nine o'clock
The other three , each drawn by four horses , accompanied the column , the duty assigned to them being to blow in the gates of the several barracks . Coarse grass was cut and swathed round the wheels , and the horses ' feet were also muffled . The peasants were all clad in sandals , and there was therefore no fear of the noise of their advance being heard . At nine o'clock the column set out for the town , which was nine miles distant , and upon nearing it separated , so as to enter as arranged in different directions . Each column was preceded at a distance of some hundred yards by four or five men , chosen for their activity , their duty being to seize and silence any watchmen they might meet in the streets . The town seemed absolutely asleep when the band of Stanislas , with which for the time were the three cannon , entered it a few minutes before one . Once the lads thought that they could hear a stifled cry , but if so it attracted no attention , for the streets were deserted , and not a single window opened as they passed .