The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-09
CAREER OF GEN. CHAFFEE
FROM RANKS TO COMMAND
Enlisted in the Cavalry
When But Nineteen
Years of Age.
Has Won Every Promo
ton From Private to
Chief of Staff

army officer than Gen. Adna Romanza |
Chaffee who became the director of the |
land forces of the United States today. |
He will have the title Of chief of stan |
under the new arrangement. because that
OF commander-in-chief is vested in the |
President. In deeds of heroism and
great daring his military record stands
high. He has fought Americans. in the
civil war: he has waRed battle against
Indians. Spaniards. Chinese and Fill
pinos In every campaign he has dis
tinguished himself and gained new and
well-deserved fame.
He is considered one OF the most re-
markable men that the American army
has developed. He Is the only man to-
day who, starting as private in the
ranks Of our regulars. has risen without
q skip. except that Of corporal, through
every possible grade in the ranks from
trooper to lieutenant general. With a
public school education and such in
struction as he could CLEAN from his
reading in his comparatively few
leisure hours. he was able to step into
the company Of trained diplomats in
China, that country so full of Oriental
traditions. and among the court-trained
soldiers Of Christendom he showed as
keen a knowledge Of international law
as. and much better appreciation of
human rights than, the best men OF
the allies.
Born in Ohio.
Early in 1861. Chaffee. then nine
teen-year-old country boy, appeared at
Pittsburg TO enlist with the regulars
as a trooper. He was born in Orwell,
Ohio. i'm 1872 He might have gone to
the front with one Of the many regi-
ments of volunteers that were being
raised near his home. but he preferred
TO fight on horseback. rather than on
foot. and he knew that ne would like
campaigning better under regular Of
ficers. who know their business. than
under volunteers. who have it to learn
by actual experience.
The cavalrymen saw Immediately that
ne was at home in the saddle, and as
cavalry officers were badly needed
many a veteran sergeant was appointed
a lieutenant. which opened the way for
the promotion of likely troopers from
the ranks.
Trooper Chaffee was Sergeant Chaffee
before he had been in the army ten
weeks. and he was first sergeant right
after the battle Of Antietam. He proved
himself a quick. cooi-headed man Of ac-
ton. and though not yet of age. had
shown his fitness TO rank with veterans
OF the Mexican war
Given a Commission.
In 1863. when the cavalry Of the Army
OF the Potomac was properly organized,
Chaffee's name was sent to Washington
for commission. He was on the Rich
mond raid at the time and did not
learn the good news until May u that
he had been a lieutenant since March
13. The brilliant cavalry fight at Bev-
erly Ford was followed by the furious
work OF the two splendid divisions Of
horse on the field Of Gettysburg. and
before the rank OF first lieutenant was
given to the young officer, he had earn
ed IL on the field OF battle. being brevet-
ted for gallant and meritorious service.
Much TO the surprise OF the young
man. he was called from troop duty by
the commander OF the regiment. to act
as adjutant OF the regiment. His fine
Intelligence and his complete trustworth-
mess were given excellent opportunities
for exercise and well did Chaffee meet
the demands made upon him by the
new post.
Tried to Leave Army
The Sixth Regiment followed Sheridan
in one raid after another. and the dash
ing adjutant managed TO get a hand in
many bloody fight. He was made cap
tain by brevet for his gallant and mer-
U0TlOuk ROTh AT llnMl0Qle Courthouse
Then followed AppOmattox. and ther
the disagreeable service i'm Texas. The
inaction. the deadly dun routine work
OF garrison duty. compared with the
thrill and the glory OF war, so affected
Chafee that he resigned in March. 1861
though still on tn. staff.
His intention was to return to Ohio. Il
enter business-though he had a cap
taincy staring at him. But he was per
suaded To stick TO the army, and thu
resignation was revoked inside OF thirty
days. In the fan his captaincy came
and for the next few years he remained
= captain. without the slightest apparen
hope for advancement
But the Indians were getting maya
zine rifles, and battle with them nov
meant "A deadly duel Chaffee was IN
the thick of the frontier lighting. ant
for the terrific thrashing he gave TIT
Comaches in Texas at Paint Creek, n
was rendered the brevet OF major n,
led the cavalry charge on the Re,
River August 30. 1874. and brevet lieu
tenant-colonelcy followed. lie was es
peciaily daring in action against tn
Apaches In Arizona IN 1SS2
Even Tempered Commander.
He earned the reputation Of being tn
most placid and even-tempered OF troor
commanders. He carefully went anon,
men and mounts. even when doing IN,
detested routine work and PERSONAL.
looked after all He kept his force fl
constant readiness for action. no matte
what IL was Yet. II his orders weri
forgotten or mixed up, he could le
himself out and the man who was a
fault did not soon forget the occasion.
Chaffee loved the Sixth Regiment. an,
after twenty-eight years Of service wit
b.. through the great civil war and owe
tie Indian frontier. he was commission
ed a major in another regiment. Tn
commission was all right. but the trans
fer was not az all 10 Chaffee's liking II
liked all his men, and they liked him 81
that there must have been much regre
on Chaffee's part. al least. 70 leave tn
troopers with whom he had fought 10
more than quarter OF a century.
Nine years he served as major. an,
then Lieutenant colonelcy came to hin
In another regiment.
In Spanish War.
Then came the conflict with Spain