six o'clock in the morning
Warwick took the command of his left wing , having with him the Duke of Exeter . Somerset was in command of his centre , and Montague and Oxford of his right . Edward placed himself in the centre of his array , the Duke of Gloucester commanded on his right , and Lord Hastings on his left . Desirous , from his inferiority in artillery , to fight out the battle hand to hand , Edward , at six o'clock in the morning , ordered his trumpets to blow , and , after firing a few shots , advanced through the mist to attack the enemy . His misconception as to Warwick 's position , which had saved his troops from the effects of the cannonade during the night , was now disadvantageous to him , for the Earl 's right so greatly outflanked his left that when they came into contact Hastings found himself nearly surrounded by a vastly superior force . His wing fought valiantly , but was at length broken by Oxford 's superior numbers , and driven out of the field . The mist prevented the rest of the armies from knowing what had happened on the king 's left .