six o'clock
The Assembly sounded at five o'clock the next morning ; and half an hour later the troopers had their breakfast of coffee , hardtack , and cold beef , the last cooked the night before . Milton was supplied with a uniform and accoutrements from a wagon by the quartermaster-sergeant . He had served in the militia in a company of mounted men raised in his county ; and though some of the tactics were new to him , he was at home in most of the duties of the soldier . At six o'clock , while there was still hardly light enough to recognize a friend twenty feet off , the company was formed ; and Life Knox , who was the orderly sergeant , reported the fact to the captain . It was but ten miles to Jamestown , and twenty-five to Harrison , where the two companies were to unite . Life Knox , who had earned the reputation of being the most reliable scout in the company or the squadron , was sent out on this duty with Milton , because the latter was entirely familiar with all the country in Wayne and Pulaski Counties . They left the camp somewhat in advance of the column .