Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-07-12
CHAFFEE AND HIS MEN.
Noted American Officers Man.
ner of Handling His Soldiers.
CONFIDENCE THEY FEEL IN HIM.


the Officer Who VIII Command
Frightened Soldier.
In the whole United States army
there is no officer who possesses to q
greater degree the confidence and re-
| spect of the men that have served un-
der him than General Adna r. Chaffee,
now on his way TO China to take COM
| mand of the American forces there. 1t
is not alone his GOODNESS, judgment and
| absolute fearlessness in action that en-
| dear him to his men, for these quail
| ties 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 his tact in handling them,
says the New York Sun. After he re-
4 turned from service in Cuba the men
| of his 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 victim
| of panic.
| 1t was at Ell Caney. Several compa-
| MES were detailed to dig trenches, and
| the Spanish sharpshooters were pot
ting at them from tree tops and clumps
| of bushes on the hillsides. Presently
| the firing became so severe that the
| men were ordered to drop their tools
| and return 1t. About this time General
Chaffee came along on foot looking
over the situation. In the bottom of
| one of the trenches he saw soldier ly-
| ing fat on his face. while the man next
/ to him kicked him in the intervals of
Gy-f- Il-a, 4,
heard the kicker address the PROSTATE
soldier In a savage whisper:
Get up, you BANKED fool! Here
comes old Chaffee. If he sees you,
you're done for"
whats the matter with that man"
asked General Chaffee of the speaker.
''Is he wounded?"
mo, SIR" said the soldier, saluting.
The PROSTATE man made no motion.
"Sun, then" asked the general, for
there were many cases of collapse from
heat.
81 don't know, sir" replied the SOL
dier in embarrassment.
All this time the bullets were whis-
Ting around, and the soldier had risen
and was standing at salute.
Don't stand there and expose your
self, my man. said General Chaffee
kindly. although he 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"
mo; can't" whined the fellow
Cant" said the general. well, |
you're n fine soldier! What business
have you got here? What's the matter |
with you anyway"
I'm afraid. That's what's the mat |
ter with me-" said the soldier logged |
ly, trying to wrest his collar from the |
grasp of General Chaffee.
BEG pardon said the mans neigh /
Dor, saluting again. II think the kids /
been sick, sir"
That's a charitable thought" said |
the general grimly.
He twisted his captive about to get |
good look at him, and his face, which |
had grown set and angry, softened at 1
what he saw.
How old are your he asked.
Seventeen" said the soldier.
''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 bull
let sent little spirit of dirt up from the
intrenchment not two feet from where
he stood.
BEG pardon, sir. They're getting
your range said the other 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,
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, and I'll stand
here by you till you get used to it,"
Shaking like leaf, the boy seized
his gun and fired shot almost straight
up in the air.
structor. TRY it lower and take lit
tie more time to aim. There's a Span
lard in that green thicket straight in
front Of you, / think"
After three or four shots the young
soldier got his nerve, stopped trem-
bling and began to shoot with some ac-
curacy and judgment.
That's better" said General Chaffee
as he moved away. ''Stay there and
do your best"
Nine officers out of ten would have |
sent the youngster TO the rear in dis
grace and ruined his army career Gen
eral Chadee's method was the better
in every way. The boy fought like
veteran through the afternoon, and
when the order came to withdraw be |
had to be dragged away by his COM
panions, though he had been fighting
for more than an hour with bullet |
wound in his shoulder He said that l