nearly four o'clock
But the place was carried and the great majority fled precipitately through the exits at the back and made the best of their way towards Mentana . An hour later Gouache was still on his legs , but exhausted by his efforts in scaling the wall and by loss of blood from his wound , he felt that he could not hold out much longer . The position at that time was precarious . It was nearly four o'clock and the days were short . The artillery was playing against the little town , but the guns were light field-pieces of small calibre , and though their position was frequently changed they made but little impression upon the earthworks thrown up by the enemy . The Garibaldians massed themselves in large numbers as they retreated from various points upon Mentana , and though their weapons were inferior to those of their opponents their numbers made them still formidable . The Zouaves , gendarmes , and legionaries , however , pressed steadily though slowly onward .