Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-04-26
Chaffee'S Rise From the Ranks
Gorihed Official
dom of the Ar

v"aked over to the groveling soldier,
took him by the collar and hauled him
10 sitting posture.
What do you mean by lying there?"
he said sternly. Get up and fight With
your company"
No, l can't" whined the fellow.
Can't" said the general. We'll,
you're a fine soldier! What's the mat
Ter with you. any way?"
I'm afraid; that's what's the matter
with me- said the soldier dcggedly.
trying to wrest his collar from the
grasp of the other and trying in vain,
for Gen. Chaffee has muscles of steel.
Beg pardon. SIR said the mans
neighbor, saluting again. Il think the
kids been sick, SIR
That's a charita bile thought" said
the general grimly.
He twisted his captive about to get a
godo look at him. and his face. which
had grown set and angry, softened at
what he saw.
How old are yOu?" he asked.
Seventeen said the frightened sol.
der.
Why, you're nothing but child"
cried Gen. 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 bullet sent
little spirit of dirt up from the in
trenchment 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 ITO 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, I suppose.
But there isn't nearly so much danger
as YOU think there is. You must pick
up your gun and take your position and
fight, and I'll stand here by you till
you get used to it,"
That's a little high" said his in
slructor. TRY it lower and take a lit
tie more time to aim There's a Span
lard in that green thicket straight in
front of you, l think"
h After thre cor 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 here and do
your best
Il The boy fought like veteran through
the afternoon, 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
Itwith bullet wound in his shoulder
1 He said that Gen. Chaffee had rold him
20 stay there and he was going to stay.
The wound was a trifling one and be-
fore the campaign was over the boy had
The reputation of being one of the hest
soldiers in his company. He is now
serving in the Philippines.
-"
Gen. Chaffee was at one period of the
civil war in command of the federal
troops in Mississippi. One day he was
stricken down with an attack of yellow
fever that he and his friends were con-
WINGED would prove fatal. An Episcopal
| minister, the Rev. Mr.. Carnahan was
sent for to make the dying soldiers
peace with the world. The minister
| read several Scriptural passages and
then knelt beside the sick officers cot
in prayer. At that juncture seyera,
soldiers outside the tent engaged in n
quarrel and became so boisterous that
:he minister's invocation fas interrupl-
ed. The supposedly dying soldier
raised himself on one elbow, and, rip
ping out an emphatic oath, demanded
or the subaltern in waiting that he
maintain quiet while the parson was
praying. The Rev. Mr.. Carnahan had
been scarcely as much astonished by
he noise outside as he was by the ro-
business of Chaffees oath. The minis
ter. finished his prayer. and receiving
the thanks of Chaffee left him. appar
emily dying. BUT the gallant officer dill
hot die. He regained his health and
made host of friends among the best
citizens of Mississippi by the justice and
fairness Of his course.
One of the chapters of Gen. Chaffee's
Charles deals with the fight of the Big
Dry WASH" In the summer of 1882,
I nerished by cavalrymen as one of the
s allant ones of their arm of the service
a bout $50 White mountain Apaches,
who had taken to the warpath, We're
on one side of a canyon in the Mogollon
lateau. Chaffee, a mai Or. with pur-
suing troop of the Sixth cavalry, he'll
the summit of a rocky hill commanding
the entrance to the canyon. The battle
went on for hours. One of the scouts
fen, some two-score yards from wher.
Chaffee was standing. second scou:
II Chaffee's elbow remarked that the
fallen man was done for but the major
saw that he was only wounded