midnight
`` I will try , '' he answered . Amid a storm of grape , canister and leaden balls , the battery was taken and victory won . Several unsuccessful efforts were made by the foe to regain this elevation . The combat , which had begun before dark , raged until midnight . By this time , both Generals Brown and Scott were wounded and forced to retire from the field . The command now devolved on General Ripley . The enemy being repulsed , Ripley concluded to retire to camp , whence , after refreshing his men , he was directed to march by daylight and engage the foe ; but , finding the enemy 's force had been much increased during the night , Ripley thought it advisable to retreat , and accordingly retired to Fort Erie , destroying the bridges as he went .