two o'clock in the morning
I question if , after showing the bravery they already had , the lads needed any words to stiffen their backs ; but it pleased the old soldier to make it appear as if we had clear sailing before us , and did no real harm . Then we started on the march , which would be long because it was necessary , after passing the encampment , to make considerable of a détour in order to avoid , first , a battery of three guns , then one of four mortars , and , lastly , a battery of three more guns , all of which extended northwesterly from St. Leger 's headquarters . After this distance had been traversed , we passed within less than two hundred feet of the line of trenches which had been begun as an approach to the fort , and then bore to the southward again , crossing the Albany road . Finally , at perhaps two o'clock in the morning , we arrived at a broad elevation , the easternmost slope of which came very near to the outer walls of the fort . Here it would be necessary to advance without cover for perhaps an hundred yards , and it was this last and most dangerous work that Sergeant Corney insisted on doing himself . My company found fairly good hiding-places in the thicket near at hand , Jacob and I creeping out to the edge of the foliage in order to keep watch upon the old soldier as he made his way like a snake over the plain , which was almost entirely destitute of vegetation . He set off without delay , for , owing to the lateness of the hour , there was no time to be wasted , and our hearts were literally in our mouths as we watched him make his way slowly along , at imminent danger each second of being fired upon by the sentinels inside the fort .