The continued flow of Sharpe's Rifles books continues to amaze at the prolific story telling abilities of Bernard Cornwell. �They really are very readable but when, oh when, is he going to get his technical stuff right ? �He seems to have got over his earlier ridiculous "Bite, Pour, Spit" ideas of loading the musket (the Platoon Exercise) but he just does not seem to have grasped the basic fact that from before even the introduction of the paper cartridge to the beginning of the percussion cap, the first action in loading was always to prime. � This was common practice even when loading was from the flask without the paper cartridge. ��Of course, today this is frowned upon for obvious safety reasons but I can assure you from extensive reading and from the King's Regulations as published throughout the period that to prime first was the norm. �Even in the days of the matchlock the pan was primed before the piece was loaded. The match was removed first and held away from the musket and returned to the its holder as one of the last movements before firing. �See AN ABRIDGMENT OF THE ENGLISH MILITARY DISCIPLINE; PRINTED BY SPECIAL COMMAND, FOR THE USE OF HIS MAJESTIES FORCES. (London 1685). � In "Sharpe's Havoc" our hero is shelled by a French Howitzer while holding the top of a hill. �The French gunner has problems getting enough elevation so he hammers in more quoins under the breech. �Fine for depressing the piece but elevating ?? � The solution was to dig a hole and drop the rear of the trail in that.