one o'clock
The leader shook hands with each man , his voice throbbing with emotion as he said : `` Stand together like this , men , and armies will march and countermarch over the South in vain ! We will save the life of our people . '' The ten guides selected by the Grand Dragon rode forward , and each led a division of one hundred men through the ten townships of the county and successfully disarmed every negro before day without the loss of a life . The remaining squadron of two hundred and fifty men from Hambright , accompanied by the Grand Titan in command of the Province of Western Hill Counties , were led by Ben Cameron into Piedmont as the waning moon rose between twelve and one o'clock . They marched past Stoneman 's place on the way to the negro armoury , which stood on the opposite side of the street a block below . The wild music of the beat of a thousand hoofs on the cobblestones of the street waked every sleeper . The old Commoner hobbled to his window and watched them pass , his big hands fumbling nervously , and his soul stirred to its depths .