Realising that Blas Vivar is not a prisoner in Valdivia, Sharpe confronts Cochrane, who admits that he took the Spaniard prisoner. Cochrane is plotting to rescue Napoleon, so the Corsican can create another empire in the New World. The coded message was Napoleon's agreement to Cochrane's scheme. Cochrane met Blas Viva, the Count of Mouromorto, under a flag of truce to try to recruit him, having confused him for his Francophile brother; with the confusion removed, he had no choice but to maroon him and some guards on an island. Cochrane duped Sharpe because he needed his help in liberating Valdivia.

Sharpe is described as "brilliant but wayward" in Sharpe's Sword, and he is portrayed by the author as a "loose cannon". He becomes a highly skilled and experienced leader of light troops. In contrast to the honourable Horatio Hornblower, the inspiration for the series, Sharpe is a rogue, an unabashed thief and murderer who has no qualms about killing a bitter enemy when the opportunity arises. However, he is protective of women in general and has a number of lovers over the course of his life. Author Bernard Cornwell has admitted that he regrets finishing the character off, as he has struggled since to create an antagonist of equal depravity and energy.Rifleman Harvey first appeared in Sharpe's Eagle but he would have accompanied Sharpe in the retreat to Corunna in Sharpe's Rifles. He fought in the First Battle of Oporto and also partook in the Second Battle of Oporto which he survived. Harvey fought with Sharpe in the Battle at Talavera in Sharpe's Eagle where he was asked to keep reloading for Hagman, maybe indicating that he was one of the weaker shots of the riflemen. [15] He also participated in the destruction of Almeida but wasn't mentioned in Sharpe's Gold and also partook in Sharpe's Escape during the battle of Bussaco. [21] He partook in the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro in and went to fight with Sharpe in the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo and the Siege of Badajoz. He went on to fight in the Battle of Salamanca in Sharpe's Sword but he wasn't mentioned. Harvey went onto fight alongside Sharpe in Sharpe's Enemy but he wasn't mentioned at all. Harvey wasn't mentioned in Sharpe's Honour, Regiment, Christmas, Siege, Revenge, or Waterloo. Either Harvey did not fight at Waterloo or he was killed prior to the battle. Harvey was best friends with Rifleman Cameron, with whom he partnered in battle. Napoleon Bonaparte, French emperor exiled to Saint Helena who dupes Sharpe into running an errand for him

Lieutenant Ayers was a British Army Provost officer, military police responsible for military discipline among British troops in Portugal and Spain. He first appeared in Sharpe's Prey and, including Harper, was one of the only two men remaining from Major Dunnett's original company, from the Battle of Copenhagen. He is referred to as one of Sharpe's best marksmen, along with Hagman and Thompson. [5] Harris last appears in Sharpe's Skirmish, but he may be alive as of Sharpe's Enemy, as he is likely to be one of the last nine from the retreat to Corunna left at the time. He possibly fought with Sharpe at the Battle of Vitoria and presumably the Battle of Nivelle. He most likely fought with Sharpe at the final Battle of Toulouse, and may still be alive as of Sharpe's Revenge, though Harris is absent in Sharpe's Waterloo. He does not appear at Waterloo and is absent from the battle. His intelligence work for Wellesley brings him the long-lasting enmity of the fictional French spymaster Pierre Ducos, who conspires several times to destroy Sharpe's career, reputation or life. After General Harris and General Baird send Private Sharpe and Lieutenant William Lawford to rescue McCandless and his information he is almost shot by Sharpe as the Tippoo tells Sharpe to kill McCandless to prove his loyalty. Sharpe fires but McCandless survives due to the Tippoo's use of fake gunpowder.

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Despite being massively outnumbered and outgunned, Cochrane sails to Valdivia, hoping his two disguised ships will be mistaken for transports bringing much-needed artillery and reinforcements from Spain. However, his ruse fails. Sharpe recommends landing on a nearby beach and leads an assault on the outlying forts. To Sharpe's amazement, the demoralized Spanish put up token resistance before either fleeing or surrendering, resulting in little loss of life on the rebel side. Without waiting for reinforcements, Cochrane marches his small forces into the city itself, where Sharpe and Harper kill Dregara. Trapped, Bautista commits suicide. Jason Salkey as Rifleman, later Sergeant, Harris (1993–1997)– killed in battle in Sharpe's Waterloo; not at Waterloo in the novel and presumably survives. Captain Lennox is an officer of the South Essex Light Company in Sharpe's Eagle. Lennox was a Scotsman, who retired after returning from India. But after losing his wife, and because a pension on half pay wasn't enough, he rejoined the army as an officer of the South Essex then being raised by Sir Henry Simmerson. Jenkins first appeared in Sharpe's Rifles, he was one of the original men from the retreat to Corunna. After the death of the senior officers leaves Sharpe in charge, Jenkins was one of those willing to listen to Sharpe. Jenkins partook in the battle of St. Jones, Santiago de Compostela, and managed to survive the battle and become one of the new Chosen Men with Sharpe. Reverted to the rank of lieutenant after his gazetting as Captaincy was refused by Horse Guards and in the absence of a vacant captain's position in the South Essex.

