five o'clock
Only one thing was certain , -- Pegleg was knocked out . It might be several days , possibly a week , before he could resume duty . Captain Devers came over five minutes after the adjutant left him , and was profuse in sympathy , sorrow , and proffers of aid . The despatch sent to Department head-quarters that afternoon was a model of style , but it did not reach the office until late in the afternoon , so late that the general had gone home with his chief of staff , and not until five o'clock was it placed in the hands of the latter , who took it at once to his commander . `` Whew ! '' said the chief . `` It 's bad enough to have Pegleg down , but think of having Devers up , even for a week . ''