Chapter 9 Summary

Bush takes his forces—about one hundred seamen and eighty marines—ashore on a deserted beach shielded from view of the peninsular fortress. They are divided into three groups, the main body of seamen commanded by Bush and a smaller forward contingent commanded by Hornblower, and the final body composed of the marine file led by Whiting. To ensure silence, Bush forbids the men to load their muskets—the attack will be carried out with the bayonet. Hornblower scouts ahead and sends Wellard back as messenger; Bush's group travels as a larger body. A marine sprains his ankle, a seaman is discovered to be drunk, but overall the advance happens as planned. The overland trek is difficult in the dark and is described well—in short, it succeeds and the force is drawn up near the fortress at the...