about nine o'clock
I will set down here that which I read in a book several years after the day Sergeant Corney and I followed General Herkimer on what we believed to be a most ill-advised and hazardous march , in view of Colonel Gansevoort 's request , and from the words it will be seen that I am not the only person who lays blame of all that happened upon those loud-mouthed , imitation soldiers who were so soon to show themselves cowards . `` The morning was dark , sultry , and lowering . General Herkimer 's troops , composed chiefly of the militia regiments of Colonels Cox , Paris , Visscher , and Klock , were quite undisciplined , and their order of march was irregular and without precaution . The contentions of the morning had delayed their advance until about nine o'clock , and the hard feelings which existed between the commander and some of his officers caused a degree of insubordination which proved fatal in its consequences ... . A deep ravine crossed the path of Herkimer in a north and south direction , extending from the high grounds on the south to the river , and curving toward the east in semicircular form . The bottom of this ravine was marshy , and the road crossed it by means of a causeway of earth and logs . On each side of the ravine the ground was nearly level , and heavily timbered .