War against the Kingdom of Spain
by the United States. The normal graduation time of June or July had been advanced because of the impending war.

At that time the 23rd Infantry was at New Orleans, in preparation for possible deployment to Cuba.
The following month the Regiment moved to San Francisco, with orders to deploy to the Philippines.
Assigned to Company F, Wheeler was part of the 1st Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
John W. French. In June 1898 the 1st Battalion of the 23rd Infantry sailed to the Philippines,
and Wheeler was part of the force opposing the Spanish at Manila on August 13 of that year.

The following is the after-action report, written by Wheeler, of an engagement of the 23rd Infantry
with Spanish forces near Manila, in which he participated:

SIR: I have the honor to report that on Friday morning, August 5, Company F left Camp Dewey for outpost duty
and reached the trenches about 9.30 a. m. We were assigned to the part of the line crossing a rice field,
about 100 yards from the main road to Manila. Two small earthworks had been thrown up when we took
possession. I was given command of the one to the right, with 30 men; the remainder of the company,
under Captain Clagett, were behind the other intrenchment, about 50 yards to my left; Company D
was about 70 yards to my right and rear; Company H about 100 yards to the rear of Captain Clagett's position.
During the day the Spanish sharpshooters kept up an annoying fire at us, but only twice did the men
have to stop work on the intrenchments, which were extended about 20 yards and strengthened. About 10 yards
to my right a dense hedge ran perpendicular to our line and a corresponding one on the left. The ground
immediately in my front was open for about 200 yards and then several clumps of trees afforded some cover.
At 7.15 p. m. the enemy opened fire on us, which was replied to on my right and left. Their firing increased,
and I replied first with fire at will and, as their firing increased and came much closer, by volleys.
They advanced to within about 200 yards of my work in front and to within 150 yards along the hedge to the right.
I was prevented from firing into the hedge by the position of the insurgent lines to our right. The enemy
were prevented from advancing along this hedge by the fire from Company D. The Spanish were out in force,
and, judging from the flashes, seemed to be firing by volley when they were closest to us. After an hour and a quarter
of incessant firing the enemy withdrew, although their sharpshooters kept up a harassing fire until we were relieved.
At no time did we make any reply to their sharpshooters nor molest them as they worked on their trenches
in plain sight of us. We were relieved about 9.30 a. m. Saturday and returned to Camp Dewey. The next day I was
told by an insurgent officer who had seen the Spanish forces that there were between 600 and 700 of them
in our front during the attack and that they suffered heavy losses before they retired.
Very respectfully,

In September of 1898 the war with Spain came to an end, but on February 4, 1899, David Wheeler found himself
in a new war, this time against soldiers of the 1st Philippine Republic.

On March 2, 1899 Wheeler was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and transferred to the 22nd Infantry.
At the end of that same month, on March 27, the 22nd Infantry received a new Regimental Commander,
newly promoted Colonel John French, who had been Wheeler's Battalion Commander in the 23rd Infantry.

Wheeler served at Candaba, Luzon, Philippine Islands, July 17 to October, 1899. He was in the field in Luzon
(Province) from October 1899 to June 1901. He is recorded in the Official Army Register of 1901 as being
assigned at that time to Company A 22nd Infantry, with Captain Joseph Donovan commanding the Company.
Donovan was severely wounded in an engagement with insurgent forces near Las Pinas on June 13, 1899,
at which time Wheeler assumed temporary command of the Company.

On January 3, 1901, with Donovan back in the United States recuperating from his wounds, Wheeler, as
Commander of Company A, wrote a report of deceased members of the Company in the Philippines
up to that time. The folllowing is a scan of David P. Wheeler's signature from that original report:

The following passages from the 1904 Regimental History, for the years 1900 and 1901, and the Annual Reports
of the War Department for 1901, give an indication of the duties performed by Wheeler during this phase
of the Regiment's service in the Philippines:

October 2.—Lieut. Wheeler, with a detachment of company A, struck a band of insurgents in barrio of Santo Tomas, near Jaen;
killed one, captured two, two rifles and valuable papers. No casualties.

Lieut. Wheeler, with forty men of company A, encountered an insurgent outpost near San Pablo;
killed one insurgent and captured two rifles. No casualties.

