Adna Chaffee Adna Romanza Chaffee ( April 14 , 1842 – November 1 , 1914 ) was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army . Chaffee took part in the American Civil War and Indian Wars , played a key role in the Spanish - American War , and fought in the Boxer Rebellion in China . He was the Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1904 to 1906 , overseeing far - reaching transformation of organization and doctrine in the Army . Civil War . Chaffee was born in Orwell , Ohio . When the American Civil War broke out in July 1861 , Chaffee enlisted in the Union Army as a Private in the U . S . 6th Cavalry Regiment . In 1862 , Chaffee was promoted to sergeant and took part in the Peninsular Campaign and the Battle of Antietam . In September of that year he was made the First Sergeant of Company K . He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May 1863 . His 6th Cavalry on detached service from General John Buford ' s 1st Union Cavalry Division , though outnumbered attacked a Confederate Cavalry regiment at Fairfield , Pennsylvania , just outside of Gettysburg on July 3 , 1863 . ( source , Wittenberg , Eric : Gettysburg : Forgotten Cavalry Actions ) In the ensuing action he was wounded and briefly held a prisoner of the Confederates . He served with the 6th Cavalry for the remainder of the war , being twice wounded . In February 1865 , he was promoted to First Lieutenant . For his " gallant and meritorious " actions in the Battle of Dinwiddie Court House he was brevetted Captain . Indian Wars . Chaffee decided to remain with the Army after the war . He was posted to the western frontier , and was promoted to Captain of Regulars in October 1867 . For the next thirty years he served in the Indian Wars , fighting the Central Plains and Southwestern tribes . In 1868 , he was brevetted major for his actions at Paint Creek , Texas . In the following years he engaged the Indians many times , most notably at Red River , Texas in 1874 , and Big Dry Wash , Arizona in 1882 , for which he was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel . In July 1888 he was promoted to Major and transferred to the 9th Cavalry . From 1894 to 1896 , he was an instructor of tactics at the Army ’ s Infantry and Cavalry School at Fort Leavenworth . In June 1897 he was promoted to Colonel and transferred to the 3rd Cavalry , where he served as commandant of the Cavalry School at Fort Riley until 1898 . Spanish - American War . With the outbreak of the Spanish - American War in 1898 , he was assigned a brigade and was promoted to Brigadier General of volunteers in May of that year , and in July after the victory at El Caney , to Major General of volunteers . From late 1898 to May 1900 , he served as the chief of staff to the military governor of Cuba , General Leonard Wood , being promoted to Colonel of regulars in May 1899 . Boxer Rebellion . In June 1900 , the Boxer Rebellion broke out in China . Chaffee was sent to China in July as the commander of the U . S . Army ’ s China Relief Expedition . The Expedition was a part of the international force sent to rescue Western citizens and put down the rebellion . Chaffee participated in the Gaselee Expedition and subsequently the Battle of Peking ( 1900 ) in which the legations were relieved . Later Military Service . In February 1901 , he became a Major General in the regular army . From July of that year until October 1902 , he served as the military governor of the Philippines . This included the beginning of the second phase of the Philippine Insurrection . In October 1902 , he became commander of the Department of the East , a position he held until October 1903 . In January 1904 , he was promoted to Lieutenant General and , from January 9 , 1904 until January 14 , 1906 , served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army . At his own request , he was retired on February 1 , 1906 . In his retirement , he moved to Los Angeles , where he was appointed President of the Board of Public Works for the city of Los Angeles . Family . Chaffee was married twice ; in 1868 , he married Kate Haynie Reynolds , who died the following year ; in 1875 , he married his second wife , Annie Frances Rockwell . His son , Adna Chaffee , Jr . , also became a general and was one of the fathers of U . S . Army ’ s armored forces . Tributes . A historical marker documenting Chaffee ' s birthplace stands in Orwell , Ohio . As well , the city of Chaffee , Missouri was named in his honor when founded in 1905 .