The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-03
GENERAL CHAFFEE'S WAY.
Why He Has the Confidence of His
Men.
New York Sun

In the whole United States army there
IS no officer who possesses to a greater
degree the confidence and respect Of tie
men that nave served under him than
General Adna r. Chaffee, now on his way
! 10 emma TO take command of the Ameri-
can forces there. 1t is not alone his cool
ness, Judgment and absolute fearlessness
III atoh that endearS him to his men for
elIeSo quaIllIes are so nearly universal
among the officers of the American army
mat they are taken for granted hut also
ms constant thOughtfulness and care for
ms men and his tact in handling them
Ter A. ne returned from service in Cuba
lle men IN MS division told OF an incident
showing his spirit toward them and his
possession OF that quality so rare among
soldiers who are themselves without fear
sympathy with a victim of panic
1t was at Ell Caney Several comma ies
We're detailed to dIg trenches and the
Spanish sharpshooters were potting them
from treetops and clumps OF bushes on
/ the hillSideS. Presently the firing became
. so severe that the men were ordered 10
drop their tools and return IT, About
this time General Chaffee came along on
loot looking over the situation. in the
/ bottom OF one of the trenches he saw a
solder lying fiat on his face while the
man next TO MN kicked him in the inter-
/ Vals OF nrlng- As the general walked
/ over ne heard the kicker address the pros
/ trate soldier in a savage whisper:
Get up, you BANKED fool Here comes
/ old Chance. If he sees you, you're done
J for
whats the matter with that mani"
| asked General Chaffee. rs he wound
ed?'
mo. sir" said the soldier, saluting. The
PROSTATE man made no motion
: Sun, them asked the general. for
/ there were many cases of collapse from
heat under the bitter glare OF the Cuban
i afternoons.
Il don't know, sir,' replied the soldier
/ in embarrassment
! All this time the bullets were whistling
! around the soldier, who had risen from
4 his crouchlng posture, and was standing
I at salute.
/ Don't stand there and expose yourself.
my man." said General Chaffee kindly,
although ne himself had been standing in
full range all the time.
| Now he walked over to the groveling
| soldier, took him by the collar and hauled
him to a sitting posture.
What do you mean by lying there?' he
said, sternly. Get up and fight with
your company"
No, l can't" whined the fellow.
"Can't?" said the general. We'll, YOU
are a fine soldier. What business have
! you got here? What's the matter with
| you, anyway
I'm afraid, that's what's the matter
| with me, said the soldier, dOggedly, try
ing to wrest his collar from the grasp of
the other and trying in vain, for General
| Chaffee has muscles of steel.
Beg pardon, sir, said the mans neigh
Dor, saiuting again. / think the kids
been SICK sir
That's a charitable thought" said the
! general, grimly.
He twisted his captive about to get a
good look at him, and his face, which had
grown set and angry, sottened at what he
saw.
How old are your he asked.
Seventeen" said the frightened sol
die..
why, you're nothing but a child,
cried General Chaffee. I'D like to get
hold of the fellow that enlisted you"
He stood thinking for a moment while
the boy shifted. A Spanish bullet sent
little squirt of dirt up from the in
trenchment not tow feet from where he
stood.
BEG pardon, sir; they're getting your
range" said the. soldier. Hadn't you
better lie down, sir?
The general paid no attention to the
warning, but shifted his hand from the
collar to the shoulder Of his captive.
| Now see here" said he, kindly. You
| can't help being frightened, 1 suppose
But there isn't nearly so much danger as
| you think there is You just pick up your
gun and take your position and fight, anG
III stand here by you until you get used
Shaking like leaf. the boy seized his
gun and fired shot almost straight in
the air.
or Try it lower and take a little more
time to aim. There's a Spaniard in that
I green thicket straight in front of you,
I think"
After three or four shots, the young sol.
der got his nerve, stopped trembling anC
began TO shoot with some accuracy anC
judgment.
That's better said General Chaffee
as he moved away. Stay there and dc
your best.
/ Nine officers out of ten would have SEN
the y,.ungster to the rear in disgrace an6
ruined his army career. General Chaffee':
method was the better in every way. This
boy fought like a veteran through the af
ternoon and when the order came L
withdraw he had to be dragged away by
his companions, though he had beer
fighting Tor more than an hour with
bullet wound in his shoulder He sait
/ that General Chaffee had told him to stay
there and he was going to stay. The
wound was d trifing one and. before tn,
campaign was over the boy had the repu
Sation of being one of the best soldiers il
his company He is now ascorpcral and il
| serving in the Philippines.