midnight
We need the time between now and then to concentrate the extended lines of our troops . If we are ready at all earlier hour , we shall set out at once . Make haste ; Let that be the password to-night ! '' Thanks to this password , all the troops had been concentrated by midnight , and the march was just about to begin when another courier arrived from the generalissimo , and informed the archduke that the enemy was advancing , and that it was now the generalissimo 's intention to attack him and force him to give battle . The Archduke John was ordered to march as rapidly as possible to Siebenbrunn , whither a strong corps of the enemy had set out . The Archduke John now advanced with his ten thousand men with the utmost rapidity toward Marchegg . The troops were exhausted by the toils and fatigues of the last days ; they had not eaten any thing for twenty-four hours ; but the archduke and his generals and staff - officers always knew how to stir them up and induce them to continue their march with unflagging energy .