midnight
The colonel set the example of rising early . `` I should advise you , gentlemen , to turn in soon , '' he said . `` I do not say where we are to march to-morrow , but I can tell you at least that the march is a very long one , and that it were best to get as much sleep as possible , for I can assure you that it will be no child 's play ; and I think that it is quite probable we shall smell powder before the day is over . '' Accordingly , all the young officers and several of the seniors left with him , but O'Grady and several of the hard drinkers kept it up until midnight , observing , however , more moderation than usual in their potations . There was none of the grumbling common when men are turned out of their beds before dawn ; all were in high spirits that the time for action had arrived ; the men were as eager to meet the enemy as were their officers ; and the tents were all down and placed in the waggons before daylight . The regimental cooks had already been at work , and the officers went round and saw that all had had breakfast before they fell in . At six o'clock the whole were under arms and in their place as the central regiment in the brigade .