midnight
As the dawn gradually brightened the sky behind the ridge of Mount Sampson , the Russians again became uneasy , and their rifles once more began to speak from the trenches , a shot here , then another shot yonder , followed by quite a spluttering here and there all along their front ; but their artillery remained silent , for the fog was still so dense that nothing could be seen at which to aim . Protected by the cover of the fog , the Japanese soldiers went to breakfast , fortifying themselves with a good meal , in preparation for the arduous labours of the day that lay before them ; and I did the same , for I knew not how long it might be before I should again have the opportunity to eat or drink ; also , following the example of several of the officers and men , I filled my jacket pockets with biscuit , and provided myself with a good capacious flask of cold tea , having done which , I felt ready for anything . We had barely finished breakfast when the sun showed over the ridge of Mount Sampson ; and almost immediately the thick curtain of fog , which had thus far so effectually hidden the movements of the Japanese troops from the enemy , began to lift and thin . This was the signal for the final movement prior to the storming of the Nanshan Heights ; and that movement was directed against the city of Kinchau , it being known by this time that the devoted band of engineers who had been dispatched at midnight to blow in the gates of the city must have failed in their mission , otherwise some of them at least would have been back to report . To the 1st Division was assigned the task of taking the city ; and they did it in brilliant style . Marching upon the southern gate , a party of four engineers was sent forward to blow in the massive barrier , which was protected by steel plates and bands , secured by heavy steel bolts , and loopholed for musketry . The devoted quartette succeeded in placing their blasting charges and igniting the fuses under a heavy fire , not only from the loopholed gate , but also from the walls , but in so doing they were so severely wounded that after they had lighted the fuses they were unable to effect their escape , and received further severe injuries when the explosion occurred and the gate was blown off its hinges .