Sharpe is a series of historical fiction stories by Bernard Cornwell centred on the character of British soldier Richard Sharpe. The stories formed the basis for an ITV television series featuring Sean Bean in the title role. William Dodd appears in the novels set in India near the start of Sharpe's army career. Although he is based on a real historical figure, his involvement in the Sharpe novels is entirely fictional. Dodd appears in the 2006 television revival Sharpe's Challenge, portrayed by Toby Stephens. He also appears in the Simon Scarrow novel The Generals as the actual historical character. Richard Sharpe first appears in Sharpe's Tiger as a private in the 33rd Regiment of Foot. He later earns the rank of Sergeant by the end of the book. He soon gains promotion to Ensign in the 74th Regiment but is then transferred to the newly formed 95th Rifles as a second lieutenant during Sharpe's Trafalgar. He is gradually promoted through the ranks, finally becoming a lieutenant colonel in Sharpe's Waterloo. Dunnett has the misfortune to then spend the remainder of the War languishing in captivity, while the Lieutenant he despised rises through the ranks. He was given the freedom of the town of Verdun, and his captivity was not harsh, but had no money for bribes or luxuries, and he stated he'd much rather die than ever see that town again.

The South Essex is assigned the relatively easy mission of linking up with an allied Spanish regiment and escorting Hogan to a point on the River Tagus to destroy a bridge that the French could use. In a minor skirmish with a French cavalry patrol, however, Simmerson's appalling judgement leads to the loss of a substantial number of men, and the loss of one of his regiment's two colours (presented by the king and representing the regiment's honour). His final appearance was in Sharpe's Sword where he had a minor role but participated in the Battle of Salamanca and survived. Jenkins presumably went on to fight with Sharpe during the Defence of Tormes, where it is mentioned that only nine from the retreat to Corunna were left at this time. He may have fought in the Battle of Vitoria in Sharpe's Honour and followed Sharpe during the Invasion of France, perhaps even up to the final battle of Toulouse as of Sharpe's Revenge. Jenkins wasn't mentioned in Sharpe's Skirmish, Enemy, Honour, Regiment, Christmas, Siege, Revenge, or Waterloo. Either Jenkins did not fight at Waterloo or he was killed prior to the battle. Richard Sharpe is born in London circa 1777 (he believes that he may be 22 during the early months of 1799) to a prostitute residing in "Cat Lane" and possibly a French smuggler. When Sharpe is three, his mother is killed in the Gordon Riots.

In the TV series, he is a rifleman, one of Sharpe's Chosen Men or lance corporals and is played by Jason Salkey. In Sharpe's Rifles, he claims to be from Wheatley, Oxfordshire. This is contradicted in the novel Sharpe's Havoc, written after the television adaptations, where Harris tells Sharpe he is from Lichfield, "where Samuel Johnson came from". Doña Louisa Vivar, whom Sharpe befriended in Sharpe's Rifles, visits Sharpe and asks him to search for her husband, Don Blas Vivar, who disappeared while serving as Captain-General of Chile, a Spanish possession threatened by rebels. Sharpe and Harper sail to Chile with Spanish Colonel Ruiz and his regimental officers aboard the frigate Espiritu Santo, commanded by Captain Ardiles. The group decide to stop off at Saint Helena to pay a visit to exiled French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon grants an audience and asks Sharpe and Harper to remain for a private conversation. Napoleon persuades Sharpe to take a gift, a portrait of the emperor, to an admirer in Chile for him. Rifleman Ben Perkins is a fictional character in the Richard Sharpe stories written by Bernard Cornwell. Rifleman Ben Perkins also appeared in episodes of the Sharpe television series, played by Lyndon Davies.Rifleman Ned Tarrant is one of the original riflemen who was involved in the retreat to Corunna in Sharpe's Rifles though he was not mentioned in the novel. Rifleman Tarrant was mentioned in Sharpe's Havoc where he was wounded in action after the French victory at Oporto. He was shot in the hip and was unable to walk. Sharpe made the decision to leave him behind believing Tarrant would slow them down. [38] Tarrant's fate is unknown either being killed or captured by the enemy or left to die. Ned Tarrant was described as being a trouble maker and a sullen man from Hertfordshire who never lost a chance to become drunk or vicious, but when he was sober he was a good marksmen who did not lose his head in battle. [39] It is noted that Tarrent was the ring leader of the troublemakers which included Sims, Williamson, Donnelly, Cresacre, Gataker and once upon a time Harper. Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Sharpe, in command of the Prince of Wales' Own Volunteers, is tasked by the Duke of Wellington to precede the main British army into France and rescue a high-value prisoner from the citadel in the commune of Ham. General Wellesley dispatches the South Essex, alongside Sharpe's Riflemen and the engineers of Major Hogan, to blow up the bridge at Valdelacasa, so as to protect the army's flank as they march. He was eventually promoted to sergeant but was killed alongside his friend Sergeant Daniel Hagman at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. In the books, Harris is absent from the battle.