eight
o'clock in the evening
`` While lying there at anchor the _ Armstrong _ was attacked by a large British squadron . That was in flagrant violation of the laws of neutrality . Commodore Lloyd was the commander of the squadron . At eight o'clock in the evening he sent four large well-armed launches , each manned by about forty men , to attack the American vessel . `` The moon shone brightly , and Captain Reid , who had noticed the movements of the British and suspecting that their design was to attack him , was getting his vessel under the guns of the castle . Those guns and his own opened fire at almost the same instant and drove off the launches with heavy loss . '' `` That means a great many men killed , grandma ? ''