even when facts that clearly refute them have also been published. The difference lies in how the correction to the original error was published--more often than not in a periodical of some kind, rather than another book, because such a correction just would not be worth the expense of book-publication. But whereas books have an indefinite lifespan, centuries perhaps, periodicals usually become, after a short time, difficult to access, if they don't disappear entirely. What this generalization specifically pertains to is the discussion in the "Photos" section of Ned Robert's military career, where I and several others noted that the title of "Major" was honorary, not a genuine military rank. That part of the story IS true, but not the part about his having had no true military service, as reported by his close friend Harvey Donaldson, who, seemingly, was in a position to know. That claim appeared in Harve's very well known & widely read Yours Truly, published after his death by Wolfe Pub. Though most of Harve's recollections of the Schuetzen era are absolutely trust-worthy, it turns out he was dead wrong about Ned. So who would have the knowledge & reputation to contradict as respected an authority as Harvey? There aren't many, but one of them is another of Ned's closest friends, not to mention the best gunwriter of the last 50 yrs, Ken Waters. Harve's book was published in 1980, & in the May 1981 Handloader, Ken set the record straight in a piece entitled "Harve was wrong about Roberts." Who still has it, or if they do, remembers this article? I never would, if I had not zeroxed it & stuck the copy into the back of Harve's book, where I just found it! In short, Ken presented records proving Ned's service in the New Hampshire NG from 1883 to 1891, leaving as a Sergeant. Sadly, considering the high esteem in which I've always held Harvey, Ken also relates several instances in which Harve untruthfully, perhaps spitefully, demeaned Ned's reputation. Over the yrs, I've run across many similar "corrections" in periodicals to errors in highly prestigious reference books--Madis, Campbell, Brophy, etc. Rarely does anyone remember for long the corrections, but the errors they refuted continue to be regarded by most as Holy Writ.
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