ten o'clock
Nothing was needed but the officer designated to relieve him . The Columbia was to leave on Saturday , and up to Thursday evening no relief had appeared . Friday morning the adjutant-general received a written communication , most respectful yet urgent in terms , requesting that the officer might be designated without further delay , and as no answer was received up to noon , Loring followed it with a personal call upon the chief of staff , who said the General had the matter under advisement . `` My luggage goes aboard the Columbia to-night , sir , and I should be aboard by ten o'clock to-morrow , '' said Loring . Colonel Strain coughed dubiously . `` It might be impracticable to relieve you from duty so soon . The General is in communication with the War Department upon the subject , and possibly if -- you -- had had the courtesy to call upon the General or upon me , his chief-of-staff , and to explain your wishes , the thing might have been arranged . ''