midnight
The retreat continued slowly , the mixed men endeavouring while on the march to find their respective regiments and companies . Mounted men -- officers probably -- rode up and down the column crying out : `` Flag of Thirty-seventh is forward , '' `` Flag of Forty-fifth is behind you , '' and so on , thus telling the men where to find their commands . It was really good work , I thought . A little before midnight -- or it may have been much earlier , for I was well-nigh worn out -- a halt was made at the crossroads which I afterward knew to be the crossing of the Ashcake and Richmond roads about a mile and a half southeast of Ashland . Here all the men could easily find their commands , and I knew that perfect organization would be effected in a very few minutes . Before the line was completely formed , I walked off and was at once alone in the darkness . By the stars I was able to strike a course ; I went nearly east for perhaps a quarter of a mile , and lay down under a tree , first spreading my gum-blanket on the wet ground .