eight o’clock
`` I was a drummer at Auerstadt , a corporal at Austerlitz , a sergeant at Waterloo , '' rolled back the reply , in a high , quavering voice , as memories of great events blew in upon the ancient fires of his spirit . `` Ah ! '' answered Valmond , nodding eagerly ; `` with Davoust at Auerstadt -- thirty against sixty thousand men . At eight o'clock , all fog and mist , as you marched up the defile towards the Sonnenberg hills , the brave Gudin and his division feeling their way to Blucher . Comrade , how still you stepped , your bayonet thrust out before you , clearing the mists , your eyes straining , your teeth set , ready to thrust . All at once a quick-moving mass sprang out of the haze , and upon you , with hardly a sound of warning ; and an army of hussars launched themselves at your bayonets ! You bent that wall back like a piece of steel , and broke it .