one o'clock
The other barges were speedily brilliant with scarlet coats and glistening bayonets . Not far away the river was covered with smoke , through which flashed the fire of the belching artillery . A blue flag was waved from General Howe 's barge , and the fleet moved across the river towards the hill where the rebels waited silently behind their piles of earth . At one o'clock , Harry followed Lieutenant Dalrymple out of the barge to the northern shore of the river , at a point northeast of Charlestown village and east of the Yankees ' hill . There was no molestation from the rebels . The firing from the vessels and batteries protected the hillside and shore . The troops were promptly formed in three lines .