The New International Encyclopædia/Wheaton, Frank

WHEAT'ON, (1833-1903). An American soldier, born in Providence, R. I. He received a public school education, and was a civil engineer in California until 1855, when he was commissioned lieutenant in the First United States Cavalry. In March, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of captain. Four months later he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Second Rhode Island Volunteers, and before the end of the year he was commissioned colonel. He participated in the first battle of Bull Run and in the Peninsular and Maryland campaigns. In November, 1862, he was promoted to be brigadier-general of volunteers, and was brevetted major-general in both the volmnteer and the regular service. At the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania his troops were engaged in some of the most desperate fighting. In 1864 he commanded a division in the Shenandoah Valley and at the battle of Cedar Creek he was one of the first to rally his forces. During the last year of the war he served under Grant and took part in the campaign which ended at Appomattox. In 1866 he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Thirty-ninth Infantry and rose to the rank of major-general in the Regular Army before his retirement in 1895.