October 11.—Lieut. Wheeler, with a detachment of company A, captured in woods, near barrio of Jaen,
Comandante Delfin Esquivel and three soldiers, six rifles, and 500 rounds of ammunition.

Jaen.—November 4. Detachment of Company A, under First Lieutenant Wheeler, Twenty-second Infantry,
marched to San Pablo to intercept band of insurgents repulsed at Manicling. No result. Distance marched, 8 miles.

November 5. Companies A and K, under First Lieutenants Wheeler and Hannay, cooperated with Companies I and M,
all commanded by Captain Crittenden, Twenty-second Infantry. Thorough search made of country in vicinity of San Antonio,
Nueva Ecija. No result. Distance, 9 miles.

November 9. Detachment Company A, under First Lieutenant Wheeler, marched to barrio Lelina, near San Antonio.
Two insurgents captured. Rest escaped. Distance, 10 miles.

November 16.—Lieut Wheeler, with detachment of 22nd infantry, captured, near Tombo, six insurgents, five rifles, and one revolver.

November 16. Detachment Company A, under Lieutenant Wheeler, surprised party near Tambo. Captured 1 corporal,
5 men, 2 Remington carbines, 2 Mauser rifles, 1 revolver.

November 17. Mounted men Company A, under Lieutenant Wheeler, mounted men Company I, under Lieutenant Leonard,
Twenty-second Infantry, and detachment Company K, under Lieutenant Hannay, all under Captain Crittenden, marched to
Santo Cristo, near Gapan, Nueva Ecija, and captured early in the morning 31 men, of whom 8 were soldiers. Distance, 20 miles.

December 21.—Lieut. Wheeler, acting on information from spies, captured the insurgent captain Esteban Quinteros;
prisoner led them to the camp of twenty-eight of his men near Jaen. Lieut. Wheeler attacked camp in darkness; killed two,
wounded one, captured eight rifles and 300 rounds of ammunition. No casualties.

January 20.—Lieut. Wheeler, with a detachment of company A, met a band of insurgents near Jaen; routed them, captured six rifles,
three shotguns, one revolver, and 300 rounds of ammunition. No casualties.

February 24-25. Lieutenant Wheeler with mounted detachment, 12 men, scouted country between Jaen and Zaragoza.

Wheeler left the Philippines in June 1901, arrived in the United States on July 28, 1901, and was on leave
until October 28, 1901. From that date until April 8, 1902, he was on duty at Columbus Barracks, Ohio.
The nature of this duty is not specified, however, Columbus was a major recruiting depot at that time,
so his duty there was most likely as a recruiting officer.

From April 8, 1902 to May 9, 1902, he was assigned to Command of a
Company at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. Which Company he commanded at Fort Robinson is not specified.
In early 1902 the 22nd Infantry Regiment had returned to the United States, and its various Companies were stationed
at several Forts in Nebraska, and one Fort in Arkansas. Companies A and D were posted to Fort Robinson at this time.
The Army Register for 1902 shows Wheeler still officially assigned to Company A.

Officers of the 22nd Infantry at Fort Crook, Nebraska 1903.
Captain David P. Wheeler is second from the left.

On May 9, 1902, Wheeler and Companies A and D moved to Fort Reno, Indian Territory (Oklahoma).
While at Fort Reno he was promoted to Captain of the 26th Infantry, on January 27, 1903. On March 20, 1903,
Wheeler left Fort Reno for duty station at Fort Crook, Nebraska. On April 7, 1903, he was transferred back
to the 22nd Infantry. He left for the Philippines with the 22nd Regiment at the end of October 1903, arriving in Manila
aboard the USAT Sheridan, on November 28, and then to Camp Marahui, Island of Mindanao, on December 6, 1903.

