midnight
`` It will come some day , never fear , O'Grady ; and perhaps it may not be so far off as you fear . `` Well , colonel , we will just take a glass with you for luck , and then say good night ; for I have a good many things to see after , and must be up very early , so as to get our tents packed and handed over , to draw our rations , eat our breakfast , and be off by seven . '' It was close upon that hour when the regiment marched . It was known that there were no French troops west of the Huebra but , after fording the Aqueda , the force halted until nightfall ; and then moved forward and reached the Huebra at midnight , lay down to sleep until daybreak , and then extended along the bank of the Yeltes , as far as its source among the mountains ; thus cutting the roads from Ciudad to Salamanca and the North . The distance to be watched was some twenty miles but , as the river was in many places unfordable , it was necessary only to place patrols here ; while strong parties were posted , not only on the main roads , but at all points where by-roads or peasants ' tracks led down to the bank . On that day a bridge was thrown across the Aqueda , six miles below Ciudad , for the passage of artillery but , owing to the difficulties of carriage , it was five days later before the artillery and ammunition could be brought over ; and this was only done by the aid of 800 carts , which Wellington had caused to be quietly constructed during the preceding three months . On the 8th , the light division and Pack 's Portuguese contingent forded the Aqueda three miles above Ciudad and , making a long detour , took up their position behind a hill called the Great Teson .