The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-08-24
M0RRIsT0WN n j. FRIDAY AUGUST a.
MAJOR-GENERAL A. r. CHAFFEE
The Ohio Farmer Boy who Has Fought
His Way to the Front

His Way to the Front.
About July 20, 1861, a young man
10 years of age, with pleasant face,
though freckled and bronzed by labor
ing in the harvest field, walked into
the recruiting office of Capt. O. R.
Lowell, of Warren, Ohio, and indica-
ted his desire to enlist. The young
mans name was Adna R. Chaffee.
Capt. Lowell was recruiting for Co.
K, 9Th United States Cavalry, and
Chaffee, along with several other
young men of that community, was
attracted by the enticing hand bills
which the enterprising captain had
caused to be scattered broadcast over
the surrounding country.
Young Chaffee's home was in Or
we'll, township in Astabula county,
next to the Trumbull county line
His parents were poor, but owned a
small farm, 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 Lowell's company.
The 9th regular cavalry was re-
cruited in the summer and fall of
1861, and consisted of great variety
of men with great variety of call
ings, sailors and miners perhaps pre-
dominating, with young men from the
farms coming in as close third.
There were recruits from as many as
half dozen States, although the
greater number were from Pennsyl-
vania and eastern Ohio. A few were
picked up here and few there, so it
often happened that young fellow
would find after he had enlisted that
there was not man in his company
or perhaps in the regiment whom he
had ever seen or heard Of before.
The squad of twenty-five or thirty
young men whom the captain had
gathered up at the Warren recruiting
Office started for Pittsburg Pa. Aug.
3, 1861 being hauled in heavy farm
wagons from the former place to Sa-
lem, Ohio, distance of about twelve
miles, whence they were sent by rail
to Pittsburg. While en- route for Sa-
lem heavy rain drenched them to
the skin. Had some prophet foretold
that in one of the three heavy wagons
that were rumbling along the road to
Salem on that sultry day there was a
future major general and hero, none
would have guessed that the quiet
and unassuming Chaffee would win
such honors.
Chaffee soon attracted the attention
of his superiors by his quiet demean-
or and strict attention to duty. His
farm life had made him familiar with
horses, and he was detailed to in
struct others in horsemanship, having
command of what was known as the
"awkward squad His efficiency
gained him promotion within few
weeks, and he was made a sergeant
of Co. K.
The 9th cavalry was made part
of the Army of the Potomac in the
spring of 1869, under General George
B. Mcclellan. Its first engagement
with the enemy was at williamsburg,
Va, May A, 1868. This was followed
by several others during the spring
and summer, in all of which Sergeant
Chaffee was an active participant.
During this campaign he was pro-
NOTED to first sergeant, having made
reputation as brave and fearless
soldier, prompt and energetic in
everything pertaining to his duties,
clear-headed in battle, and one whose
example could we'll be emulated by
those who were above him in posi-
tion, as we'll as the common soldiers
in the ranks.
His first commission = that Of
second lieutenant-was dated May 10,
1868, but he had won the prize on
account of his services in field and
camp long before he was rewarded.
Had he been serving in. volunteer
regiment instead of the regular army,
it is quite certain that his first COM
mission would have come sooner. But
it is no insignificant honor to obtain
a second lieutenancy in the regular
army, especially when one has been
promoted from the ranks.
After the close of the war Lieut..
Chaffee remained with his regiment,
the 9th Cavalry, doing duty in vari-
GUS parts of the West, and gained
great renown as an Indian fighter.
In 1874 he was married to daugh-
ter of George Rockwell, of Illinois,
and a year later was ordered to
lonely post in Arizona, where he re-
manned five years General Chaffee's
present home is at Fort Ripley,
| Kansas.
General and Mrs. Chaffee have
three children. The eldest is a
daughter who is married to Lieut..
George f. Hamilton, of the regular
army. Adna r., Jr., is bright
boy of IA, and Helen is twelve years
old.
Mrs. Chaffee and the two youngest
children are spending the summer at
Oswegatchie Inn, on the Niantic
River, in Connecticut.