On Mindanao, as Commanding Officer of Company F 22nd Infantry, Wheeler was part of Major General Leonard Wood's
Taraca Expedition, which took place April 2-11, 1904. The aim of this Expedition was to bring under American control
the Moros who held sovereignty over the region southeast of Lake Lanao, along the Taraca River. The mission was a success,
and all units involved returned to their duty stations on April 11, with the exception of Companies F and G of the
22nd Infantry, who were left as a garrison at the captured Moro fort, or "cotta", at Sapungan, at the mouth
of the Taraca River. Wheeler, as the senior Captain of the two Companies, was therefore in charge of the small post.
The Regimental History of 1904 describes the action of April 11:

"...the same companies ( Company F and Company G), while reconnoitering up the Taraca river,
encountered a cotta containing a number of armed Moros. Before attacking, Captain Wheeler, commanding,
ordered the women and children to a place of safety. The men of the cotta denied having guns, but professed
their willingness to come out and to surrender. While giving up their kampilans and daggers, a number of them,
without warning, made a rush upon the troops and succeeded in stabbing Captain David P. Wheeler and
Corporal Percy Heyvelt, company F. The troops at once opened fire upon the treacherous Moros, killing thirty of them."

Wheeler died of his wounds either two or three days later. (His death is reported in different accounts
as occurring on either April 13 or 14.) The post at the mouth of the Taraca River was named Camp Wheeler
in his honor. Cullum's Biographical Register of 1910 mentions that:

"He was commended in general orders, for his conduct of affairs in Taraca Valley during April, 1904."

General Orders Number 5, of the 22nd Infantry for the year 1904, memorialized Wheeler :

It is the painful duty of the Regimental Commander to announce the death of an officer, Captain David Porter Wheeler, 22nd infantry,
who succumbed this date to wounds inflicted by hostile Moros at Taraca river, on Lake Lanao, April 11, 1904. Captain Wheeler
was born in Zanesville, Ohio, July 18, 1876. Appointed to the military academy, June 15, 1894. Graduated and commissioned
a second lieutenant in the 23rd infantry on April 23, 1898. Promoted first lieutenant and assigned to the 22nd infantry, March 2, 1899.
Promoted captain and assigned to the 26th infantry, January 27, 1903. Transferred to the 22nd infantry, April 7, 1903.
The regiment sustains a heavy loss by the death of this gallant officer, whose service has ever been characterized by loyalty, gallantry,
and efficiency of the highest order. He was much beloved by his comrades, and his name will always be remembered with those heroic men
of the regiment who have given their lives for their country. The flag will be placed at half mast until after the funeral
and mourning will be for thirty days.

BY ORDER OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL MAUS:
(Sgd.) J. L. DONOVAN, Captain 22nd Infantry, Acting Adjutant.

The above order was written and signed by Captain Joseph L. Donovan, as Acting Adjutant of the 22nd Infantry.
When David Wheeler had been a 1st Lieutenant in Company A of the 22nd Infantry, Donovan had been his
Company Commander. The following account of Wheeler's death was written by Captain Donovan, and published
in Combat Diary by A. B. Feuer:

Captain Donovan continued his account: "...During the afternoon, two Filipinos—who had been slaves of one of the sultans—
came in under a flag of truce.

"On April 8, we camped near the mouth of the Ramaien River. These marches were made through swamps and unbridged streams.
We did not stop until late in the day, as many halts were necessary in order to investigate nearby cottas.
"The liberated slaves had told us of a cotta at Pitud. It belonged to Datto Gadapuan and was reported to contain many rifles
and a large quantity of ammunition. Companies F and G, under Captain David Wheeler, were sent to investigate.
Upon approaching the cotta, Wheeler's detachment came under heavy fire. For several minutes the Americans were pinned down
in the swampy ground. Finally Corporal Sam Treadway exclaimed that he would rather face the datto's bullets than have
snakes and leeches crawling all over his body. Captain Wheeler was of the same opinion and yelled for his men to charge the cotta.
Attempting to outscream the Moros, Company F busted through the bamboo gate. It was hand-to-hand battle.
A Moro swung his kris at Treadway. The corporal wrestled the knife away from the native and killed him with his own weapon.
Treadway and three other soldiers were wounded in the melee—but the cotta was quickly captured.

"With the exception of Wheeler's battle, our march through the hostile countryside was unopposed. Although the mud was
knee-deep, outlandishly attired delegations of flag-waving Moros continued to greet our column—pledging their allegiance
to the United States. Colonel Maus was offered presents of fruits, chickens, and eggs—no strings attached—so they said.
One procession was led by a native carrying a large flag taken from an American transport vessel. We thought it best
not to ask him where he obtained the banner."

