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Sharpe's Choice

Historical Note



At the end of 1807, the British were essentially alone against Napoleon and his Continental System. Their only remaining continental allies were Sicily, Portugal and Sweden. The King of Sweden asked for help to fight Russia and Denmark. As French forces passed through Spain to subdue Portugal, they occupied key cities on the way.
As 1808 began, the War Office was assembling forces to send against Spain’s possessions in the Americas and to the Baltic. When Napoleon replaced the royal family with his own brother Joseph, the Spanish populace rose up against the French. Members of the Spanish juntas, who governed regions of Spain, appealed to Britain for help. When the Spanish requested Britain for help, all plans changed from attacking Spain to aiding. The War Office quickly drafted plans to send John Moore’s, Arthur Wellesley’s and Brent Spencer’s forces to support the Spanish and Portuguese.

Wellesley arrives and fights. Demonstrates that he can win attacking and defending. But, despite his success, he must cede command to Moore.
Convention of Cintra ended the combat with Junot’s force, but was not popular back in Britain. General Dalrymple gave the French terms that were comparable to a fortress garrison that has surrendered. The British Navy carried the French and all their belongings, including loot that they had taken from the Portuguese. Dalrymple, Burrard and Wellesley were recalled to face an inquiry.

29th Black drummers. The 29th regiment added black drummers in 1759. They accompanied the regiment to Boston at the beginning of the American Revolution. In 1808 ten of them were with the regiment at Rolica and Vimeiro where they retrieved wounded and dead after the battles.


Commissary rookies. Prior to Copenhagen, forces outside of Britain were private contractors. Peninsula was beginning of professional commissariat. Hard lessons to learn.
Army will march into Spain. Sharpe had opportunity to join the Royal Marines or to remain a quartermaster. He chooses to remain a quartermaster. It is Sharpe’s Choice.,
“I’ll go with Moore’s army as a quartermaster.

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