six o'clock in the evening
So he said nothing to them , but rode back toward his commander . Then he glanced again at the sun and saw that it was low , filling all the western heavens with bars of red and yellow and gold . He looked once again at that formidable line of battle , stretching in either direction through the forest farther than he could see , the soldiers eager , excited and straining hard at the hand that held them there so firmly . It seemed now that nothing was left to be done , and the time had grown to six o'clock in the evening . Jackson turned to Rodes , who commanded the first line of battle , just in the rear of the skirmishers , and said : `` Are you ready , General ? '' `` Aye , aye , sir . '' `` Then charge , '' said Jackson .