Richard Sharpe and his "Chosen Men"

A Timeline for Richard Sharpe's Life

Compiled and annotated with matters Napoleonic, by Brian Timmins

Page Two of Three

Page 1	: 1769 to 1809
Page 2	: 1809 to 1813
Page 3	: 1814 to 1860

1810

20 February: Battle of Vich. France led by Souham versus Spain led by O'Donnell. French victory.
19-20 March: Skirmish (night attack) at Barba del Puerco. France led by Ferey versus Britain led by Beckwith. British victory.
21 March - 21 April: Siege of Astorga. France led by Junot versus Spain led by Santocildes. French victory.
25 March: Battle of El Ronquillo. France led by Gazan versus Spain led by Ballesteros. French victory.
13 April - 13 May: Siege of Lerida. France led by Suchet versus Spain led by Conde. French victory.
15 April: Battle of Zalamena. France led by Mortier versus Spain led by Ballesteros. French victory.
20 April: Skirmish at Margalef. France led by Harispe versus Spain led by O'Donnell. French victory.
16-24 May: Siege of Mequinenza. France led by Suchet versus Spain led by Carbon. French victory.
26 May: Battle of Arecena. France led by Mortier versus Spain led by Ballesteros. French victory.
20 May - 10 July: Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo. France led by Ney>Masséna versus Spain led by Herrasi. French victory.
10 July: Skirmish at Barquilla. France fights Britain led by Craufurd. French victory. French army under Masséna takes Ciudad Rodrigo. Craufurd blows up Fort Conception on the frontier and withdraws to a position in front of the River Coa where his light division is defeated by Ney with a full Corp.
24 July: Skirmish at the Coa River. France led by Ney versus Britain led by Craufurd. French victory.
28 July: Almeida surrenders to the British and Portuguese.
11 August: Skirmish at Villagarcia. France led by Girard versus Spain led by La Romana. French victory.
16-27 August: Siege of Almeida. France led by Ney versus Portugal led by Cox. French victory.
26 August: Fortress town of Almeida laid waste following an explosion in the fortress's powder magazine.

Sharpe's Gold:

Sharpe is sent on a secret mission behind French lines to locate gold that is badly needed to ensure the British can continue the fight against the French into the new year. At this time they hold a minor foothold in Portugal and are facing a major invasion in the new year. Major Michael Hogan orders Sharpe to find out what happened to Claude Hardy, one of his exploring officers, who was sent to locate the gold thought to be in the fictional hamlet of Castejeda. Sharpe sets off with the men of his small company as his sole military support and links up with Major Kearsey, another of Hogan's exploring officers. It becomes clear to Sharpe that Kearsey believes that the gold belongs to the Spanish and should only be returned to them, and that that is the purpose of the mission they are on. However Sharpe has secret orders that the gold must be taken to British lines and begins to doubt Kearsey is aware of them. After many devious adventures, during which Sharpe and Teresa consummate their relationship and fall in love. Teresa returns to the partisans, taking the name La Aguja(the Needle). Chosen man Isiah, Tongue, dies in this episode (It is also the last time we hear about Cooper). It transpires that the gold was needed to develop the enormous defensive lines at Torres Vedras which held up the Franch invasion of Marshal André Masséna. Sharpe takes the opportunity of some leave to renew his acquanitance with Josefina, his love interest from Sharpe's Eagle, prompting the reader to speculate on the degree of attraction between himself and Teresa.

Ayres	El Casco	Ellie	Munroe	Provost Marshal

Film Discrepancies:
This film is basically flawed and bears no relationship whatsoever to the "real" book concerning our hero. It concerns gold owned by a group of Portuguese who follow an obscure Central American religion which lays emphasis on human sacrifice. The script writers must have been suffering some debilitating syndrome - in your author's opinion it's not worth the effort of taking it out of its case to watch - but you may think differently!

14 September: Battle of la Bispal. France led by Schwartz versus Spain led by O'Donnell. Spanish victory.
27 September: Battle of Bussaco (Buçaco). France led by Masséna versus Britain/Portugal led by Wellington. British/Portuguese victory. (Wellington able to repell assaults of Ney's and Reynier's corps. But was forced nevertheless to withdraw).
27 September: Wellington defeats Massena at Busaco. Sir Arthur, now Viscount Wellington, promoted after Talavera, posts his Anglo-Portuguese troops on a high ridge and bars the French advance. Marshal Massena foolishly attacks them without proper preparations, and is hurled back with heavy losses. Wellington continues his retreat after giving the French this bloody nose, and Massena thinks he will capture Lisbon.but Wellington's vast secret Lines of Torres Vedras are an unbreakable barrier.

