Adna R. Chaffee, Sr.

Adna Chaffee
General Adna R. Chaffee
Born	(1842-04-14)April 14, 1842 Orwell, Ohio
Died	November 1, 1914(1914-11-01) (aged 72) Los Angeles, California
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1861–1906
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	Department of the East Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Battles/wars	American Civil War Peninsular Campaign Maryland Campaign Appomattox Campaign Indian Wars Battle of Paint Creek Battle of Red River Battle of Big Dry Wash Spanish–American War Cuban Campaign Boxer Rebellion Battle of Peking Philippine–American War Mindanao Campaign
Other work	Public Servant

American Civil War

Indian Wars

Spanish–American War

Boxer Rebellion

Philippine–American War

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.

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 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.