ten o'clock
The officers with their glasses could make them out swarming along a slight ridge of ground in the neighbourhood of the wells ; their flags extended along a front a mile in length , and guns could be made out in position . As the column advanced the enemy cleared off from the rising ground , but whether they had retired behind the ridge , and were there waiting in readiness to pour out to the attack , or whether they were moving round to fall upon the flank of the column , was uncertain . As the column neared the position it could be seen that a breastwork had been thrown up , and that the position of the guns had been well chosen , and the enemy could now be made out crowded among the bushes on the ridge . It was now ten o'clock , the column was advancing briskly to the martial music of the pipes of the Royal Highlanders , the cavalry scouts had moved away from the front , and the square was within five hundred yards of the ridge . They were not , however , advancing directly against it , but were moving in a line almost parallel to its face , as General Graham had determined to pass it and then attack in flank , as it was evident that there would be serious loss in a front attack upon a position so strongly held and fortified . It was a trying moment , for all expected that the silence , so far preserved by the enemy , would be broken by the roar of cannon and the discharge of musketry , and that it would be followed by the tremendous rush that had proved fatal to Baker 's force . But the square kept its way for some distance across the face before the enemy opened fire .