Sharpe's Escape:
This episode begins on the great, gaunt ridge of Bussaco where a joint British and Portuguese army meets the overwhelming strength of Marshall Massena's crack troops. It is late summer and the French mount their third and most threatening invasion of Portugal. While the British and their Portuguese allies see off the French assault on the gaunt ridge of Bussaco where, Sharpe becomes embroiled in a private feud with the criminal Ferragus, whom he pursues towards the massive defensive works which Wellington has ordered built at Torres Vedras. Sharpe is in trouble. His job as Captain of the Light Company is under threat and he has to deal with this new enemy. This mini-war is fought through the burning, pillaged streets of Coimbra, Portugal's ancient university city. Sharpe's enemies are numerous but on his side he has Serjeant Patrick Harper, the Portuguese officer Jorge Vincent and a prickly English governess, whose first aim is to clean up Sharpe's language. The story finishes at Torres Vedras where the French hopes of occupying Portugal quickly die.

No Film

10 October: Wellington occupies lines of Tores Vedras.
13 October: Siege of Fuengirola. France led by Sebastiani versus Britain led by Blayney. French victory. (The British besieging the French).
14-17 October: Massena discovers the Lines of Tores Vedras and halts. He withdraws to Santarem.
3 November: Battle of Baza. France led by Milhaud versus Spain led by Blake. French victory.
16 December 1810 - 2 January 1811: Siege of Tortosa. France led by Suchet versus Spain led by Lilli.
11 November 1810 - 23 January 1811: First Siege of Olivenza. France led by Soult versus Spain led by Herck. French victory.

1811

15 January: Skirmish at Pla (Valls). France led by Orsatelli Eugenio versus Spain led by Sarsfield. Spanish victory.
24 January (or 21): Battle of Villanueva de los Castillejos. France led by Gazan versus Spain led by Ballasteros. French victory.
26 January - 10 March: First Siege of Badajoz. France led by Soult versus Spain led by Imaz. Spanish victory.
19 February: Battle of Gebora. France led by Mortier, possibly Soult versus Spain led by Medizabal. French victory.
3 March: Messena retreats from Santarem.
5 March: Battle of Barrosa. British under Sir Thomas Graham, French under Marshal Victor. Attempt by British to relieve Cadiz. Historically, this is where Patrick Masterman of the 87th Reg first captured a French eagle.
11 March: Assault on Pombal - Craufurd defeats Ney.
12 March: Assault on Redinha - Craufurd defeats Ney.

Sharpe's Fury:
In the winter of 1811, the war seems lost. All Spain has fallen to the French, except for Cadiz which is now the Spanish capital and is under siege. Wellington and his British army are in Portugal, waiting for spring to spark the war to life again. During his blockade of the southern port of Cadiz, Marshal Victor heard of a combined British and Spanish force moving to attack him in the rear. While they outnumbered Victor's troops by three-to-one, the Anglo-Spanish force only had just over 5000 British troops, historically under the command of Sir Thomas Graham. The Spanish were led by the Count de la Pena and cooperation between the two allies was poor to say the least. Richard Sharpe and his company are part of a small expeditionary force sent to break a bridge across the River Guadiana. What begins as a brilliant piece of soldiering turns into disaster, thanks to the brutal savagery of the French Colonel Vandal, who is leading his battalion to join the siege of Cadiz. Sharpe extricates a handful of men from the debacle and is driven south into the threatened city. There, in Cadiz, he discovers more than one enemy. Many Spaniards doubt Britain's motives and believe their future would be brighter if they made peace with the French, and one of them, a baleful priest, secures a powerful weapon to break the British alliance. He will use a beautiful whore and the letters she received from a wealthy man. The priest will use blackmail, and Sharpe must defeat him in a sinister war of knife and treachery in the dark alleys of the city. Yet the alliance will only survive if the French siege can be lifted. An allied army marches from the city to take on the more powerful French and, once again, a brilliant piece of soldiering turns to disaster, this time because the Spanish refuse to fight. A small British force is trapped by a French army, and the only hope now lies with the outnumbered redcoats who, on a hill beside the sea, refuse to admit defeat. And there, in the sweltering horror of Barossa, Sharpe finds Colonel Vandal again. Casualties were high on both sides with the British losing some 1200 men, while Victor suffered more than 2000.

No Film

10 March: Soult takes Badajoz.
11 March: Skirmish at Pombal. France led by Ney versus Britain. British victory.
12 March: Skirmish at Redinha. France led by Ney versus Britain led by Wellington. British victory.
14 March: Skirmish at Casal Novo. France led by Marchand versus Britain led by Erskine. British victory.
14-21 March: Siege of Campo Mayor. France led by Mortier versus Portugal led by Talaya. French victory.
15 March: Skirmish at Foz de Arouce. France led by Ney versus Britain led by Erskine. British victory.
15-16 March:Siege of Albuquerque France led by Latour-Maubourg versus Spain led by Cagigal. French victory.
19 March: Battle of Monjuch. France led by Mathieu versus Spain led by Campoverde. French.
25 March: Skirmish at Campo Mayor. France led by Latour-Maubourg versus Britain led by Long. British victory.
29 March: Guarda. France led by Loison versus Britain led by Wellington. British victory.
3 April: Battle of Sabugal. France led by Reynier versus Britian/Portugal led by Wellington. British/Portuguese victory.
9-14 April: Second Siege of Olivenza. France fights Britian (Beresford. British victory.
10-19 April: Siege of Figueras. France led by MacDonald) vs Spain led by Martinez. French.
12 April - 10 May: Blockade of Almeida. France led by Brennier versus Britain led by Campbell) French escaped.
22 April - 12 May: Second Siege of Badajoz. France led by Phillipon versus Britain led by Beresford. The French are the besieged. French victory.

