three o'clock
A growl came from the captain of the nearest cannon . `` I promised the old gal , '' he muttered discontentedly , his hand on his thirty-two pounder , `` that she should begin it , an ' she 's sighted to knock over that twelve pounder that 's been teasin ' us , or may I never fire gun agin . '' `` She 'll do it just as well on the second shot , '' said Colonel Lamb , `` and who cares which fires first , since we 've beat them . '' It was three o'clock when Washington and Rochambeau , accompanied by their staffs , came out of the covert-way which permitted entrance and egress to a French redoubt , from the trenches in its rear , and infantry and gunners came to the `` present . '' `` Votre Excellence , '' said Colonel d'Aboville , saluting , `` moi cannoniers vous implorent de leur donner l'honneur immortel en mettant feu au premier coup de cannon . '' Washington , realizing that the speech was addressed to him , turned to Rochambeau with a helpless and questioning look . `` Zay desire zat your Excellency does zem ze honneur to fire ze first gun , '' explained the French general .