The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-28
rs THE ARMY IN A DRY RoTs
An Interesting Criticism by q rIain spsnhe,
and n sharp One.

Culltu W HI ihlnup W tbo tVbiS WV W
s. C. Robinson OF the First Cavalry. He was
driven to drink By q lot Of opposition from old
civil war tail-enders. He went crazy. tried to
commit suicide unsuccessfully and then re-
signed. An eminent military authority COM
ments on It by piously hoping that tho terri
bic lesson has not come too late" I concuri in
the hopes. but would probably dinor as to the
terrible lesson Robinson was a talented
young Officer. He was graduated from West
Point in 1870. and was class Adjutant
Two or three years later he went
to France and took the post-gradu-
ate course In cavalry at the saumur
school When he returned he was appointed
to the L~savenworth school as Instructor in
riding. Finding no drill hall and no regula-
ton compelling officers to attend. there was
no special use for his presence. so no got him.
self relieved and joined his regiment. During
this period he made one OF the longest rides
in military annals during the winter In the
Northwest while pursuing deserters. He was
recognized as handsome. active. Accomplished.
and more skilled In his art than any OF those
over him. He was always trying to advance
the service. to make many needed changes.
to train the men under him; He wrote papeIs
for the service journals, but the Ripperlhe
more OF suppressing this young enthusiast
than OF advancing the service sat on him
singly. in pairs. and in concert whenever ne
The gallant Lieut.. Casey. who .conrted and
recognized his ability and endsd mn II
which ever existed. lie advocated an increase
OF these scout forces partly In the army inter-
the the G resu p"'len which enlisted Indians in the
ranks was put TO the test he protested that 1t
one knows tIat Indians as regular soldiers are
failures. whereas il tho original rrorositioa
they would have been valuable. For. the
failure OF this gramna r. sGheme a % sun rssn o, .t
he. TSsy didn't know any. more about m
dams than a coal %scuttlo would; they ha,l red.
tape infstanL ideas OF the army; and then It
man OF ideas that It could not he resisted; 80
n great failure was scored when a t5ensntSu
He won't on a prolonged spree which unseated
his reason. md now they are well RID OF him'
The Service is full Of young Robinsons
Of rank. Tney "snnot protest. Or they would
i i1na a +, row ssS of H ms,ti old S NSiIs 7 srlt sit thI. o os
Of eHs sRe m aau proneunced Of !6oss ancient OH;
cers:, who got his grades for faithful and
m merit adp}no ]s shs Sa, in i t 6s S : 6osrd n seurt
ii he had bis deserts he would have beer
cowardice in the lace oi the ensiny. and in
any other army IN Chri.tendom he would
pull viii, that band Of sleepy Old tubs
sa IL. sS II! z !s,5 5ss:t .. Il 81; H.. '! a!{;st TS sisss i
it, desk desk a az g.. never .TI &c ;3s to sss. and s some az day n to
Il i. wants an to rid. and shoot. and, dreams Of
efficiency, and glorious actions. The pld gen.
tlsmSn who haze We tS SisS .Snn.rd e enough M1 nS o. dtn neet
the work; and Dc, not have to PASS examina:
fire, ARE responsible for tho dry rot which is
disinteGratIng our army to-day. It will prob.
out. hut II some ono with the powor could only
get a regulation on them they could be gotten
nia 81 IN an " o lfss ss esnnat se TS Il. c% II tine se sraas
unless he passes the examination OF u master
e s5aia TT mH'n I de %, sh .s,n G!d tS as'!ss as: e o2sr f tnrs.
or four. Il that. Of our cavalry Colonels who
could take a five. bar gate on their horses; and
nero.iate this stone wall. SO we cant charge
There are plenty of infantry field officers
,T who e = get a popy past a dead dog IN
ments in action. not to dream OF six rails on a
snake fence, Lighthouse batteries in our
I ever Ggehsid.' Tinstead OF galiopinc madly
and shEiekinR Action right in a way to 49L set
through their svolutions. with the delibsra.
tioHn OF an apprentice boy fling a saw.
don't need need I that st"% as m usR'i as fully finVI Manned si
regiments. wei! drilled. well commanded, and
iarss sf aa' Sp Void nFn like as: an n 10 SSt to t'G this. IF #
the Gs arc nfm 70. NY v sa: sSae old Hn cavalry %.H Vi BIT n R.pa
so long; when have never known 81 . cav
s slay G!,'fsf Un %hs 1 States nst d nsSnGyn s ss IT an NAB ns.
nnuvre with our present cavalry equipment.
1t never did in war. and 1t never vii. EVER
stan. and At ti'.y dsn't En oW's snyt HI GU that hat
can discover. There 10 not a cavalry.
least never heard one say he did. Our In.
although soms reg,ments ars sSs.ptions. Il
goes in a baggage wagon, Every soldier IN
A harsR: Of .o Ai's G ARE more his s. slioII IL sSs back &
tina cS' II, wt K. A Ana, ssS , soldiers ins.S can 2 s SF hr "
suited to their needs: Thsa the skeleton"
SSr THpan, tb.. h Of our aEmyothAt i. .noths,
skelstonized on the eve Of war, and tho skels.
toh can wear flesh and carry blood. and not
What We must have ARE Officers who do not
who can ride a horse. who have ideas them.
Selves. and Who W. like to sec Other mon have
do something instead Of sitting about With
whisky and water before a fireplace. putting
g up ,oO sS on ySSnE mSn whG w ARE ACTIVE i%ntelll;
course. We cannot have enlisted men.
Let rs hops against hope that the strong
Ahhh " FSfAt '''h' u WIZ Cdu |
izs oil this; lie will other he n horn soldier.
tho hero OF many lights. a man OF the camps,
or no mas be q brilliant Secretary OF War, who
Knows q real soldier ftom a g~rade-husting
old mossback. and ono who can stir up tho
reach tho bottom.
The brilliant young officers OF the army are |
the ones to be nursed: tho falthful-und-
meritorious- service -in-ths.Qua ermaster's-
war sort Of puds are TO be
made TO stick to their Emitting and not go
fussing around about things Of which they
know nothing.
BY my favor Of young men in these remarks
! do not intend to say that there are not some |
oficers who got their commissions on the hard
fields Of the ctyll war who are not worthy
aud Of them make no account in this ar.
raienment. They do their duty and are gen
orally with their regiments. They are all well
known to their suiiordinates, and the young
officers and the enlisted men follow and re-
speet them. hut on the shoulders Of their fame
sits this Old Man ,ofthe sean.ths faithful and
Ike It = he did. The men who got
rifle fIQht and who can ride n horse