1811

3-5 May: Sharpe returns to the Peninsula from a visit to England where he has met Jane for the first time.

Wellington defeats Massena at Fuentes de Onoro (D'Onoro). A hard three day fight as the French try to relieve Almeida from Wellington's seige. Heavily outnumbered in the street fighting and manouevre on the hot dry plains, Wellington's army wins through but he later states." if Boney had been there I would have been beat ". The French blow up Almeida and leave. Marshall Massena led. "The Allies refused to allow the enemy cavalry to pin them down to a position on which infantry and artillery could converge. This was Crawford's finest hour; he handled his command with superb skill. He kept his line battalions in mobile squares, but used his riflemen in small groups of one or two companies as skirmishers."

Sharpe's Battle:

The epsode begins with Sharpe and his company on patrol near the Spanish Portuguese border where they encounter a group of soldiers in grey uniforms raping a young girl in a small village. The soldiers are French but wear grey uniforms and are part of the Loup brigade (French for wolf), commanded by Brigadier Guy Loup. Sharpe is appalled by the rape and that all the other villagers are dead and most have been raped, including children. He orders the French prisoners to be shot. Loup arrives and pleads for their lives, but to no avail and Sharpe makes a bitter enemy. Back at headquarters, Sharpe is informed by Major Hogan that the Real Compania Irlandesa, the royal bodyguard of the captive King of Spain are being allowed through the French lines to enlist with the native Spanish armies. As the British wish for Wellesley to be made Generalissimo of the Spanish Armies, it is imperative that they be allowed enlist as a test case. However, suspicions are raised that French agents are rife within the regiment. Sharpe's direct commander is the Wagonmaster-General Colonel Claude Runciman, a monstrously fat man, who is increasingly genial when referred to as General. In the interim, American newspapers carry stories of massacres of Irish peasants who are apparently rebelling against British rule. These reports cause concern among the Irish soldiers, but doubts grow as new recruits from Ireland in other regiments know nothing of these events. Many diverse events take place. including, sadly, the death of Perkins. Wellington's new Spanish liaison, Alava, becomes one of his greatest friends and is present at Waterloo. With Portugal safe from French attacks, the British liberation of Spain can continue.

Juanita	Keily	Lady Keily	Loup	Runciman

Film Discrepancies:None worth getting het up about - a pretty fair representation of the book.

3 May: Battle of Figueras. France led by Baraguay d'Hilliers versus Spain led by Campoverde. French victory.
5 May: Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro. France led by Masséna versus Britain/Portugal led by Wellington. British/Portuguese victory.
6 May: Beresford starts first siege at Badajoz.
11 May: Brennier abandons Alneida to Wellington.
16 May: Battle of Albuera. France led by Soult versus Britain/Portugal/Spain led by Beresford. British/Portuguese/Spanish victory.
17 May - 16 June: Second siege of Badajoz.
19 May - 10 June: Third Siege of Badajoz. France led by Phillipon versus Britain led by Wellington. French victory.
25 May: Skirmish at Usagre. France led by Latour-Maubourg versus Britain led by Lumley. British victory.
5-7 June: Operations around Almeida. France led by Marmont versus Spain led by Spencer. French victory.
22 June: Cavalry combats near Elvas. France led by Latour-Maubourg versus Britain led by Long/Von Alten. French victory.
23 June: Battle of Benavides. France led by Valletaux versus Spain led by Santoclides. Spanish. Death of General Valletaux.
23-25 June: Wellington offers battle on the Caia.
2 July: First Battle on the River Orbigo. France led by Serras/Bonnet versus Spain led by Santoclides. Spanish victory.
18 July: Second Battle on the River Orbigo. France led by Serras/Bonnet versus Spain led by Santoclides. French victory.
25 July: Battle of Monserrat. France led by Suchet versus Spain. French victory.
15 September - 25 October: Siege of Saguntum. France led by Suchet versus Spain led by Blake. French victory.
25 September: Skirmish at Carpio de Azaba. France led by Watier versus Britain led by Graham) British victory.
25 September: Skirmish at El Bodon. France led by Montbrun versus Spain led by Picton. French victory.
27 September: Skirmish at Aldea da Ponte. France led by Thiebault/Souham versus Britain led by Wellington. No conclusive result.
28-30 September: Wellington offers battle near the upper Coa.
25 October: Battle of Saguntum. France led by Suchet. Spain led by Blake. French victory.
28 October: Battle of Arroyo dos Molinos. France led by Girard versus Britain/Portugal led by Hill. British/Portuguese victory.
29 October - 2 February 1812: Spanish Raid into France (Valleys of Cerdagne. France fights Spain led by Eroles. Spanish victory.
November/December: Sharpe's daughter Antonia is born.
5 November: First Skirmish at Bornos. France led by Semele versus Spain led by Ballasteros. Spanish victory.
8 December - 4 January 1812: Siege of Tarifa. France led by Victor versus Britain led by Skerrett. British.
24 December: Battle of Murviedro. France fights Spain led by Hill. French victory.
25 December 1811 - 8 January 1812: Siege of Valencia. France led by Suchet versus Spain led by Blake. French victory.
29 December: Skirmish at Membrillo. France led by Neveux versus Britain led by Hill. French.

