About noon
After that they worked double tides , as we say , and certainly were the means of saving many lives which otherwise would have been sacrificed . The disasters occasioned by this hurricane were very great , owing to its having taken place at night , when the chief of the inhabitants were in bed and asleep . I was told that most of the wood houses were down five minutes after the hurricane burst upon them . About noon there was no more work for us to do , and I was not sorry that it was over . My side was very painful , and the burning heat of the sun made me feel giddy and sick at the stomach . I inquired of a respectable looking old Frenchman which was the General 's house . He directed me to it , and I proceeded there , followed by my men .