midnight
And Jubal Early was an able and valiant general . Dick did not sleep that night . All had received orders to hold themselves in readiness for an instant march , and his blood tingled with expectancy . At midnight the Winchester regiment rode off to the left to join the cavalry under Wilson which was to lead the advance , moving along a pike road and then crossing the little river Opequan . Dick rode close behind Colonel Winchester and Warner and Pennington were on either side of him . Not far away from them was Sergeant Whitley , ready for use as a scout . Shepard had disappeared already in the darkness .