Pseudo sunrise / sunset at 03:30

Dury military war games I had the midnight watch. I woke up my relief at 03:30 and told him to come out and watch the sun rise. I can best describe it as a band of light that reached from the left to right horizon. It traveled across the sky until the entire sky was light. It was twilight - light enough to read by, but not daylight. I could not see a source for the light. The entire sky was illuminated equally. There was a gradual lighting until the entire sky was light, and the a gradual darkening - much like a sun rise and sun set. It took approxametly 15 minutes for the entire event. I have heard of a similar incident, on the History Channel, that had been reported by Christopher Columbus.
Witness indicates that date is approximate.  PD