Hello Mr Cornwell, thanks for your answer..I appreciate that you may consider (even if in just a short story!) to write about Sharpe in 1808. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m writing you today about a fact in Sharpe´s Havoc. It has to do with the action at the Saltador (or Saltadouro has it is said). The Ponte Nova is also called Ponte do Saltadouro and its situated over the junction between Cávado River and Saltadouro River. This bridge is, as referred in the final notes, currently under water due to a dam. As for the bridge which is called Saltador in the book, it is in fact Mizarela Bridge over the River Rabagão, and it stills stands. Mizarela bridge is also known by the locals as Ponte do Diabo or Devils Bridge, and also by the ancient people of the surroundings as Ponte dos Franceses or the French Bridge, since it is the bridge where Soult’s army have escaped. It is said that at the Mizarela Bridge, like at the Ponte Nova, panic took over the French as they heard the British artillery at the rear and dozens fell down to the river when the crowd rushed for the narrow bridge. I hope this may help in any way.

Pedro Morgado