midnight
There may be no ground for apprehension after all . '' So he spoke , and knew not that at that very moment some British and loyalists from Sandy Hook were landing at Coates ' Point , a few miles to the north of Tom 's River . Here their number was augmented by the addition of a band of refugees under the Tory , Davenport . A vidette dashed into the village with the news at midnight . Almost instantly came the order : `` Every man to the blockhouse ! The British and refugees are approaching ! '' `` Last noon beheld them full of lusty life , Last eve in beauty 's circle , proudly gay , The midnight brought the signal-sound of strife , The morn the marshaling in arms , -- the day , Battle 's magnificently-stern array ! ''