Prologue and Chapter 1 Summary

Sharpe's Rifles is a novel in the series of novels chronicling the exploits of Richard Sharpe. After a surprise attack by the French, a detachment of British soldiers in northern Spain is separated from the rest of the British army. Sharpe becomes the officer in charge and must earn the respect of his men and defeat the enemy.

Prologue

In the winter of 1809 in northern Spain Major Blas Vivar tries to keep a strongbox out of the possession of a group of French military under the command of a French colonel. Since the French have taken Madrid, they have repeatedly come close to capturing Vivar and his men. Vivar has taken refuge in the mountains and the men are freezing.

Among the men chasing Vivar he watches two the most, the colonel and another man in a black coat...