eight o'clock in the evening
It need not be a very strong watch , but it must be a vigilant one ; therefore each watch will be kept under the supervision of an officer who will be responsible for the vigilance of the men under him . Moreover , all hands must see that their muskets and pistols are loaded and ready for instant action ; for it would not be a very difficult matter to surprise this camp of ours sometime during the small hours . Just come outside with me and let us take a look round . '' The result of the above conversation and the `` look round '' was an arrangement that the night was to be divided into five watches of two hours each , beginning at eight o'clock in the evening and ending at six o'clock in the morning ; each watch to consist of twelve men , fully armed , who were to act as sentries , half of them being detailed to watch the river in the neighbourhood of the boats , while the other half kept watch and ward over the land approach to our encampment , being stretched across the narrow isthmus in open order from the water 's edge on the river-side to that on the sea-side . Each watch was commanded by an officer , with a midshipman under him ; and the general orders were to fire a single shot at the first sign of anything of an alarming character , and then retire upon the camp , if an attack should threaten to cut off the outpost from the main body . The first watch was taken by the captain , with me for his subordinate ; and I was given the command of the party of six guarding the shore approach to the camp , while the skipper took the party mounting guard near the boats , as it was his opinion that if danger threatened it was most likely to come by way of the river . My instructions were to march my men out to a distance of not more than two cables ' lengths from the camp , and there take such cover as might be possible .