midnight
inquired Captain Gordon , intensely interested when he heard that the company were coming to Millersville . `` I told you that Walcott got home at midnight , '' answered the colonel . `` But midnight divides any two days in the month of January , and in every other month in every year . What particular midnight was it ? '' `` Why , the very last one that ever was -- last night . My friend rode half the night in order to give me , as the captain of the Home Guards , this news , as soon as he got to the town , less than half an hour ago . I called on Lieutenant Ripley , and ordered him to muster our company , and get as many volunteers to defend the town as he could .