Adna Romanza Chaffee

Adna Romanza Chaffee was described by Col. T. M. Spaulding of the U.S. Army as a grim and determined man who was always just and humane, and whose rise came from outstanding merit rather than selfish ambition. In the Civil War, he enlisted at Warren, Ohio, on July 22, 1861, as a private in Troop K, 6th Regular Cavalry, Army of the Potomac, was promoted in the field by Secretary of War Stanton to 2nd lieutenant during Stoneman's Raid, was promoted 1st lieutenant in February 1865, and was brevetted captain for gallantry at Dinwiddie Court House. He was wounded three times, including once at Gettysburg, and fought in fifty-four battles of the war, and was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. In the Indian Wars he served as captain of Troop I, 6th Cavalry, from 1867 to 1888, was brevetted major and lieutenant colonel for acts of extreme courage and bravery, assisted in the capture of Geronimo, and was promoted major in the Regular Army in July 1888. In the Spanish War in 1898, as brigadier general of volunteers commanding the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 5th Corps, his action at El Caney won him the popular title Hero of El Caney. During the China Relief Expedition of 1900 in the Boxer Rebellion, he commanded American troops in joint allied action and, while in Peking, was promoted major general in the Regular Army; Secretary of State John Hay wrote that his whole administration of affairs in China brought great credit to himself and honor to his country. During the Philippine Insurrection from 1901 to 1902 he served as military governor of the Philippine Islands, then from 1902 to 1903 commanded the Department of the East at Governor's Island, New York. In 1904 he was promoted lieutenant general and became Chief of Staff in Washington, in 1905 he was elected an honorary member of the Society of the Cincinnati, and he was made Grand Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honor by the government of France. He retired in 1906 after forty-five years of service, remained active in civic work in the city of Los Angeles from 1906 to 1914, and died on November 1, 1914; he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C., with highest military honors.

Orwell, Ohio · United States