The Fall of Nassau was a decisive engagement during the Pirate-Maroon War, during which the various pirate factions, along with the citizens of Nassau, banded together to overthrow the tyrannical Captain Berringer, who was ruling Nassau in the absence of Governor Woodes Rogers.
History[]
Background[]
The pirate-Maroon alliance's Invasion of Nassau had been summarily defeated, and then devolved into infighting at the Battle of the Underhill Estate. During that battle, Flint and Madi attempted to lead their men away to instead try and assault Nassau as a signal to the slaves to rebel, and to prevent reprisals against them. Billy Bones wanted to stay and try and free the estates one by one. As the two factions clashed, the New Providence Island Militia arrived, and Flint and Madi fled with their men while Billy and his stood their ground.
With less than 20 men left at their disposal, Madi volunteered to go into Nassau Town to gather information from her old contact, Eme. There, she learned that Long John Silver was still alive, and a posse was departing for The Wrecks to capture him. Madi was able to relay this to Flint, who then rescued Silver at the Skirmish in the Wrecks (II). They then left a Black Spot for Captain Berringer, and Eme and Madi returned to town to spread word of Silver's incoming arrival.
Meanwhile, Berringer ruled Nassau with an iron fist in Rogers' absence, and the populace lived in fear of him. Eleanor tried to persuade him to cancel the spectacle around the hangings of the prisoners captured during the invasion. After he arrested Max on charges of treason, Eleanor brought him a map of the routes used by the Pirate Resistance provided by Max to prove her loyalty, and urged him to conduct a quick and quiet ambush. Eleanor feared that the citizen's fear would turn into uncontrollable anger. Berringer refused, and instead conducted the hangings in the square. Eleanor, realizing what was about to happen, ordered Lieutenant Utley to gather as many men and supplies as he could in the fort, and arrange for everyone on a list Eleanor provided to be transported there, chief among them Max.
The Battle[]
Battle in the Square[]
Flint and Silver lead their small number of men through the streets of Nassau, which they find deserted. They make their way to the square, where they face Berringer and a full company of Redcoats. As they nervously eye their foes, Madi and Eme arrive with a large number of Nassau's citizens, now equaling if not outnumbering the British forces. The two sides exchange fire and the pirates charge at the Redcoats. The soldiers try to affix their bayonets to their muskets but give up and instead meet the pirates with swords. Steadily, the melee begins to shift in the pirates' favor, and Berringer orders A Company to fall back and rally to him, and for B Company, which is armed with muskets on the rooftops, to emerge.
As B Company prepares to fire, they suddenly come under fire from the arriving members of the Pirate Resistance, led by Billy Bones. Completely overwhelmed, the Redcoat line begins to fall apart. Israel Hands, spotting Berringer, cuts his way towards him, killing Lieutenant Werth in the process. The two engage in a duel, with Berringer able to disarm Hands of his sword. However, Hands uses the pick end of his war hammer and catches him in the shoulder, bringing him to his knees. Hands holds a knife to his throat and locks eyes with Silver, who gives him the signal and Hands then cuts Berringer's throat.
Rioting in Nassau[]
With all significant resistance removed, the pirates flock throughout Nassau, brutally killing any soldiers or sympathizers of Rogers that they find. Eleanor Rogers attempts to escape in a wagon with a number of citizens guarded by an escort of Redcoats led by Lieutenant Burrell. However, they are attacked and all of the soldiers are killed. One pirate is able to climb on to the wagon and slashes Eleanor's arm, but she grabs the driver's pistol and shoots him. She is able to safely make to the fort.
As the rioting continues, many Redcoats are tied up and executed. Judge Adams is beheaded, his killer wandering the streets carrying his head and wearing his wig. Silver, Flint and their men move into the Governor's Mansion to try and establish a base of operations, while Billy leads his is pacifying the beach, putting down a raid by the Boyd Brothers on one of the Governor's munition storehouses. They also capture Max, killing the two soldiers sent to escort her to the fort.
Aftermath[]
Silver and Flint have difficulty getting control of the chaos that engulfs the city. They order their former captains to organize their men into crews to give the pirates a semblance of structure. Silver then orders that the word be spread that Billy Bones needs to come to meet with them, or he will tell them that Billy crossed them. Billy arrives, and reveals that he has captured Max. Despite his objections, Silver agrees with Flint and hands her over in exchange for 20 men captured during the invasion.
In the interior, the slaves of the Edwards Estate are punished for the fall of the Underhill Estate, as Madi and Flint predicted. However, when they learn of Nassau's fall, they launch a rebellion that spreads to all the other estates. Under the leadership of Julius, they form a large and powerful army with designs on taking Nassau, but they are just as angry at the pirates as they are the British.
Eleanor eventually decides that she is tired of the violence that endlessly engulfs Nassau, not wanting her and Woodes' unborn child to be raised in such a place. She makes a deal with Flint and Silver to exchange the cache of gems for the surrender and departure of all Rogers' remaining forces and allies. Flint accepts, and turns himself over as collateral. Billy urges Silver to refuse the deal, and his efforts to supplant Flint as Silver's right hand lead to the Confrontation outside Fort Nassau. Governor Rogers refuses the deal, and convinces the Spanish in Havana to sack Nassau.