nine o'clock
The attack upon Quarman had been no isolated event . Fomana had also been attacked , but the garrison there had , after some hours ' fighting , repulsed the enemy . Several convoys had been assaulted , and the whole road down to the Prah was unsafe . The next morning , after waiting till a large convoy came safely in , the column marched at nine o'clock , Gifford 's scouts , Russell 's regiment , and Rait 's battery being as usual in front . The resistance increased with every step , and the head of the column was constantly engaged . Several villages were taken by Russell 's regiment , who , full of confidence in themselves and their officers , carried them with a rush in capital style . It was but six miles to the Dab , but the ground was swampy and the road intersected by many streams .