nine o'clock
Three attempts were made , but failed ; the handful of available men being altogether insufficient for the purpose . The enemy now tried to rush the troops , and a continuous fire was poured into a small enclosure , packed with men and mules . The casualties were frequent , but the men now threw up a fresh defensive work , with mule saddles and ammunition boxes . The fury of the storm , which came on at nine o'clock , somewhat checked the ardour of the assailants ; and the water was invaluable to the wounded . At midnight four companies , who had gone out in search of the general , arrived and cleared the enemy out of the village . The casualties had been heavy , two officers and thirty-six men having been killed , and five officers and a hundred and two men wounded . Next day the force started on their way up the valley .