The Columbus journal., 1900-08-22
u- so,s,.r Wa. Made.

HSv . Sol aier Was Made.
In the whole United States army
there is no officer who possesses to
greater degree the confidence and re-
snect of the men that have served un-
der him than General Adna
r. Chaffee, now ON MS way
IN China to :2ke command
of the American forces there, says the.
Utica Globe. 1t is not alone his cool
ness. Judgment, and absolute feariess-
ness in action that endears him to hist
men. for these qualities are SO nearly
universal among the officers OF the
American army that they are taken
for granted but also his constant
thoughtfulness and care for his men
and tact in handling them. Aater Me-
returned from service in CuAa tnes
men of his division told OF an Incl:
dent showing his spistt toward tne"''
and his possession of that quality so'
rare among soldiens who are them
selves without fear. sympathy WIN
victim Of panic. It'was at Es Caney.
Several companies <were detasaed 10
dig trenches and the,Spanish sharp
shooters were potting at them H'oan
treetops and clumps of.bushes on oiea
hillsides. Presently the firing becans,
SO severe that the men were ordere"'
to drop their tools and return III
About this time GEM Chaffee came
along on foot looking over the situa-
tion. In the bottom of one OF the
trenches he saw a soldier lying Hat on
his face. He thought the man might
BE i'll and started to send him to the
rear. but asked what was the matter.
I'm afraid; that's what is the mat
ter with me-" said the soldier dogged-
". The general twisted the soldier
about to get a good look at his face,
which had grown set and angry, soft
ened at what he saw. "How Old are
vol? ?" he asked. "Seventeen." said the
frightened soldier. why, your moth
ing but a child" cried Gen. Chahee-s
"I'd like to get hold of the fellow that
enlisted YOU" He stood thinking 1oc>
a moment while the boy shifted
..Now- see here" he said kindI5- you
can't help being frightened. l stfppose.
Rut there isn't nearly SO much danger
as you think there is. Just pick Hp
your gun and take your position aa1A
fight and I'll stand here by you till yoS
get used to it. Shaking like leaf,
the boy seized his gun and fired a shot
almost straight up in the air. That's
a little high,' said his instructor. TRY
it lower, and take a little more time
to aim. There's a Spaniard in that
green thicket straight up in front OF
you. I think" After three or four
shots the young soldier got his nerve
stopped trembling and began to shoot
with some accuracy and judgment.
That's better" said Gen. Chaffee, as
he moved away. stay there and do
your best" Nine officers out of ten
would have sent the younsster to the
rear In disgrace and ruined his army
career. Gen. Chaffee's method was
the better in every way. The boy
fought like q veteran through the af-
ternoou. and when the order came to
withdraw he had to be dragged away
by his companions, though he had
been fighting for more than an hour
with a bullet wound in his shoulder.
He said that Gen. Chaffee had told him
to stay there and he was going to
stay. The wound was trifling one
and before the campaign was over
the boy had the reputation Of being
one of the best soldiers in his COM
pany. He is now a corporal and Is
serving In the Philippines.