The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-02-08
GEN. cHAFFEE.
Something About the American Of
Hcer who Wrote to Field Mar
shall Won Waldersee.

'"rhat letter in which Gen. Chaffee
called down Field Marshal Count Won
Waldersee for German looting must
have been an amusing document" said
an ex-officer of volunteers, according
to the New Orleans Times-Democrat
Chaffee is blunt. rugged old cam.
paigner, who has spent the best part
of his life fighting Indians and cussing
mule-whackers all over the wild and
.woolly west, and he knows no more
about diplomatic Establishments than
Zulu witch doctor knows about mod.
ern bacteriology. His note to Won
Waldersee was undoubtedly hot stuff.
and l can imagine the amazement OF
the polished and dignified German field
marshal as he perused its contents.
'Gott in himmel!' he must have ex.
claimed, what kind of wild man ID
dot, anyhow Chaffee was the idol
of the rank and file throughout the
operations in Cuba" continued the ex.
volunteer, "and a good many quaint
stories were circulated there illustrat.
ing this very phase of his character
One of them, which I recall on the
spur of the moment, is peculiarly apro-
pos.
During the engagement at Ell Caney
Chaffee was in command of brigade
in Lawton's division, and on the morn.
ing of July 1, when the fighting began
he was saddled with 300 or 400 of oul
Cuban allies. AS matter of fact, the
native PARROTS were more of a nuisance
than anything else, and Chaffee was
perplexed to know what to do with
the detachment. Some distance north.
east of Ell Caney and well out of the
real zone of action there was very
small and dilapidated Spanish block.
house, perched on little ridge. and
happening to notice it, he told the
Cuban colonel, who was an extremely
pompous individual, to take his troops
and capture the position while the
main attack was in progress. There
couldn't possibly have been over al
dozen Spaniards in the blockhouse al
the time, and the work of taking it was
really child's play, but. instead of max
ing charge, the Cubans proceeded to
deploy themselves about mile anc
half away, and opened long-dis
lance bombardment. If any of their
bullets carried that far they certainly
did no damage, and the Spaniards prob
ably never knew they were being as
saulted.
During the heat of the general en-.
gagement the allies were forgotten
but early in the afternoon there was
lull in the action. and while Chaffee
was consulting with some of his regi
mental officers Cuban aid came rush
ing up and reported that the nativ,
division was out of ammunition. MY
colonel desires that you send him inn
mediately some cases of cartridges he
said, in conclusion. Chaffee looked al
him with a sardonic grin. 4 DOM
think you fellows had better burn an
more cartridges he said, slowly
Those Spaniards might find out yol
were shooting at 'em, and if they die
they'd come over and kick your whole
blankety BANKED cowardly crowd al
the way down to Matanzas. Tell your
colonel that with my compliments,
he added. The aid turned purple and
went away, boiling with indignation.
Il heard this story from an officer
who was present, and he chuckled glee-
fully as he told it, for verybody hao
been cautioned to treat the Cuban.
with the greatest Difference and ha,
found 1T difficult to obey the order
Chaffee was probably animated by the
same spirit of candor when he opene'
his now-celebrated correspondent.
with Won Waldersee."