five o'clock in the afternoon
For goodness ' sake , let 's go on , meet those fellows with the brigade , secure that express and get off this ` powder mine ' -- as you call it . '' `` By all means ! '' Grant responded , giving the order , and we moved forward but only at snail pace ; for I think he wanted to give the settlers plenty of time to reach the fort . By five o'clock in the afternoon we had almost rounded the slough and were gradually closing towards the wooded ground of the river bank . We were within ear-shot of the settlers . They were flying past with terrified cries of `` The half-breeds ! The half-breeds ! ''