eleven o'clock at night
`` All these matters having been settled , they next considered the difficulties that lay in Champe 's way between the camp and the enemy 's outposts at Paulus Hook . There were many pickets and patrols in the way , and often parties of American irregulars in search of booty or adventure . Major Lee could not offer Champe any aid against these dangers lest he should be charged with favoring his desertion ; so the sergeant was left to manage his flight as well as he could without help , Lee only doing what he could to delay pursuit as long as possible after it should become known that the sergeant-major had deserted . `` It was eleven o'clock at night when Champe took his orderly book , his cloak , and valise , and , with three guineas in his pocket , -- given him by Lee , -- mounted his horse secretly and started on his perilous expedition . Lee went at once to his bed , but not to sleep . He was doubtless much too anxious and excited for that . Within an hour the officer of the day , Captain Carnes , came hurrying in to tell him that one of the patrols had fallen in with a dragoon , who , on being challenged , put spurs to his horse and escaped .