Chapter 18 and Epilogue Summary

The storm continues to pound the region with heavy rain, making most black powder weapons unreliable—this rather favors the British because it stills the howitzers and field guns, and the British have little powder anyway. Calvet prepares a massive assault as Killick's Thuella takes up station and begins a preliminary bombardment—by design, the canister shot is aimed high. After just a few shots Sharpe orders the British flag cut down as a symbol of surrender. Ducos and Calvet are caught off guard and wonder what is happening—they figure it out when the fortress unfurls a huge American flag. Sharpe has surrendered to Killick. Killick's longboats quickly take off Sharpe's wounded and soldiers. The remaining rifles and Marines fight a delaying retreat to Killick's longboats as an outraged Ducos presses the attack—technically...