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Access Camp George H. Thomas Map (252 KB - it could take awhile)  [Illustration courtesy of Pictorial Histories Co., "Images of the Spanish-American War"]

Above:  Camp George H. Thomas served as a brief stop for Gen. Wheeler while enroute from Washington, DC to Tampa, FL at the beginning of the Spanish-American War.  The recently established (Sept, 1895) National Military Park at Chickamauga, GA, site of an 1863 Civil War battle, was chosen as a concentration point for both regular Army and volunteer units supporting the Spanish-American War effort.  This illustration is a period map showing the 1898 camp layout, including detailed regimental locations.  (circa 1898)

Caption of photograph - "The Girls They Left Behind Them.  Group of wives and daughters of officers left in Tampa"  [Miss Annie (third from left), circa 1898]  Officers (and sometimes relatives, press, and others) occupied the Tampa Bay Hotel during the military build-up at Tampa.

Artist's depiction of The Tampa Bay Hotel, entitled "An Evening at the Hotel.  Tampa, Florida."  The Fifth Army Corps procured the Tampa Bay Hotel for its headquarters in Tampa while concentrating its forces for the Cuban invasion.  Gen. Wheeler, Joe Jr., and Miss Annie stayed at the Tampa Bay Hotel prior to their departure for Cuba during the Spanish-American War.  [Illustration courtesy of Pictorial Histories Co., "Images of the Spanish-American War"]

American Red Cross founder and first president, Clarissa Harlowe (Clara) Barton.  Barton placed Miss Annie in charge of nurses at the Nautical Club Hospital in Santiago during the Spanish-American War.

Wheeler and officers engaged in a conference sometime during the Cuban campaign.  Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, who served under Wheeler's command, can be seen to the right of Gen. Wheeler (seated in the center of the group with legs crossed).

Suffering from yellow fever, Wheeler's subordinate commanders pressed the attack on the San Juan Heights.  Upon hearing the guns, Wheeler determined to rejoin his troops at the front.  A New York correspondant published a poem commemorating Wheeler's resolve.

Above:  President William McKinley and Gen. Wheeler tour Camp Wikoff at Montauk Point, NY.  Following the Cuban Expedition, General Wheeler commanded Camp Wikoff for a time. (circa 1898)  Camp Wikoff was established as a camp within which the Army was essentially "quarantined" prior to the units moving to other camps or mustering out.  The camp also served as a hospital for the many soldiers that were suffering from yellow fever following the Cuban campaign.

Above Left:  Eighteen year old, Pvt. William McKinley, Co. E, 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  Above Right:  Twenty-six year old Maj Gen. Wheeler, Army of Tennessee.  As a side note, it is interesting to recall that before he became President of the United States of America, William McKinley was Pvt. McKinley, US Army.  Thus, he would have opposed Gen. Wheeler during the Civil War.  McKinley having served at Camp Chase, Ohio and in Western Virginia, it is unlikely that the two ever met on the field of battle.   Although the President and Gen. Wheeler (a long-time Congressman from Alabama following the Civil War) were of differing political parties (Wheeler - Democratic, McKinley - Grand Old Party) and of differing nations (when they were young), the two men developed a close friendship.  [Illustration of Pvt. McKinley courtesy of Pictorial Histories Co., "Images of the Spanish-American War"]

Miss Annie served as a volunteer nurse at Montauk Point, Long Island.  [Illustration courtesy of Pictorial Histories Co., "Images of the Spanish-American War"]

Soldiers wading the waters of Manila Bay during the Philippine Insurrection.  Gen. Wheeler, Joseph Wheeler, Jr., and Miss Annie served in the Philippines following their missions in Cuba and at Montauk Point, Long Island.  (circa 1899)