Dear Mr. Cornwell. I know you’re probably getting tied of us ‘groupies’ always banging on about you brilliance, but I would like to add that you are my favourite author and I was heartbroken when I was stuck by illness and couldn’t come and meet you when you were in the UK for book signings. You’re Sharpe books are the best historical fiction books out there. In fact you have inspired me to try my own hand at writing…Sorry that the ‘groupie’ bit out the way :-) My question though if I may ask is. During the Peninsular wars the French army always seemed to attack in column formation. My question is this. What did the columns actually plan to do when they got to the enemy. Did they just hope the enemy would run away or did they break formation to engage in melee? Plus why was it that we seemed to be the only army to figure it out; put enough lead in the air at the nasty columns go away :-) Many Thanks for reading, you fan always Andrew