Greetings Robert Talbott

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Welcome! These are the 'sinks'

Saw your photo page a few days ago. Even recognized some of those faces!


John Pillers
the Skulkers Mess

[Dan Hadley]

Re: Greetings Robert Talbott

Anyone who knows Bob, (and especially those who don't) needs to lay their hands on a copy of "Chin Music From A Greyhound", the book that he penned and is currently hawking. I picked up a copy a few weekends ago at Ft. Scott, and it really is great reading, and not just when you're at the sinks, either. You won't be wiping your arse with these pages!

It is a riotous romp of a memoir, providing vivid glimpses and anecdotes of this "unique" hobby of Civil War reenacting and its parade of characters (it chronologues events from 1978-1987, but Bob has indicated that a 2nd volume is in the works). It's not too esoteric, either. A reader uninitiated w/ the "hobby" or Civil War history in general will understand & appreciate it.

Bob's writing style is infected-er, I mean infectious- just like him- never pretentious, truthful (with an occasionally expletive!), and very humorous-in a Mark Twain kind of way, dare I say. Besides telling tales and naming names, he also manages to turn the mirror on himself and the rest of us who have donned wool and fired blanks, in a very good natured way.

I seriously suspect that when we're all dead, and social historians begin to examine this phenomenon known as Civil War reenacting, Bob's book(s) may well be a cornerstone reference to the inner workings of this sometimes bizarre sub culture. Thanks, Bob!

Dan Hadley