about twelve o'clock at night
He kissed , as he thought , the dead face , and went on with his men . It was just midnight . `` At midnight , all being quiet in front , in accordance with orders from the commanding Generals , '' writes General J. D. Cox in his official report , `` I withdrew my command to the north bank of the river . '' `` The battle closed about twelve o'clock at night , '' wrote General Hood , `` when the enemy retreated rapidly on Nashville , leaving the dead and wounded in our hands . We captured about a thousand prisoners and several stands of colors . '' Was this a coincidence -- or as some think -- did the boys in blue retreat before they would fire on an old Continental and the spirit of ' 76 ? An hour afterwards a negro was sadly leading a tired old man on a superb horse back to headquarters , and as the rider 's head sank on his breast he said : `` Lead me , Bisco , I 'm too weak to guide my horse .