Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-02-07
GEN. CHAFFEE.
Something About the American OF.
fcer Who Wrote to Field Mar
shall Won WaIdersee.

THAT letter in which Gen. Chaffee
called down Field Marshal Count Won
Waldersee for German looting must
have been an amusing document" saio
an ex-otficer OF vol y teers, according
to the New Orlearf Times-Democrat
Chaffee is blunt. rugged old cam.
paigner, who has spent the best part
of his life fighting Indians and cussing
mulewhackers all over the wild ano
woolly west, and he knows no more
about diplomatic Establishments thar
a Zulu witch doctor knows about mod
ern bacteriOlogy. His note to Won
Waldersee was undoubtedly hot stuff.
and | can imagine the amazement OF
the polished and dignified German field
marshal as he perused its contents
Colt in himmel!' he must have ex.
claimed, what kind of wild man il
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 FL Caney
Chatfee 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 our
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 FL Caney and well out of the
real zone of action there was a 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 9
dozen Spaniards in the blockhouse al
the time. and the work of taking ii was
really child's play. but. instead of max
ing charge, the Cubans proceeded tc
deploy themselves about a mile anO
half away, and opened a long-dis.
lance bombardment. If any of their
bullets carried that far they certainly
did no damage. and the Spanards 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 a
lull in the action. and while Chaffee
was consulting with some of his regi
mental officers a Cuban aid came rush
ing up and reported that the native
division was out of ammunition. MY
colonel desires that you send him i'm
mediately some cases of cartridges he
said. in conclusion. Chaffee looked al
him with a sardonic grin. Il dont
think you fellows had better burn any
more cartridges he said, slowly
Those Spaniards might find out yor
were shooting at 'em. and If they die
they'd come over and kick your whole
bankety blanked 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.
81 heard this story from an officer
who was present, and he chuclled glee.
fully as he told it, for everybody had
been cautioned to treat the Cuban.
with the greatest Difference and haG
found it difficult to obey the order
Chaffee was probably animated by the
same spirit of candor when he opened
his now-celebrated correspondence
with Won Waldersee."