two o'clock in the morning
Thus , at every march , the hidden enemy became bolder and the regiment writhed and twisted under attacks it could not avenge . The crowning triumph was a sudden night-rush ending in the cutting of many tent-ropes , the collapse of the sodden canvas , and a glorious knifing of the men who struggled and kicked below . It was a great deed , neatly carried out , and it shook the already shaken nerves of the Fore and Aft . All the courage that they had been required to exercise up to this point was the ` two o'clock in the morning courage ' ; and , so far , they had only succeeded in shooting their comrades and losing their sleep . Sullen , discontented , cold , savage , sick , with their uniforms dulled and unclean , the Fore and Aft joined their Brigade . ` I hear you had a tough time of it coming up , ' said the Brigadier . But when he saw the hospital-sheets his face fell .