three o'clock in the afternoon
This was on the 3rd of July . The officers believed that a little delay would be best , in the hope of the arrival of reinforcements ; but nearly all the men were so clamorous to march out and give the invaders battle , that it was decided to do so . `` You are going into great danger , '' remarked the leader , as he mounted his horse and placed himself at the head of the patriots , `` but I will go as far as any of you . '' At three o'clock in the afternoon the column , numbering about three hundred , marched from the fort with drums beating and colors flying . They moved up the valley , with the river on the right and a marsh on the left , until they arrived at Fort Wintermoot , which had been set on fire by the enemy to give the impression they were withdrawing from the neighborhood . As you may well believe , the movements of the patriots were watched with deep interest by those left behind . The women and children clustered along the river bank and strained their eyes in the direction of Fort Wintermoot , the black smoke from which rolled down the valley and helped to shut out their view .