To evade military duty; also to capture, to plunder in a small way.
1866. They flanked me in double quick, and though my time was not out, I was constrained to depart those coasts prematurely for fear of being a desolated victim of extortion.—C. H. Smith, ‘Bill Arp,’ p. 32. (Italics in the original.)
1867. They would lead the horses out, take the greenbacks from the prisoners, and when near their home would flank out with a horse, and never come up, &c.—J. M. Crawford, ‘Mosby and his Men,’ p. 295.
1872. When the men wished to escape the attention of pickets and guards by slipping past them, they said they flanked them; drill and detail and every irksome duty was flanked, when it could be avoided by some cunning trick.—de Vere. (N.E.D.)
1879. The Government never made anything by employing these “rebels,” as they invariably “flanked” more than they received as pay.—‘Southern Hist. Soc. Papers,’ vii. 394 (Richmond, Va.).