Captain Wheeler and his men were sent on ahead to reconnoiter upstream along the banks of the Taraca River.
During the afternoon of the 10th, they came upon a large cotta. Since women and children were reported to be inside,
Wheeler attempted to negotiate a surrender. The natives inside the cotta denied having guns but said they were willing
to give up their other weapons.

Wheeler was dubious, and as women and children emerged from the bamboo doorway, he ordered them taken to a safe place.
A few tribesmen then appeared and walked slowly out from the fort—dropping their bolos on the ground. Seconds later,
fifty screaming Moros dashed from the cotta—slashing the air with their long knives. Captain Wheeler was immediately stabbed
through the heart. The Americans were shocked for a moment—then a hail of bullets met the charging enemy.
When the smoke cleared, there was not one Moro warrior standing—thirty were killed outright.

The following obituary and biography of Wheeler was published in the Thirty-Sixth Annual Reunion
of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York,
June 13th, 1905.

David Porter Wheeler as a Cadet at the U.S. Military Academy.
He graduated 48 out of a class of 59. His best subjects were Drill Regulations and
Mathematics. His worst subjects were Practical Military Engineering and Spanish.

Part of the graduating class of 1898, US Military Academy.
Wheeler is in the second row, far right. He is the only one
in the photo not wearing a cap.

The following clipping is from the San Francisco Call, Saturday, April 16, 1904.
It announces the death of David P. Wheeler, and mentions that Corporal Percy Heyvelt
was "fatally wounded". The 1904 22nd Infantry Regimental History does not indicate
that Heyvelt died, only that he was wounded.

Also on Saturday, April 16, 1904, the Los Angeles Herald
announced the death of David Wheeler, with the following two-part short article,
a byline of which stated that Wheeler was the "Youngest Captain in Army".

The article in the Los Angeles Herald
reporting the death of David P. Wheeler,
published on Saturday, April 23, 1904.

Below is an enlargement of the bottom part
of the article. At the time Wheeler died,
his father was a businessman with an office
in downtown Los Angeles.

The statement that he was killed by
"Filipino guards under his command"
is completely wrong.

He was killed by Moro tribesmen
as an act of war by opposing forces.

The sum of three million dollars in gold coin reported in the above article, of which Wheeler
was in charge, is a curious statement. With the March 1903 Coinage Act, the United States government
established a gold-based monetary system in the Philippines, using the Philippine Peso as the basic unit of money.
The Philippine Peso was not a gold coin, however, but a silver coin minted in the United States at the mints in
Philadelphia and San Francisco. On October 31, 1903 the USAT Sheridan sailed for Manila from San Francisco,
with the 22nd Infantry Regiment aboard. Wheeler was listed as a passenger, and evidently was the officer in charge
of a large sum of currency minted in the US, and intended for the Philippine treasury, that was also traveling aboard
the Sheridan. The following article from the Los Angeles Herald, from October 29, 1903, reports the amount
at half the figure mentioned above, and more accurately reports the currency as being "silver pesos".

Burial:
Greenwood Cemetery
Zanesville
Muskingum County
Ohio, USA
Plot: Section: East Center Square/5

Grave marker for David P. Wheeler
The inscription indicates that he was Captain of Company F 22nd Regiment United States Infantry

In late 1904 construction was begun on a coastal defense artillery position at Fort Mills, on the island
of Corregidor, at the mouth of Manila Bay in the Philippines. In 1909 construction was ended, with
two M1895 Coastal Defense 12 inch guns installed on M1901 disappearing carriages, and the position
was named Battery Wheeler, in honor of CPT David P. Wheeler of the 22nd Infantry.

The No. 1 gun was an M1895 12 inch gun, serial number 7, built in 1900 by Bethlehem Steel in Bethlehem, Pennyslvania.
The barrel was relined in 1935. Its M1901 disappearing carriage was serial number 13, made in 1907 by the
Watertown Arsenal in Watertown, Massachusetts.

The No. 2 gun was an M1895 12 inch gun, serial number 36, built in 1900 by the Watervliet Arsenal at Watervliet, New York.
Its barrel was relined in 1936. Its M1901 disappearing carriage was serial number 12, made in 1907 by the
Watertown Arsenal in Watertown, Massachusetts.

