twelve o'clock at
night
Fresh works were erected , on both sides . Casualties took place almost daily , but both troops and inhabitants were now so accustomed to the continual firing that they went about their ordinary avocations , without paying any attention to the shot and shell , unless one of the latter fell close at hand . November came in and , in spite of the heavy fire maintained by our batteries , the enemy 's works continually advanced towards the Rock ; and when , in the middle of the month , it was seen that the new batteries were being armed and placed in readiness to open fire , the governor determined to take the offensive . Accordingly , after gunfire on the evening of the twenty-sixth , an order was issued for all the grenadier and light infantry companies -- with the 12th , and Hardenberg 's Regiment -- to assemble , at twelve o'clock at night -- with a party of Engineers , and two hundred workmen from the line regiments -- for a sortie upon the enemy 's batteries . The 39th and 59th Regiments were to parade , at the same hour , to act as support to the attacking party . A hundred sailors from the ships of war were to accompany them . The attacking party numbered 1014 rank and file , besides officers and noncommissioned officers .