noon
`` Do your best , -- and spare no money , if money is of avail , '' and he turned to consult with Surgeon Farnwright once more . The major had noticed , during the ride along the timber road , a little farmhouse , set in a grove of walnuts , standing about a quarter of a mile back from the scene of the battle described in the last chapter . He now set off for this farmhouse post-haste , to see what accommodations it might offer . It was past noon , and from a distance came a heavy firing . Although he did not know it , the Confederate cavalry had crossed the creek in force , and were now charging straight for Crawfish Springs and the hospital located there . The brigade under Colonel Long was sustaining the main attack , although other of General Mitchell 's cavalry was in the vicinity . As Deck rode toward the farmhouse , he noticed that all of the lower windows were boarded up , as if to resist an invasion .