midnight
Colonel Gansevoort very kindly assured me that there was no real reason why we should do duty while the force was so large ; but promised , if we insisted upon it , to consider us when making a detail , exactly as he would any of the others . Colonel Willett had not long to wait before beginning his perilous journey . By noon of the second day after our arrival the wind veered around into the south , bringing heavy clouds across the sky , and even the poorest weather prophets among us knew that a summer storm was close at hand . Once during the afternoon the colonel passed near where I was furbishing up my rifle , and halted to say : `` The lieutenant and I count on leaving the fort shortly before midnight . If you and your friends have any desire to see us set out , go down to the new works at about that time . '' By the `` new works '' he meant the stockade over which we had come , and I hastened to impart the information to Sergeant Corney and Jacob , knowing full well that they would be as interested in the venture as was I . The volunteer messengers could not have asked for a better night .