four o'clock in the morning
A half-dozen Southern skirmishers fired at the flash of Dick 's pistol , but he , too , lying on the ground , heard them cutting leaves over his head . Dick saw the face of Woodville disappear from the bush , and then he crept away , rejoining Colonel Winchester and his comrades . Five minutes later the skirmish ceased by mutual consent , and each band fell back on its own army , convinced that both were on the watch . They were to advance at four o'clock in the morning , but Pennington 's prediction came true . After midnight , flashes of lightning cut the sky and the thunder rolled heavily . Then the rain came , not any fugitive shower , but hard , cold and steady , promising to last many hours . It was still pouring when the advance began before dawn , but Grant 's plans were complete .