two o'clock in the morning
He had bought for a few shillings , from the soldiers , a dozen donkeys that had been found alive in some of the pits . These he handed over to Fatma , for her conveyance and that of the wives of some of the emirs , who were of the party . The Egyptians started at half-past eight , carrying their own wounded and those of the British . By the route by which the army had marched , the night before , the distance was but nine miles ; but there had been some rough places to pass , and to avoid these , where the wounded might have suffered from jolting , they made a circuit , thereby adding three miles to the length of the march ; and did not reach Umdabieh camp until two o'clock in the morning . General Hunter , who never spared himself , rode with them and acted as guide . During the fight he , Colonel Macdonald , and Colonel Maxwell had ridden at the head of their brigades , the white regimental officers being on foot with the men , as was their custom ; and it was surprising that the three conspicuous figures had all come through the storm of fire unscathed . The next morning was a quiet one , and in the afternoon all marched off to the old camp , at Abadar .