Dear Mr. Cornwell, Firstly I would like to say that we have met before in person. It was some years ago when you were releasing your then newest Sharpe novel, Sharpe’s Fury in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I was one of the 78th Highlander re-enactors present at your book signing. Secondly, I’d like to say that I loved your latest book, The Fort, not for the fact that the British Regiment primarily involved is (well I’d like to think is) my Namesake, the 82nd Duke of Hamilton’s Regiment, but the question which I would like to put to you is this: at the end of the battle, you mention the Rebel Sloop Nancy as taken by the British Fleet. Now could you verify this for me that this is the same HMS Nancy which beached itself up the river near Wasaga Beach, Ontario during the War of 1812? I would be extremely grateful. Yours sincerely, Alistair J. Hamilton