two in the morning
`` They then withdrew to another hill , five hundred yards farther off but , even at this range , we got at them with our Martinis , and they soon began firing wildly . The infantry advanced several times , but were always driven back as soon as they reached the six-hundred-yards limit . `` It was now becoming dark , and the enemy were working round on our flank . We therefore fell back on the entrenched position and , though the enemy kept up a heavy fire till two in the morning , ammunition was too scanty to allow us to waste a cartridge , and no reply was made . At three we set to work to strengthen the defences , using baskets filled with earth and sacks filled with sand , as well as adding to the abattis . `` In the course of the day the enemy sent in a flag of truce , offering to allow us to retreat . This Grant refused to do , till all prisoners still in the hands of the Manipuris were delivered over to him .