The National tribune., 1909-05-13
SOME QUESTIONS.
Pertinent and Possibly Impertinent, but
Pat, just the Same.

day Evening Post of Oct. 81 is an alleged
war story entitled Ever After" written
by that versatile novelist, Robert w.
Chambers. This story, which tells of the
performance of a woman, who, he says,
acted as special Observation-Disclosures
that is-in our army, contains SO many
impossible statements and foolish taking
that l wrote to Mr.. Chambers-thru the
editors of the Post, who expressed them
selves as pleased to forward them to
him''-and sent him list of questions
and comments similar to those below, ask
ing him to make palmer some of the
things which, according to his version, 1
failed to learn during nearly four and a
half years of active service with infantry
and cavalry
After waiting six weeks for a reply,
have concluded that Mr.. Chambers is
either lacking in courtesy or thinks his
reputation as a writer so well established
that the readers of the Post will accept
as facts-as its editors evidently do
anything he writes; and l now ask you,
as favor, to give space in your valuable
paper for the following questions and
comments, on the chances that some COM
rade better posted than myself can make
these things clear to me, and, incidentally,
to Mr. Chambers.
| am aware that you are earnestly
striving to have only facts written into
the history of the rebellion, and as our
old comrades are the ones who can help
most in this, l assume that you will by
publishing my letter and queries give
them chance to help straighten out
some of the kinks in the mind-or morals
of Mr.. Chambers.
Every question and comment given be-
low is based on direct statements by Mr..
Chambers, and where l have used quo
tation marks | have in every instance
copied the words used by him in the
faxed story cited above. Any comrade
can, by reference to the Saturday Even
ing Post of Oct. 81, verify this.
1t seems to me that it is time some OF
the war fakers-who, if born then, were
probably clinging to their mothers skirts
the error of their ways, and l have no
doubt that many of our comrades Will
agree with me-C. w. Greene, 18th n.
Y. and 18th N. Y. Cav, Spring Valley,
MINI.
Robert w. Chambers, Novelist and
Faker, Rise Up.
l. Please state how long you served in
the army, and in what branch of the
service?
3 How many Southern country boys
did you ever know who were studying
Latin in Northern school when not yet
13 years of age!
3. How many times have you ever seen
"a rainbow in the northeast!
4. If, as you state, the special messen-
ger went to the headquarters of division,
how did it happen that she found the
Colonel of the 4th Mo. Cav. in command!
Was he in command of the division?'
D. When did cavalry officers in the
u. S. Army begin wearing dainty, light,
almost cimeter-curved sabers?"
g. You say the messenger was "swathed
to the chin in poncho." How, then.
could the Colonel see that she had ON the
shell jacket of Regular!'
4. When did you learn that it was the
fashion in the army to couple knees;
and, if she did not bare them for inspec-
tion, how did the Colonel knoE;. that the
messengers knees were ''faultiessiy
coupled:"
8. When did Bandmasters in the army
begin to wear "long mantles" II the
marching men were 'sunscorched," why
should the Bandmaster be- wrapped in
the folds OF 8 long mantle"
0. When were "sentinels' first used for
guard duty at headquarters; and why
were guards abolished?
10. Have you many times seen cav
,alryman on guard before his Colonels
tent, carrying "a carbine" instead OF
saber?
IL. How large was the Army Corps
that-in a hilly, timbered countryTwas
all within range of the messengers
eye?" ..
r. Where did you first see artillery
mounted with "uptilted muzzles! If the
muzzles of the cannon were "uptilted
when the guns were limbered up, and en-
route,>what do you think would have been
their elevation when unlimbered and trails
dropped for action!
10. When did you first notice "the sour
smell of marching men," and how did
they smell when they were not march
IA. Please state your reasons for calling
troops of the United States Army a
"marauding host"
Is. What particular kind OF fuel did
the soldiers use that made ''unclean fres:'
16. When did Bandmasters, in our
army or elsewhere, begin to .lead with
their saber!"
If the Bandmaster was pronounced
dead, was put in coffin and carried out
| for burial. how could the men know that
he ''twitched when they lifed the
coffin!"
II. On what campaign did soldiers
with arms stacked at dusk-"leave their
shelter tents lying in long rows guarded
| by sentinels?'
49, When did the soldiers of our army
begin calling a company street lane!
| 49, How many United States Flags
have you ever seen with ''the name of a
regiment printed across themF
| If anything, why not the number of
the regiment, its State, and the names
of the battles it fought in?
| 20. When did commissioned officers IL
the war of the rebellion begin wearing
non n-c0m's-"stripes down their legsT
Why did they not conform to (what was
them regulations, and wear cords down
the legs of their trousers?
q. When did drill officers first instruct
men to walk, or ride, "hollow-bacied? +?
Why not straight-backed or-as Capt
Charles King says, fiat backed?"
%. How many times did you ever sef
ION the picket line, hundreds of man 81
dangling their feet-alOng hillside.
above a passing c0lumn?" Why maintain
a picket line in the camp of an army, ant
where were the reliefs, and the reserve
pickets!
%. When did our Government begir
furnishing .'tent doors" for the army?
"a. When did you first see ''hussars o
militia home guards"
How did they rank, and what were
their duties?
25. On what campaign did you frs
notice "the sweating flanks of the army Z
Do all armies have sweating fanks!
&c. How often have you seen troops
just going into camp for the night. witt
field music playing, and both flags flying!
How does field music differ from CAM
music or garrison music!
| q. How many "thickets OF sabers
causing darkness" were formed by th'
cn0 .-,Io.. of xha Ath NJ Cay uben the,