Captain Lincoln was drilling his men, marching the twenty or so "by the
front," when he found himself before a gap in the fence through which
he wanted to go.
He says: "I could not for the life of me remember the proper words of
command--("By the right flank--file left--march.--Hardee's
Tactics")--for getting my company endwise so that it could get through
the gateway; as we came near the passage, I shouted:
"'Company, halt! break ranks! you are dismissed for two minutes, when
you will fall in again on the other side of the gap!'"
* * * * *