Herndon, William H. Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life . Springfield, Illinois: The Herndon's Lincoln Publishing Company, 1888. [format: book], [genre: biography]. Permission: Northern Illinois University
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon1.html

Note from page 93: 45. While at the rendezvous at Rushville and on the march to the front Lincoln of course drilled his men, and gave them such meager instruction in military tactics as he could impart. Some of the most grotesque things he ever related were descriptions of these drills. In marching one morning at the head of the company, who were following in lines of twenty abreast, it became necessary to pass through a gate much narrower than the lines. The captain could not remember the proper command to turn the company endwise, and the situation was becoming decidedly embarrassing, when one of those thoughts born of the depths of despair came to his rescue. Facing the lines he shouted: "Halt! This company will break ranks for two minutes and form again on the other side of the gate." The maneuver was successfully executed.