1812

January: Napoleon strips Spain of his best troops for Russia leaving under 200,000 troops. Guerillas, intelligence are stronger.
8 January: Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, held by Suchet for the French, by Wellington.
9 January: Battle of Valencia, Suchet defeats Blake.
19 January: Wellington captures Cuidad Rodrigo. Wellington takes advantage of French disorganization and strikes at one of the main frontier fortresses. He attacks after a short bombardment and the fortress is taken, with light losses. Lawford loses an arm and is sent home. Sharpe demoted to Lieutenant.
20 January - 2 February: Siege of Peniscola. France led by Severolli versus Spain led by Navarro. French victory.
24 January: Skirmish at Altafulla. France led by Mathieu versus Spain led by Eroles. French victory.
1 February: Action of Los Poblaciones. France led by Conroux versus Spain led by Ballasteros. French victory.
16 March: Wellington moves his army south and begins the seige of Badajoz in the spring rains. Throughout the rest of March and until April 5th the British guns blasted away at to breach the Santa Maria and Trinidad bastions. Wellington attempt to blow the San Roque dam fails. Lieutenant J Grant of the Rifle Corps killed in action.
18 March: The Spanish Cortes Generales (General Courts), which had taken refuge in Cádiz during the Peninsular War, sign the Spanish Constitution of 1812.
6 April: Storming of Badajoz. The conclusion of the fourth Siege of Badajoz. The siege was one of the bloodiest in the Napoleonic Wars. The gun batteries reported that an attack was practicable at sunset on the 5th but even as he inspected them through his telescope Wellington was informed that approaching French armies were just a few days away. After this month of foul weather, he commits his tired and cold soldiers to storming the formidable walls of the fort before the bombardment is complete, having heard that French forces are approaching from the south. In a night of hell, fire, bullets, shells and destruction, British troops finally break into the city and wreak havoc; 5000 of his finest soldiers lay dead in the ditches, but Wellington now has the keys to the doors of Spain.

Sharpe's Company:

At Badajoz the British were in a foul mood, they had been given a hard time by the garrison and suspected that the city's Spanish inhabitants were French sympathisers. After the siege of Cuidad Rodrigo, Wellington plans to lay siege to Badajoz. Meanwhile, Teresa tells Sharpe he is now a father and their daughter, Antonia, is in Badajoz. A new draft arrives from England with Col. Windham and Capt. Rymer. In charge of the men is Serjeant Hakeswill, that malicious figure from Sharpe's past. Hakeswill becomes obsessed with Teresa and plans to use her to get back at Sharpe. Windham tells Sharpe that he is no longer needed as a captain, but he chooses to stay on as lieutenant and is made Quartermaster. In a bid for promotion he requests permission to lead the Forlorn Hope at the storming of Badajoz. He is refused but given the task of guiding Captain Rymer and the Forlorn Hope to the breach. They are repulsed leaving many, including Rymer, dead. Contrary to his orders, Sharpe leads his Chosen Men to the breach and successfully enters Badajoz. Sharpe searches frantically for Teresa, but Hakeswill gets there first intending to rape her. After a fight, Hakeswill is injured and flees. Everything turns out right for Sharpe. He meets his daughter for the first time and together with his captaincy, regains command of the Light Company.

Fletcher	Nairn	Price	Teresa

Film Discrepancies:

