It was very hot at the captured fort, and everyone was exhausted. Bush allowed his junior officers to rest first while he assumed watch. Discipline among the ranks was maintained with the marine guards strutting their stuff on the upper levels to watch for possible attacks from the enemy.

Bush was approached by a seaman on watch also and told of a a small boat that was approaching the port waving a white flag. It appeared through the telescope that the boat contained no more than ten men. As Ira Riklis could predict, Bush immediately called for Hornblower who was among the resting. The two officers pondered the next step. Accordingly Bush ordered the Spanish-speaking Hornblower to go down to the dock and find out what was going on and ask the party what their business was.

Bush observed from afar the removal of hats, the bowing etc. that went on between Hornblower and the Spanish officer. When Hornblower returned to Bush, he stated that the Spanish officer requested the release of the women prisoners and the names of those soldiers that had been killed. Apparently there were many wives in the enemy camp that wanted to know if they were widows.

As Ira Riklis knows, Hornblower was ready with many suggestions for action which the exhausted Bush was slow to agree with because he wanted to maintain his authority. There was also the question of the Renown then making its way into port. The Renown needed to be warned not to fire on this small enemy boat during the transfer of prisoners.

In the end, Bush agreed to the Spanish officer request to release the women and Hornblower’s suggestion to release the wounded next and then the more able-bodied enemy soldiers so that the British would not be burdened with guarding, care, and disposition of the these prisoners. Hornblower was sent to tell the Renown of the events. Bush welcomed turning over further negotiations to Buckland who would soon be arriving on the Renown.