six
o'clock in the evening
General Drummond coming up with his re-enforcements about five o'clock , countermanded the movement of retreat , and immediately formed the order of battle . He occupied the gently swelling acclivity of Lundy 's Lane , placing his guns in the centre , on its crest . His entire force was sixteen hundred men , that of the enemy was five thousand . The attack began at six o'clock in the evening , Drummond 's troops having that hot July day marched from Queenston landing . The American infantry made desperate efforts in successive charges to capture the British battery ; but the gunners stuck to their pieces , and swept , with a deadly fire , the advancing lines of the enemy , till some of them were bayoneted at their post . The carnage on both sides was terrible . At length the long summer twilight closed , and the pitying night drew her veil over the horrors of the scene .