11 April: Skirmish at Villagarcia. France led by Drouet versus Britain led by Stapleton-Cotton. British victory.
14 April: Rout of Guarda. France led by Marmont versus Portugal led by Trant/Wilson. French victory.
18 May: Battle of the Bridge of Almaraz. France led by Aubert versus Britain led by Hill. British victory.
11 May: Spencer Perceval, the British prime minister, is assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons. The assassin, John Bellingham, is a businessman whose concerns have been ruined by the war with France. He kills Perceval with a single shot from a pistol. Perceval being the only British Prime Minister ever to be assassinated.
1 June: Second Skirmish at Bornos. France led by Conroux or Soult? versus Spain led by Ballasteros. French
11 June: Skirmish at Maguilla. France led by Lallemand versus Britain led by Slade. French victory.
13 June: Wellington crosses the Agueda and begins the march on Salamanca. His army of about 48,000 men (28,00 British, 17,000 Portuguese and 3,000 Spanish) marched in three parallel columns covering a front of some ten miles. The Left was commanded by Picton, the Centre by Beresford and the Right by Graham. There were 3,500 cavalry but Wellington was short of artillery, his train consisted of only 8 British and 1 Portuguese battery (some 54 guns). The army started the campaign almost bankrupt. The troops' pay was 5 months in arrears, and the muleteers had not been paid since June 1811. Despite this they began on a high note; this was the first offensive into the heart of Spain since 1809, and intelligence led Wellington to believe his chances of victory had never been better.
14 June: Wellington advances to the Huebra and camps at Cabrillas.
15 June: A long march took the main army to Matilla and Cayos.
15 June - 18 August: Siege of Astorga. France defends against Spain led by Santoclides. Spanish victory.
16 June: Advanced cavalry of Beresford's column finally sight two squadrons of enemy chasseurs about six miles from Salamanca. The outposts offered no resistance and withdrew across the Tormes. The army camps in sight of the city that night, and learns that Marmont has evacuated his forces, leaving only three new forts garrisoned. Wellington does not pursue Marmont, but wanting to fight from his favourite defensive position tries to compel the French to attack him at Salamanca. Salamanca was, and is, an important University City, and is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world. The huge colonnaded Plaza Mayor - just as described in "Sharpe's Sword". The small garrison left by Marmont occupied three new forts built on high ground at the south west corner of the city overlooking the Tormes and commanding the approach to the city over the Roman bridge.
17 June: Because the French command the approach over the Roman bridge, Wellington's forces split, Picton crossing the Tormes at the fords of El Canto below the city, and the other columns at Santa Marta above it. Part of Wellington's sixth Division and the 14th Light Dragoons enter Salamanca to the adulation of the Spanish inhabitants; while the rest of the army proceeded three miles to the heights of San Cristobal north-east of the city.
18 June: Back in the city the three forts turned out to be far stronger than Wellington had been led to expect. The insufficiency of the artillery brought with the army from Cuidad Rodrigo now became all too obvious, though six 24 howitzers were due up from Elvas by the 20th. 400 workmen from the Sixth Division begin work on a battery the same night, but progress is severely hampered by French fire from the forts, despite the efforts of 300 marksmen from the King's German Legion providing covering fire so that the siegework could go ahead.
19 June: The United States declares war on Britain because of the harassment of its shipping as the British try to enforce an embargo on trade with Napoleonic Europe. It is only 30 years since the American War of Independence, and hostility between Britain and its former colony still remains. The war (later called 'the War of 1812' by the Americans) is inconclusive, despite the British seizing Washington DC and burning the White House in August 1814. Britain's domination at sea remains unchanged. In general, the British have been affected far less by Napoleon's Continental System than has Napoleon by the British trade embargo.
20 June: Marmont's forces had gathered the day before, and he now had 3 columns of about 18,000 foot and 2,000 horse according to British estimations, with more following behind. By 4pm he was so close - only 800 yards at one point - that Wellington's troops assumed battle position. There is some long range fire, but no other action. Overnight a French regiment advances to attack Morisco which had been occupied by the 68th regiment as an advanced post. The British beat off three attacks, and then were withdrawn to the main lines. Wellington was glad to see the French pressing forward, and showed his divisional generals the battle plan for the following morning. In the city, the howitzers from Elvas arrive to bolster the guns firing at the French forts, but the immense improvement in firepower was short lived, because by the following morning there was hardly any shot left to fire. More had been requested from Almeida, but was not expected to arrive at Salamanca until the 26th.
21 June: There was no French attack: two divisions of Marmont's army had not yet been brought forward and it was obvious to the French that they were outnumbered. It was such an opportunity for Wellington to attack that his staff discussed with curiosity the reason he did not take advantage of it. Siege of Lequeito. France led by Gillord versus Britain led by Popham. British victory.
22 June: The Light company engages enemy Voltigeurs, but the French flee and the fight comes to nothing. Wellington still hoped to provoke Marmont into an attack; but the French do not bite. The Seventh division and skirmishers of the KGL advanced down towards Morisco; and soon after the 51st and the 68th were ordered to storm a knoll above Morisco, the most advanced point of the enemy line, in the hope that the French would draw up reinforcements. As it was, the British battalions took the knoll in one push, and the French pulled back 200 yards to the village.
23 June: Marmont's army marches away from the city during the night. Wellington sends Hulse's brigade of the Sixth division back to Salamanca together with orders to press the siege of the forts. The storming column had to press forward under withering enemy fire from the forts, and many men never even reached their objective.
24-27 June: The replacement powder and shot did not arrive until the morning of the 26th and the barrage commenced in earnest at 3pm on that day.
27 June: The gunners had been firing red hot shot into the forts, setting fire to the tower and roof of the San Vincente and causing considerable damage. After four hours pounding in the morning, there was a practicable breach in the gorge of the San Cayetano and a huge fire raging in the San Vincente. Wellington ordered a second storming of the San Cayetano. A few shots were fired, but most of the garrison threw down their weapons and offered no resistance. Shortly afterwards, the San Vincente garrison, who were too occupied with firefighting to offer resistance, asked for terms. The two remaining forts were taken without a fight. In all, almost 600 prisoners were taken. Marmont learns that the forts have been taken and since there was now no reason for taking risks, retires north-east towards the Douro where he could expect to receive reinforcement's.

