about
noon
The rebel leaders and newspapers have so persistently reiterated these assertions , that they have come to believe them . `` The third day was unusually lovely , but our hearts were too anxious to admit of our enjoying it . The rebels were entrenched on heights behind the town . It was necessary that these should be taken , and about noon the movement commenced . Our forces marched steadily across the intervening plain . The rebels reserved their fire till we were half-way across , and then from all sides burst forth the deadly fire . We were completely at their mercy .