A spare gun was also part of the battery, and it was serial number 10, built in 1898 by Bethlehem Steel.

Battery Wheeler saw action against the Japanese in 1942, and was captured by them during the fall of the
Philippines that year. It again saw action, this time against American forces, in February 1945, and was
recaptured by the US Army that month.

Location
Located on Corregidor Island facing southwest towards Manila Bay, but could also target Mariveles to the northwest.

Construction
Built by the US Army, construction commenced during 1904 and was completed during 1909 at a cost of $244,600.
Named in honor of Captain David P. Wheeler, 22nd U.S. Infantry who died of wounds received in action on
April 14, 1904 at Taraca, Mindanao.

Emplaced two 12" (305mm) guns on Model 1901 disappearing carriages, capable of firing to 17,000 yards (nearly 10 miles).
Their 1,000 lbs shells required a 270 lb (122.7 kg) bagged charge. Rate of fire was at or better than 2 per minute, and with
a field of fire of 220 degrees. Maximum rate of fire was better than two rounds per minute. The length of the rifled bore
was 35' (10.7 m). The traverse of each gun was limited to 170 degrees but because the centers of traverse are offset 50 degrees,
the combined field of the two guns enabled the battery to cover a 220 degree field of fire. The guns were proof fired during 1909,
making Battery Wheeler the first of the Corregidor gun batteries made operational.

Wartime History
Manned by a gun crew of twenty-two men of Battery C, 59th Coast Artillery commanded by Captain Harry W. Schenck.
Battery Wheeler fired on Japanese forces in defense of Corregidor during 1942.

On March 24, 1942, a Japanese aircraft dropped an aerial bomb that impacted the No. 1 gun and damaged the traversing rollers.
Repaired within 24 hours, traversing became difficult thereafter. The guns remained in action throughout April then were
disabled by their crews prior to surrender.

After the surrender of Corregidor, the Japanese required American prisoners of war to completely dismantle one
gun carriage for parts used to restore the other gun. The battery was occupied by the Japanese until February 1945.

On February 16, 1945, it was thought that Battery Wheeler was clear of Japanese, but they managed to reoccupy the battery.
Ultimately, three days of fighting was required before they were neutralized.

Today, the No. 2 gun, Watervliet No. 36, is laying in the emplacement, its carriage having been completely dismantled.
The No. 1 gun, Bethlehem No. 7, is now mounted in Watertown carriage No. 12. The spare barrel, Bethlehem No. 10,
lays just outside of the Battery's entrance.

The No. 2 gun mount of Battery Wheeler as it looks today.
A great deal of the gun carriage is missing. The huge size of the gun's breech
can be judged by the size of the man standing next to it.

Battery Wheeler's No. 2 gun mount today.
In the left of the photo is the gun tube of the No. 2 gun. The No. 1 gun sits in the carriage that originally held the No. 2 gun.
The damaged guns and gun carriages were dismantled by the Japanese in order to make one complete serviceable gun.
The No. 1 gun was originally in its mount on the other side of the concrete wall in the far left of the photo.

A later model 12 inch gun mounted on the same kind of M1901 disappearing carriage as the guns at Battery Wheeler.
This gun is in firing position, raised up on the carriage to clear over the protecting wall.

Annual Reports of the War Department for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1898, Report of the Major-General
Commanding the Army, Washington, Government Printing Office 1898

Annual Reports of the War Department for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1901, Report of the Lieutenant-General
Commanding the Army Part 3, Washington, Government Printing Office 1901

A History of the Twenty-second United States Infantry Compiled From Official Records,
Major O. M. Smith, Captain R. L. Hamilton, Captain W. H. Wassell, Press of E. C. McCullough & Co., Inc., Manila, P.I. 1904

Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York Since Its Establishment in 1802
by Brevet-Major-General George W. Cullum, Supplement, Volume V 1900-1910, Seemann and Peters, Saginaw, Michigan 1910

Thirty-sixth Annual Reunion of the Association & Graduates of the United States Military Academy, at West Point, New York,
June 13, 1905, Seemann and Peters, Saginaw, Michigan 1905

Combat Diary Episodes From the History of the Twenty-Second Regiment, 1866-1905
by A. B. Feuer, Praeger Publishers, One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 1991