Sharpe's Sword:

The book covers the summer campaign of 1812, and the Battle of Salamanca on July 22nd 1812. Sharpe also has to contend with the Marquesa de Casares el Grande y Melida Sadaba, and a British spymaster. Sharpe and his friend Serjeant Harper find themselves in the secret war of spies, and hunting down the sadistic and highly dangerous Colonel Leroux, sent to Spain by Napoleon in order discover the identity of the ally's chief spy, El Mirador. Deep behind enemy lines, Sharpe comes up against Colonel Leroux, pretending to be a Captain, and the best swordsmen in the entire French army. Sharpe finds a piece of paper in Leroux's posessions filled with cryptic numbers and suspects that the captain is actually the colonel in disguise. However, he is unable to convince his superior, Colonel Barkley nor his fellow officer, Captain Lord Jack Spears. The Frenchman is allowed to give his parole and is not imprisoned. Along the way, Sharpe befriends a beautiful mute (Mortimer) who becomes an invaluable ally. Leroux escape to the relative security of the Forts. In a rage after a disastrous attack, Sharpe argues with a commissary Lieutenant and then stalks off to La Marquesa's ball. Ultimately he meets La Marquesa again and is seduced by her on the rooftop Mirador. Sharpe eventually finds and fights Leroux. Sharpe's sword is broken by Leroux's Kligenthal blade. Interrupted by a British sentry, Leroux is prevented from killing Sharpe and flees, but not before he fires his pistol. Sharpe is hit in the stomach and collapses in agony. After a long recovery, during which Harper gets him a new sword, Sharpe meets Leroux again and kills him.

Berkeley	El Mirador	Leroux	Spears

Film Discrepancies:
A few not insignificant differences like there is only one fort in the film, but none are of sufficient impact to spoil what is otherwise a darned good film. The film concentrates on the Sharpe/Leroux confrontations.

7 July: Siege of Castro. France fights Britain led by Popham. British victory.
18 July: Skirmish at Castrejon. France led by Marmont versus Britain led by Cotton. French victory.
18 July: Skirmish at Castrillo. France led by Clausel versus Britain led by Wellington. British victory.
21 July: Battle of Castalla. France led by Delort versus Spain led by O'Donnell. French victory.
22 July: Battle of Salamanca. France led by Marmont versus Britain/Portugal/Spain led by Wellington. British/Portuguese/Spanish victory. Marmont wounded.
22 July - 2 August: Siege of Santander. France led by Dupreton versus Britain led by Popham. British victory.
22 July: Wellington defeats Marmont at Salamanca. Wellington is deep in Spain, pursuing the French. When more French troops arrive, they move to try and cut him off from his base. In a brilliant attack, Wellington crushes 40,000 French soldiers in 40 minutes and at the end of the day is completely victorious, and captures Madrid.

Sharpe's Skirmish:
Richard and the defence of the Tormes, August 1812 Sharpe, newly recovered from the wound he received in the fighting at Salamanca, is given an easy duty; to guard a Commissary Officer posted to an obscure Spanish fort where there are some captured French muskets to repair. But unknown to the British, the French are planning a raid and Sharpe is in for a fight!

No Film

23 July: Battle of Garcia Hernandez. France led by Foy versus Britain led by Wellington. British victory.
11 August: Skirmish at Majalahonda. France led by Treillard versus Britain led by D'Urban. French victory.
12-13 August: Madrid falls to the duke of Wellington, and the Peninsular War against the French enters a new phase. Until now, the British forces on the Iberian peninsula had been avoiding big set-piece battles with the French, preferring a guerrilla campaign of quick strikes followed by tactical retreats. But now, in allegiance with the Spanish 'peninsulars', who have been fighting against Napoleon's imposition of his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne since 1808, Wellington is pressing the French back to the east and north of Spain. Joseph retakes Madrid in November, but soon, with war in the rest of Europe forcing Napoleon to withdraw many of his best troops, the French will be driven out of Spain altogether. The war has drained Napoleon's resources and will prove to have played an important part in his eventual defeat.
13 August: Capture of Bilbao. France fights Spain led by Mendizabal. Spanish victory.
14 August: Capture of Valladolid. France led by Clausel versus Spain led by Santclides. French victory.
18 August: Wellington becomes Marquess. [I cannot find out which one - Ed.]
27-29 August: Capture of Bilbao. France led by Caffarelli versus Spain led by Mendizabal. French victory.
September: Wellington finally given command of Spanish armies.
19 September: Wellington starts the siege of Burgos and retreats because of lack of siege train. Supplies give out.
22 October: Wellington abandons siege at Burgos. Allied army returns to Ciudad Rodrigo in a costly retreat.
23 October: Skirmish at Venta del Pozo. France led by Faverot versus Britain led by Stapleton-Cotton. French victory.
23-28 October: Skirmish at Villadrigo. France led by Faverot versus Britain led by Stapleton-Cotton. British victory.
28 October: Battle of Tordesillas. France led by Guingret versus Britain. French victory.
30 October: Skirmish at the Puente Larga. France led by Soult versus Britain led by Skerrett. British victory.
25 October: Skirmish at Villa Muriel. France led by Maucune versus Britain led by Oswald. French victory.
10-11 November: Skirmish at Alba de Tormes. France led by Soult versus Britain led by Howard. British victory.
17 November: Skirmish at San Muñoz. France led by Soult versus Britain led by Wellington. No conclusive result.
19 November: Wellington returns to Portugal.

