Sharpe’s Command

Confidence and see lf-awareness and knowing he’s the best keeps Major Richard Sharpe on target as you experience the dangers the rivalries and interactions with his 15 men and those that dare to oppose him. Ordered to meet with some Spanish Partisans, told to give them gold and rifles, plus confirm the situation at the approach to French Forts , Fort Napoleon and Fort Ragusa. Purpose guarding the pontoon bridge across the river Tagus. A vital bridge because the River Tagus separates and divides the western section of the Spanish Peninsula and Sharpe is instructed to this task without being seen. The author introduces his team that of Lieutenant Love kind, tough , gun savvy and yet smart in his own way. Sergeants Harper and Latimer plus my favorite Daniel Hagman whose incite, and intelligence keeps Sharpe on point and centered at times plus the many adversaries and one man named El Heroe who provides the controversy, deceptions and betrayals think he will get his guns and gold from Sharpe telling him he’s there to supply men and more for his cause. Lord Wilmington had asked for Sharpe to handle this situation because he was planning to advance into pain and the destruction of the pontoon bridge would prevent French from reinforcements from joining his opposition. What if it’s too late and the French sent reinforcements to the bridge’s garrison. But Sharpe had his own plan and was ordered to reconnoiter but not without weapons for his men. Would El Heroe steal the cartridges ? Orders shouted team decided and a game plan you won’t be. Read pages 65-68 and join in the fight and more. As the plot develops and get more intricate and detailed you join Sharpe and his men as the French learn about the British because El Heroe is playing all sides. The action intensifies and the battles forge ahead in many directions as Sharpe and his team go ahead but at times might have waited. El Heroe wants the gold and guns but is playing on many sides and the author takes us into his mind as we learn that El Heroe was hesitant to charge through a destroyed gate into the fire hoping to kill the opposition with musketry. Sharpe’s team wanted El Heroes house and what they do there sets off an explosion and fire page 147 create the horrible picture. Sides change and Sharpe’s wife is now in the mix, and you don’t want on her bad side at times she makes him seem soft. Dangerous and ruthless they both team up to hopefully save his men. The scenes with his wife are violent and her mode of dealing with the opposition unorthodox to say the least with no compassion, no remorse and total vengeance.

The artillery is powerful and unique to our times as we learn about standard artillery howitzers, job is the retail artilleryman and tracking through the hills to approach the pontoon bridge. Each voice and opinion, Sharpe, Hill, Love and Major Hogan as he expounds why Sharpe has more experience and service than the rest. Then how to attack and why Escalade? Speculation of why El Heroe came there why did they tell him about their plans to destroy the pontoon bridge? Did he think that Sharpe and his team were French or he was ambushing Spaniards? They continue as the author has the team try and speculate if he is watching the road somewhere and make his count going back with them to Miravete. His wife and him decide to trek into the hills and hope they get there in time to save Pat Harper and his team. The battles fire up on pages 150-175 when explosions, fires, and hoping that he was not  the one if El Heroe’s men and who comes out is not who he expects.

Then the decision to go to the bridge and watch if the French come so set up at the base of the bridge and they are determined to take out the Crapauds and Harper is skeptical for good reasons. The firing increases the French charged and the shots flew out on both sides as Sharpe would not give up and pages 178-202 are explosive and terrified young boys forced to fight, the French moving ahead towards them as Sharpe fired at the infantry and who is El Sacerdote and what happened to El Heroe?

Sides changed more opinion place and what will the final count be, and which side will win ? When a padre shows up and will fight along Sharpe heading for the General and needing permission to attack, the battlefield changes the odds he hopes will be in his favor and his wife insists on coming along with certain concessions . The French are in for fierce battles and even though they are stocking up on ammunition and food and more, will they have a chance again Sharpe and more? Will he convince the general to let him attack at night or will it be at dawn with his at the same time?

Sharpe, his wife and El Sacerdote, the paste, rose too and insisted they take a short detour to check out Miravete Castle and Sharpe noticed the high battlements and earthwork surrounding the castle. What will happen next? And what will Hill do and speak? Weapons drawn bodies falling young people killed and no mercy on either side. Told how to proceed and now capturing the encampment and taking prisoners the war is still on and the rush within them all. Then chapter 8 where Sharpe defines his opinion of El Heroe and you realize a commonality money whether silver or gold. His opinion of women and his actions will make you wonder why no one took him out yet. Problems arise and what and how many forts does Sharpe need to win and what if the general does not destroy the pontoon bridge on the southern side and how will it proceed and firing canister and drenching the long approach will the other side survive?

Witness it firsthand as the author graphically demonstrates the red coats vs the defenders and shells thrown from the fort and huge 24 pounders manned by Sacerdotes partisans. And here comes the lads with Sharpe will he win or lose men? Join the battle watch the fight and see how they hope to pick off the other side. The key Ladders and climbers and pages 246-249 will make you shiver. The point is the size and height of the ladders to get to the wall’s top but fragile. Read chapter 9 and see the thoughts of Sharpe and know the savagery and hear his voice and that of others and read chapter 9 and find out how Love might save it all and as Hogan and Sharpe talk age and where is El Heroe?

The battles are fought and then the redcoats filled the courtyard and his wife did her thing as two French eagles how did they come by the Highlander as the story draws to as walls are gone and new pontoons needed and their timber framework at the old bridge burned as the ending leaves you wondering what’s next for Sharpe and his team and where is El Heroe find out when you read the final pages as Sharpe takes aim but in the end all you need is Love!

Fran Lewis just reviews