Our uniforms were brought up to camp from town, and several
companies drew theirs today. Every company drills four hours a day now. Some of
the men have a hard time remembering the commands of the officers and some of
the officers cannot remember the correct commands to give. Some of them make as
big blunders as the men.1
1 Upon one occasion a certain
captain had his company out for a drill on the town commons. The company was
marching “by platoon guide right,” and advancing toward a big open ditch full
of water, when the captain, forgetting the correct command to give, “halt” or “right-about
face,” called out, “Look out for that ditch!” Now according to military tactics
soldiers are not expected to move or change their course except upon specific
command, and so, to the chagrin of the captain, his men went right on, plunged
into the water and crossed to the other bank. A few, however, did “look out for
the ditch,” and the company was thrown into great confusion. — A. O. D.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 15-6
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