Summary for Chapter 4 Summary

Father Sarsfield and Captain Donaju come to speak to Sharpe about a morale problem. It seems newspapers from America are circulating news of atrocities done to the Irish by the British. Since the Real Compañía Irlandesa is composed of Irish, the men are feeling uneasy and angry towards the British. Sharpe suggests that the accounts are false. He reasons that given the number of Irish recruits who arrive regularly, the fact that none of them have mentioned rape, murder and riots in Ireland means that the American paper has printed a false story. He suggests that Captain Donaju go to the British base and interview some recent Irish arrivals to verify the story. Father Sarsfield volunteers to go also. Harper is happy to believe the newspaper accounts are false but he isn't entirely convinced. Sharpe tells him they...