ten o’clock
I believed that this day would see the last of the strife between England and France for dominion here ; of La Pompadour 's spite which I had roused to action against my country ; of the struggle between Doltaire and myself . The public stake was worthy of our army -- worthy of the dauntless soldier , who had begged his physicians to patch him up long enough to fight this fight , whereon he staked reputation , life , all that a man loves in the world ; the private stake was more than worthy of my long sufferings . I thought that Montcalm would have waited for Vaudreuil , but no . At ten o'clock his three columns moved down upon us briskly , making a wild rattle ; two columns moving upon our right and one upon our left , firing obliquely and constantly as they marched . Then came the command to rise , and we stood up and waited , our muskets loaded with an extra ball . I could feel the stern malice in our ranks , as we stood there and took , without returning a shot , that damnable fire . Minute after minute passed ; then came the sharp command to advance .