Mr. Cornwell, I first discovered your Sharpe series several years ago and have been a huge fan ever since. I never paid much attention to the Napoleonic wars but your novels fascinated me and made me want to learn more. My favorite historical subject is the Civil War (Or the War of Northern Aggression, as we Southerners call it:))and I love the Starbuck Chronicles. My question is this: being very knowledgeable about the military endeavors of the Napoleonic Wars and the Civil War, how do the American military leaders compare to the European leaders? Do you see anyone in the Civil War that might have been comparable to Napoleon, Wellington, or Blucher? How would an American army led by Grant, Lee, Jackson, Sherman, and others fared against the powers of Europe in the heyday of colonialism? I know the tactics and weaponry were quite different, but I am just curious. I avidly look forward to the return of Nathaniel Starbuck and Sgt Truslow. Thank you for your time.
Chris Palmer