nine o'clock
`` This much : This letter came to Braxton by hand , not by mail , -- by hand , probably direct from her . What hand had access to the office the day when the whole command was out at review ? Certainly no outsider . The mail is opened and distributed on its arrival at nine o'clock by the chief clerk , or by the sergeant-major , if he happens to be there , though he 's generally at guard mount . On this occasion he was out at review . Leary , chief clerk , tells Colonel Braxton he opened and distributed the mail , putting the colonel 's on his desk ; Root was with him and helped . The third clerk came in later ; had been out all night , drinking .