Sharpe's Enemy:

This is one of the few books where there is little or no historical background for the plot. There is one tiny piece of factual evidence. By 1812 a lot deserters from the British, French, Spanish and Portuguese armies had banded together in the border mountains where they were led by a renegade Frenchman nicknamed Pot-au-Feu. They formed a military style group of bandits and their former commanders all agreed on one thing - they had to be crushed. An especially appealing new character is the one-eyed and mutilated rifle captain, "Sweet William". The deserters have captured the "wife" of Colonel Sir Augustus Fotheringdale, another of those rich, aristocratic and enormously bungling idiots that seem to pop up regularly. Sharpe is selected to rescue the lady in question who is being held at an old castle and watchtower on the Northern border of Portugal, known as "the Gateway of God". He is provided by Wellington with two companies of riflemen and a batallion of Welsh Fusileers as reinforcements. Sharpe, now a Major, commands the rescue operation and manages to effect it with only minimal losses. There are many fascinating twists in the plot, in which Sharpe finally deals with his old mortal enemy, Obadiah Hakeswill, fights a battle, commands a batallion, and suffers a tragic loss. Sharpe also comes face to face with a new enemy, the sinister Major Pierre Ducos. With Teresa dead, Richard says goodbye to his daughter and has her taken to her relatives. He never sees her again.

Ducos	Dubreton	Richard & Antonia	Hakeswill	Farthingdale
Marshall Pot-au-Fe	Sarah Dubreton	Richard & Antonia	Sweet William	Lady Farthingdale

Film Discrepancies:
None worth discussing. A very entertaining book and film.

1813

10 January: Execution of Obadiah Hakeswill.
[?]-11 February 1813: Siege of Tafalla. France fights Spain led by Mina. Spanish. The French are the besieged.
10-11 February: Skirmish at Poza. France led by Palombini versus Spain led by Longa. No conclusive result.
20 February: Raid on Bejar. France led by Foy versus Britain led by Col. Harrison. British victory.
31 March: Skirmish at Lerin. France led by Gaudin versus Spain led by Mina. Spanish victory.
11 April: Skirmish at Yecla. France led by Harispe versus Spain led by Mijares. French.
11-12 April: Siege of Villena. France led by Suchet versus Spain. French victory.
12 April: Skirmish at Biar. France led by Suchet versus Britain led by Adam. British victory.
12-13 April: Battle of Castalla. France led by Suchet versus Britain led by Murray. British victory.
29 April - 12 May: Siege of Castro-Urdiales. France led by Foy versus Spain led by Alvarez. French victory.
22 May: Wellington's final offensive in Spain commences.
23 May: British Troops led into Spain by Wellington.

Sharpe's Honour:

Here we have the lead-up to the battle of Vitorio, in which Pierre Ducos, the French super-agent tries to end Sharpe's life, but doesn't succeed. The plot of this book, though, is about the clandestine maneuvering surrounding a French plot to restore the hereditary king of Spain and leave the country, in return for having the king withdraw sanction from English forces and force them to leave the country. An unfinished duel, a midnight murder, and the treachery of a beautiful prostitute (La Puta Dorada - The Golden Whore) lead to the imprisonment of Sharpe. Caught in a web of political intrigue for which his military experience has left him fatally unprepared. Wrongfully acused of murder he becomes a fugitive, hunted by both ally and enemy alike. He sets off in search La Marquesa Dorada in order to clear his name of her husband's murder secretly engineered by Major Ducos. Ducos does succeed in having the Marguesa imprisoned in a convent, and he almost frustrates the Duke of Wellington's ambitious campaign that will end in the astonishing victory at Vitoria where Sharpe and the British capture the greatest treasure "since Alexander's Macedonians plundered the camp of the Persian King". Along the way the Spanish Inquisition and a partisan leader called The Slaughterman (El Matariffe) get involved.

