two o'clock in the morning
While they drifted off to sleep that night , General Mitchel was perfecting the last details of the attack upon Huntsville . Every road was blocked by scouts to prevent the news of the advance going before them . Ten miles to the south lay Huntsville , unaware of the approaching army . The last rush of the advance commenced at two o'clock in the morning . Mitchel 's weary army struggled to its feet , and stood ready to march . The cavalry was the first away , and disappeared silently into the night . There were no bugle calls , and no shouting .