Chatham Roberdeau Wheat
Chatham Roberdeau Wheat | |
|---|---|
Major Chatham Roberdeau Wheat | |
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1848–1849 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 9, 1826 |
| Died | June 27, 1862 (aged 36) |
| Resting place | Hollywood Cemetery Richmond, Virginia |
| Alma mater | University of Nashville |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States López Filibuster Filibuster Nicaragua Mexico Kingdom of Sardinia Confederate States |
| Branch/service | United States Army Mexican Army Royal Sardinian Army Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1846-1848 (USA) 1855 (Mexico) 1860 (Sardinia) 1861-1862 (CSA) |
| Rank | Captain (USA) Brigadier General (Mexico) Major (CSA) |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War Lopez Expedition Revolution of Ayutla Filibuster War Expedition of the Thousand American Civil War |
Chatham Roberdeau Wheat (April 9, 1826 – June 27, 1862) was an American politician, lawyer, adventurer and military officer serving both the United States Army and the Confederate States Army.
Wheat first saw action as a captain of the United States Volunteers during the Mexican–American War where he was promoted to a lieutenant. Upon leaving the military, he successfully sought election to Louisiana House of Representatives, serving a 1 year term from 1848–1849. Following his term in office he served as a mercenary in Cuba, Mexico, and Italy, and later as a major in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
Wheat is remembered as a pioneer of the filibuster movement in the Antebellum United States, he led several raids into Cuba where he was commissioned a colonel and gained most of his military experience.