La Puta Dorada	Ramona & Patrick Jnr.	El Matariffe

Film Discrepancies:

2 June: Skirmish at Morales. France led by Digeon versus Britain led by Grant. British victory.
3-15 June: Siege of Tarragona. France led by Bertoletti versus Britain led by Murray. French victory.
13 June: Skirmish at Carcagente. France led by Suchet versus Spain led by Del Parque. French victory.
18 June: Skirmish at Osma. France led by Reille versus Britain led by Graham. British victory.
18 June: Skirmish at San Milan. France led by Maucune versus Britain led by Von Alten. British victory.
21 June: Wellington defeats Joseph Bonaparte at Vitoria. His army has rested all winter in Portugal, and leaps out through the mountains in the spring to catch the French unawares. He catches them at Vitorria, and for the first time outnumbers them. Although posted in strong positions, French morale breaks and a general rout sends them fleeing into the Pyrenees, with the British riflemen and cavalry in hot pursuit.
23 June: Skirmish at La Salud. France led by Decaen versus Spain led by Eroles. Spanish victory.
24 June: First Skirmish at Villafrance. France led by Foy versus Britain led by Graham. No conclusive result.
25 June - 31 October: Blockade of Pamplona. France led by Casson versus Spain led by de España. Spanish victory.
26 June: Skirmish at Tolosa. France led by Foy versus Britain led by Graham. British victory.
[?] July: Skirmish at Maya. France led by Gazan versus Britain led by Wellington. British victory.
11 July: Capture of Saragossa. France led by Paris versus Spain led by Mina. Spanish victory.
7 July - 8 September: Siege of San Sebastian. France led by Rey versus Britain led by Wellington. British. (some say dates 26 August - 8 September).
25 July: Battle of Roncesvalles. France led by Reille versus Britain/Portugal led by Cole. French victory.
25 July: Battle of Maya. France led by D'Erlon versus Britain/Portugal led by Stewart. French victory.
26 July - 31 August: Siege of San Sebastian. France led by Rey versus Britain/Portugal led by Graham. British/Portuguese victory.
26-28 July: First Battle of Sorauren. France led by Soult versus Britain/Portugal led by Wellington. British/Portuguese victory.
30 July - 1 August: Second Battle of Sorauren. France led by Soult versus Britain/Portugal led by Wellington. British/Portuguese victory.
30 July - 15 August: Blockade of Tarragona. France led by Suchet versus Britain led by Bentinck. French victory.
31 July: Skirmish at Venta de Urroz. France led by D'Erlon versus Britain led by Hill. British victory.
31 August: Wellington repulses Soult at San Morica. San Sebastian falls to the Allies. After two French counter-attacks are repulsed in August, Wellington strikes into the last barrier into France, the high Pyrenees mountains.

Sharpe's Regiment:

Major Sharpe should be fighting the French, but his worst enemies are in England. Major Richard Sharpe's men were in mortal danger, not from the French, but from the bureaucrats of Whitehall. Unless reinforcements can be brought from England, the depleted South Essex would be disbanded, their troops scattered throughout the army. Except for top and tail sequences in the Pyrenees all the action takes place in England, so our hero goes home to raise soldiers for his regiment, the South Essex, and once in England he runs into an old enemy - Sir Henry Simmerson, the original Colonel of the South Essex. Sharpe and Harper rejoin the South Essex as recruits to find the missing men and uncover a nest of well-bred, high-ranking government officials engaged in 'crimping' - selling off recruits intended for the South Essex to the hightest bidder - any one of whom could utterly destroy his career with a word, or a stroke of the pen. His life is also brightened by Simmerson's niece, Jane, and the Dowager Countess Camoynes. Determined not to see his regiment die, he is forced into a desperate gamble to resolve the situation.

Fenner	Girdwood	Lady Carmoyne	Ross	Jane

Film Discrepancies:

13 September: Skirmish at Ordal. France led by Suchet versus Britain led by Adam. French victory.
14 September: Second Skirmish at Villafranca. France led by Suchet versus Britain led by Bentinck. French victory.
7 October: Skirmish at the Bridge of Vera. France led by Vandermaesen versus Britain led by Captain Cadoux. French victory.
7 October: Wellington crosses the Bidassoa. Crossing the river Bidassoa using secret fords in October, Wellington takes the French by surprise and gains a foothold. One month of hard fighting later, his soldiers look down from the mountaintops into France itself and the final battles begin.
25 October: Pamplona falls to the Allies.
10 November: Battle of Nivelle. France led by Soult versus Britain led by Wellington. British victory.
9 December: Battle of Villefranque. France led by D'Erlon versus Britain led by Hill. British victory.
9-12 December: Battle of Nive. France led by Soult versus Britain led by Wellington. British victory.
10 December: Skirmish at Anglet. France led by Soult versus Britain led by Hope. British victory.
10 December: Skirmish at Arcangues. France led by Clausel versus Britain led by Alten. British victory.
10-12 December: Skirmishes at Barrouillet. France led by Reille versus Britain led by Hope. British victories.
13 December: Battle of Saint Pierre. France led by Soult versus Britain led by Hill. British victory.

Sharpe's Christmas:
It's Christmas, and in spite of Sharpe not wanting to see anyone die on such a day, the French are determined to fight. Luckily for Sharpe, the surviving Colonel is Gudin, the best Colonel Sharpe had ever served under, way back in India. Gudin relates the sorry state of his career since India to Sharpe and Sharpe, fond of the French Colonel, decides to give Gudin his victory.
No Film