Portugal 1809 - After saving the life of Sir Arthur Wellesley, Sgt Richard Sharpe is rewarded with the field commission of lieutenant. His first mission is to go behind enemy lines to Casa Antiga to locate a missing agent, James Rothschild, who carries a banker's draft for badly needed funds for the British army. Sharpe is given command of the 95th Rifles under Capt Murray, but soon finds that they are an undisciplined bunch of louts. Neither Murray nor the men of the Rifles are prepared to accept Sharpe's command as 'proper' officers are not raised from the ranks. Captain Murray is killed after a surprise French attack and Sharpe is left in sole command. The Chosen Men of the 95th attempt to mutiny, but the fight is stopped by the arrival of two Spanish allies, Major Blas Vivar and Comandante Teresa. They offer to lead Sharpe to Casa Antiga since they are heading to Torrecastro. Sharpe reluctantly agrees and en route he attempts to win over the Chosen Men. At Casa Antiga, there is no sig

Spain 1809 - Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson arrives with his new regiment, the South Essex, and Wellesley decides to keep in Simmerson's good graces by arranging for the South Essex to blow up the bridge at Valdelacasa. Aware that Simmerson is incompetent, Wellesley orders Sharpe to see that the mission is a success in exchange for a promotion to captain.Simmerson is infuriated to learn that Sharpe is not a gentleman and was raised from the ranks by Wellesley. In revenge, Simmerson orders Sharpe to train his men to fire three rounds a minute by nightfall, or they will be flogged as punishement for failure. Sharpe and Harper manage to succeed, but this infuriates Simmerson even more. Sharpe has made an enemy.The following day, Simmerson orders Capt Lennox to lead the South Essex across the bridge in the attempt to chase away a small French patrol. However, a large French cavalry appears and the South Essex men panic and try to escape back across the bridge. As the French cavalry butcher the S