George Francis Chase – Brigadier General U.S. Army

Brigadier General George Francis Chase (1848 -1925) was the commander of the 15th Cavalry Regiment and in 1907 he became the United States Army Inspector General for the Department of the East.

He was born on July 29, 1848 in Macomb, Illinois to James Morris Chase and Salina Venable. He attended the United States Military Academy from July 1, 1867, to June 12, 1871.

He commanded 15th Cavalry Regiment in Cuba from October 1906 to May 1907.

General Chase was appointed from the State of Illinois and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1871. He was the son of James Morris Chase and Salina Venable Chase.

After graduation he became a 2nd Lieut. in the 9th Infantry. In May 1872 he was transferred to the 3rd Cavalry. In the 1870s he was involved in the Indian wars. In 1876 in Montana he fought at Tongue River and Rosebud Creek.

Later in the same year he fought at Slim Buttes in the Dakota Territory. He participated in the Black Kettle Expedition, the Big Horn and Yellowstone Expeditions and the campaigns against the Cheyenne and the Utes with then Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer. He received a vote of thanks from the State Legislature of Wyoming for the capture of two highwaymen in November 1877.

In 1879 he fought at Fort Robinson and Hat Creek in Nebraska. He attained the rank of 1st Lieut. in 1879. He graduated from Artillery School in 1882. He was promoted to Captain in 1887. He was also highly commended by Major General Frank Wheaton for his service during the Garza troubles on the Rio Grande Border in Texas from 1891-1892 and in 1893.

He went to the Philippines in 1899 where he commanded General Samuel Young‘s escort in his campaign from Arayat to Vigan. He commanded the squadron of cavalry which captured Bongabong. He commanded the troops in the capture of San Francisco de Union and participated in the battles of Taboatin Bridge, San Isidro, Manoeg, Aringay and Tangaden Hill.

In 1901 he was commissioned Major of the 7th Cavalry. In 1903 he became a Lieut. Colonel with the 12th Cavalry. In 1906 he took command of the 15th Cavalry as Colonel. In 1907 he became an Inspector General, first in Chicago, then at the headquarters of the Eastern Division at Governors Island, New York.

Next, he was at the War Department. General Chase retired from service at the age of 64 years on July 27, 1912 due to his age. He was confirmed a Brigadier General on July 1, 1912 by the United States Senate, filling the vacancy left by the death of Brigadier General Joseph W. Duncan. His nomination was the only one of three open positions in the United States Army approved by the Senate.

He served as chairman of the Committee on the District of Columbia during the Sixty-sixth Congress.

Chase retired from military service on July 27, 1912. He died on December 13, 1925 in Washington, DC. He was buried at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery.