A good story is told on our old friend Colonel Luce of the Minnesota
National Guard. Two battalions of the Colonel’s regiment were staging a
sham battle at their summer encampment.
The defending forces took possession of a small hill overlooking a river
and destroyed the only bridge by the simple method of tacking up a notice
on it stating that they had done so. As a result it was quite a surprise
to them to see the attacking forces swarming across the bridge, making
extraordinary motions in front of them with their hands.
“Hold on there, men!” shouted the Colonel’s aide from the observer’s
post, “you can’t cross that bridge. It has been blown up.”
“Tuhel with that!” retorted the Major of the other side, “we’re not
crossing it, can’t you see we are swimming the dang river?”
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