Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08
GEN. CHAFFEE's BEGINNING.
The First Steps of His Rise From TIL
Ranks of the sixth Cavalry.

nc Steps Oh His rise rrO" the
Ranks of the Sixth Cavalry.
From the Chicago Record
About July 20, 1861 young man nine
teen years of age, with pleasant face,
though freckled and bronzed by laboring in
the hsrvest field, walked into the recruit
ing Office of Capt. c. R. Lowell, in War
rem, Ohio, and indicated his desire to en-
list. This young mans name was Adna r.
Chaffee
Capt Lowell was recruiting for Company
K, 9th United States Cavalry, one of the
new cavalry regiments that Congress had
authorized to be raised for the regular
army. and Chaffee, along with several
other young men of that community. my
self included was attracted by the entlc-
ing handbills which the enterprising cap
tain had caused to be scattered broadcast
over the surrounding country. Accord
ingly, he climbed rickety pair of real
stairs In two-story building to the re-
cruiting Office, being conducted thither by
a little drygoods clerk with bald spot the
size of a teapot lid little back of the
crown of his head. This little clerk was
always conveniently at hand to offer HIM
self as an escort to the wou1d-be recruit,
as there was a fee of 50 a head for as
many as he could thus conduct to the re-
cruiting officer occupying rooms over the
store In which the little clerk was en-
ployed. The 9th Regular Cavalry, which
was recruited in the summer and fall of
1851, consisted of great variety of men
with a great variety of calings, sailors
and miners perhaps predominating, with
young men from the farms coming in as
close third. There were recruits from as
many as half a dozen states, although the
greater number were from Pennsylvania
and eastern Ohio. A few were picked up
here and a few there, so it often happened
that young fellow would find out, after
he had enlisted. that there was not man
In his company or perhaps his regiment
whom he had ever seen or heard of before.
AS 1 remember, young Chaffee's home
was In Orwell, township in Ashtabuia
county, next to the Trumbull county line.
His parents were poor. but owned small
farm. l think, upon which the young man
labored or he may have been employed by
some farmer other than his father just
prior to his enlistment in Capt. Lowells
company.
men that the captain had gathered up at
the Warren recruiting Office started for
Pittsburg, Pa, August 5, 1861, being
hauled in heavy farm wagons from the
abc''t twelve miles, whence we were to go
by rail to Pittsburg While en- route for
Salem a heavy rain drenched us to the
skin. Had some prophet foretold that in
rumbling along the road to Salem on that
sultry day there was a.future major gen.
eral and hero none would have guessed
that the quiet and unassuming Chaffee
The 9th Regular Cavalry was organized
in August, 1861 at Camp Scott, about three
miles outside the city limits of Pittsburg,
the organization being effected under
Lieut.. Col w. II. Emery, afterward
major general of volunteers. commanding.
Our regularly assigned colonel was David
Hunter, but during my term of enlistment
l never saw him once, and / doubt if he
ever the regiment during the civil
war. Chaffee remained private for sew
eral weeks, when the company commander
appointed him lance corporal. In some
of the other companies of the regiment the
company commanders appointed to that
Office the most Inefficient and worthless
chaps in their companies as a sort of gro
tesque SANDER upon its insignificance. But
this was not true in Corporal Chaffee's
case, for by this time his military pin
feathers had begun to grow. Shortly after
he had been made lance corporal the
regimentai commander confirmed the APP
pofntment, whereby the lance" was Topped
or which prefix means temporary. Then
it was found that Chaffee was no longer a
corporal, but full-fedged sergeant.
About the middle of September the regi-
ment left Camp Scott and went by rail to
Bladensburg, Nd, and established a camp
near that little hamlet, which is situatet,
eight miles east of the national
capital At this place we received our
horses, arms and accouterments. When we
began to have mounted drills the young
farmers had the advantage of the sailors
and miners, a good many of whom had
time these verdant cavalrymen cut sorry
figure Every man in the ranks was sup
posed to wear spurs on mounted drill and
when an unSophisticated rider would touch
the TANKS of his horse with his spurs there
would be trouble for that poor fellow at
once. Sergt Chaffee, having lived all his
life on a farm until he enlisted was
pert horSeman, and tn teach these green
cavalrymen how to ride troopers should
was one of the first duties assigned him
after he was appointed a sergeant. l re-
member him on frequent occasions drilling
the awkward mounted squad of Company
X. In justice to these inexperienced horse
men of the awkward squad l will say that
when they did finally learn the art of
horseback riding they became the very best
riders in the regiment, having been taught
only the best methods and having no de-
fects to unlearn.
The regiment left it's Bladensburg camp
about November 1 and went into winter
quarters east of the capital Preparations
were being made by the commanding gen
eral for early onward march of the
Army of the Potomac, to which our regi-
ment had been assigned. 1t was, I think.
in the early days of April, 1862 that the
army commanded by Gen George b. Nc
Cleilan began another move with the con-
federate capital as its objective point. Not
many weeks elapsed before our regiment
had its first brush with the enemy. This
was a Williamsburg, Va May 4, 1862 when
the regiment lost three killed and several
wounded. Another engagement followed
quickly at Slatersville. Va. May o. and an
other at Mechanicsvlle, Va, May %. We
had another battle at Hanover Court
House. Va. May 81. and then one at Black
Church. Va, June %. We were at Malvern
Hill August q and at Falls Church, Va.
September 5. l could name as many more
engagements, all of greater or less magni-
tude, that stand to the credit Of the regi-
ment during the first year of campaigning
Our Sergt. Chaffee was an active partici-
pant in all these engagements, and in one
of them, 1 am unable to indicate which
he received a slightawound, not, however.
Of sufficient Importance to require him to
be absent from his company longer than a
few days. He waSsnoW first sergeant of
the company, and he had already made a
reputation as brave and fearless soldier.
prompt and energetic in everything pertain
ing to his duties. clear headed In battle
and one whose example could well be emu-
lated bv those who were above him in posi
ton, well as the common soldiers In the
ranks.
His first commission, that of second lieu
tenant, dated May II, 1863 but he had
won the prize on account of his services in
field and camp long before he was reward
ed Had he been serving in a volunteer
regiment instead of the Irregular army II is
quite certain that hfs first commission
would have come sooner. But it is no in
significant honor tol5obtain a second lieu
tenancy in the regular army, especially
when one has been promoted from the
ranks.