Intrepid men had assaulted the rampart, and even leaped upon and over it, only to meet their death upon the other side.
Once a white flag had been seen waving over the rampart, and for a moment hope had sprung up that the enemy was about to surrender.

The firing for that brief space had been suspended, the English raising their muskets over their heads and crying "Quarter!"-- meaning that they would show mercy to the foe; the French thinking that they were coming to give themselves up as prisoners of war.

The signal had merely been waved by a young captain in defiance to the foe.

He had tied his handkerchief to his musket in his excitement, without any intention to deceive.

But the incident aroused a bitter feeling.