about nine o'clock
But we remembered that we had the honor of bearing the name of Frenchmen , and must conquer or die . In the midst of such thoughts , day broke . Nothing was stirring yet , and Zébédé said : `` What a chance for us , if the enemy should fear to attack us ! '' The officers spoke of an armistice ; but suddenly about nine o'clock , our couriers came galloping in , crying that the enemy was moving his whole line down upon us , and directly after we heard cannon on our right , along the Elster . We were already under arms , and set out across the fields toward the Partha to return to Schoenfeld . The battle had begun . On the hills overlooking the river , two or three divisions , with batteries in the intervals , and cannon at the flanks , awaited the enemy 's approach ; beyond , over the points of their bayonets , we could see the Prussians , the Swedes , and the Russians , advancing on all sides in deep , never-ending masses .