midnight
And in each country as it passed beneath our feet , we left some of the comrades who had shared our perils and our adventures . At length the Atlantic had rolled away under us , and we saw the spires of the new New York . The news of our coming had been flashed ahead from Europe , and our countrymen were prepared to welcome us . We had originally started , it will be remembered , at midnight , and now again as we approached the new capital of the world the curtain of night was just beginning to be drawn over it . But our signal lights were ablaze , and through these they were aware of our approach . Again the air was filled with bursting rockets and shaken with the roar of cannon , and with volleying cheers , poured from millions of throats , as we came to rest directly above the city . Three days after the landing of the fleet , and when the first enthusiasm of our reception had a little passed , I received a beautifully engraved card inviting me to be present in Trinity Church at the wedding of Aina and Sidney Phillips .