About five o'clock in the afternoon
two -- three -- '' At the word `` three '' I heard distinctly , in the far northwest , a low rumble . All the men were on their feet , silent , serious . Again the distant cannon was heard . About five o'clock in the afternoon the newspapers from Washington were in our hands . In one of the papers a certain war correspondent had outlined , or rather amplified , the plan of the campaign . Basing his prediction , doubtless , upon the fact that he knew something of the nature of the advance begun on the 16th , the public was informed that Heintzelman 's division would swing far to the left until the rear of Beauregard 's right flank was reached ; at the same time Miles and Hunter would seize Fairfax Court-House , and threaten the enemy 's centre and left , and would seriously attack when Heintzelman should give the signal . Thus , rolled up from the right , and engaged everywhere else , the enemy 's defeat was inevitable .