About nine AM
Here they lay down at the foot of the rocket-stands , ready at a preconcerted signal to start up and open their fire . At any moment , had they been discovered , the guns from the battery might have opened on them and blown them to atoms ; but , fortunately , the eyes of the enemy were turned up the stream towards the point from whence the ships were expected to appear . Two guns fired from the flagship was to be the signal that the fleet had got under weigh . About nine AM , the welcome sound reached their ears , a long pole with the flag of Old England fastened at the end was to be planted on the top of the bank , at the elevation of which the first discharge of rockets was to take place . With eager eyes they watched for the appearance of the squadron ; the ships of war were at length seen , the steamers leading , followed by a line of merchantmen , one coming after the other till the sternmost was lost in the distance . It was a grand sight as they came silently gliding on till the leading ships got within range of the batteries . The instant they did so they commenced firing their shells with admirable precision .