Hello Bernard, As a self confessed Napoleonic nut, I was wondering if you had considered bringing in any of the minor nations that supported Napoleon in the peninsular and indeed throughout the Wars in the Sharpe books. I remember Hesse-Darmstadt being mentioned in the siege of Baderjoz and mention of Neopolitans pirates in another, but there were Poles, Italians, Germans and Swiss in the Peninsular. They may not have been that numerous, but the Swiss are interesting as they wore red coats and they must have (and did) cause confusion in a few battles in which they were present. The Neopolitans were appauling troops (I’ll ‘have no more of them’ said Napoleon)…they deserted most of them, being made up from the dregs of Neopolitan society. The wore white, not the blue of France. The Italians wore green and the Polish Vistula Legion is well known. The various German states wore a variety of uniforms…..enough of this I am sure you know all this anyway… I just wondered if Sharpe could maybe come across a few non-French troops for a change. Indeed would be in his knowledge to know the difference ? Lol, all this from one point made in Sharpe’s Escape (brilliant as always btw) when Sharpe and Harper passed themselves off as ‘Dutch’…..but one minor niggle : would the Dutch have worn the French uniform ? A few I suppose in direct service…..but Dutch regiments would have worn white ?? Sorry to go on but it’s been on my mind for ages…just wanted to exchznge a few ideas/views, hope you don’t mind. Regards Phil Davies, Gloucester.