four o'clock
At that moment the signal was given to cease firing . Another flag of truce was going forth . I felt that I was desperately wounded -- I believed that my last hour had come . It was just then four o'clock . This was nearly the last shot fired during that hateful and fratricidal war . Angels were rejoicing that blood had ceased to flow , though proud British hearts were sad and humbled at the thoughts of their defeat . That hour struck the knell of England 's supremacy in the West , and gave forth the first glad notes of the establishment of American Independence .