noon
After that , the conflict was between the batteries alone , and before noon the fire of the British had sensibly abated . Then they abandoned their works and fled helter-skelter to the ditches for safety ; for their demi-lunes were crushed and broken , the hogsheads , of which they were largely composed , having been reduced to splinters and the sugar that had filled them mixed with the earth . Some of their guns were dismounted , others careened so that it was very difficult to work them , while the fire of the Americans was still unceasing . At noon , as I have said , they gave up the contest . That night they crawled back and carried away some of their cannon , dragging them with difficulty over the wet ground , and leaving five of them a spoil to the Americans . `` They -LRB- the British -RRB- were deeply chagrined by their repulse , had eaten nothing for sixty hours , nor had any sleep in all that time , so that their New Year 's Day was even gloomier than their Christmas had been . `` The Americans , on the other hand , were full of joy that they had been able to repulse their own and their country 's foes ; and their happiness was increased by the news that they were soon to have a re-enforcement , Brigadier-General John Adair arriving with the glad tidings that 2000 drafted militia from Kentucky were coming to their assistance .