three o'clock
Three of them were lashed together in midstream and one lay under the shelter of each shore . Their concentrated fire was terrific . For nine hours they poured a stream of shot and shell on the lone battery with its beaver gunmen . At three o'clock Captain Rucker in charge of the battery called for reënforcements to relieve his exhausted men . Volunteers rushed to his assistance and his guns roared until darkness brought them respite . It had been done . A single half-submerged battery exposed to the concentrated fire of a powerful fleet had held them at bay and compelled them to withdraw at nightfall .