a taylor in napoleons army

8/7/2019 A Taylor in Napoleons Army

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Tim Cornell



Period 2

Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Revolution

The life and times of a soldier in Napoleon's army



August 15, 1788 My tailoring work has been chaotic as of late.. It seems that while one week I willbe busy preparing another royal gown and expecting the generous sum of goldfor my hard work, the next I will be close to starving with no work at all. Asquickly as I am able to make my fortunes off of our extravagant Austrian queen, it

seems to disappear just as fast under the outrageous food prices.

For my sake, lets hope my last magnificent dress will soon bore Marie, for I havenot eaten in two days now. I know as tough as the times seem to be, it will all beover soon like a past dream fading out of memory, that's how it has alwayshappened anyway.



October 6, 1788

The financial crisis has been escalating beyond what even those with the darkest outlooks could have imagined, between the constant additions to the palace and

the funding of the American colony’s revolution, our taxes have been all but depleted. Even the nobles with all their splendor and apparel are starting to get nervous. There’s word that an Estates General may be called. I have my doubtsabout a rumor as bold as this though as such a thing hasn't happened in ages. But all the while, as the economically failing country is falling apart around her, our

long overdue Austrian guest is still spending our tax dollars on jewelry anddecorations for her palace. With my profession I know firsthand Marie

Antoinette's highly impulsive spending behavior. Even though I'm suffering just as

much as anyone else, the people are starting to turn their hate on me because of my ties to the royal house. I'm getting so desperate that I'm even considering

joining the army, despite the seemingly imminent blood waiting to be drawn.



July 15, 1789Today my hand trembles as I write of another symptom from the violence that occurred last night. The people banded together and stormed the Bastille, close toa hundred were killed but the people eventually overwhelmed the guards andseized the gunpowder they had come to claim. Being a simple bystander I still findmyself in shock to witness French soldiers firing on French citizens. I am starting

to wonder if all this bloodshed will really be worth it in the end.



January 22, 1793

Over the last two or three years it’s been hard to find the time to write. Becominga soldier in the national guard of the republic has taken its toll on my free time.Upon finding this journal under a pile of old dusty books, I've decided the recent events have been important enough to put down in words. As indeed it was just

yesterday that our former king, Louis the Seventeenth, was sentenced to immediate

execution at the guillotine. Robespierre brought forth documents that were foundin a secret apartment of the kings while he was imprisoned, the trial in which he

was convicted of high treason was short and brutal. Now, even more people arebeing dragged to the guillotine and their death in front of the jeering crowds,

aristocrats and peasants alike. I feel uneasy about Robespierre and his crusade.



December 22 1793 My commander and chief, for whom I have the utmost confidence and pride in,has been promoted to Brigadier General, a post that he more than deserves. I'vebeen serving under Napoleon for several months now and he is by far the best commander I've come across. Not only is he charismatic and good at keeping up

the morale, but he is a brilliant artillery commander. He positioned our cannon'saround the British forts on several hillsides. No one could have guessed how

successful his plan would be. The true genius of his placement of the artillerywasn't realized until we had already taken Toulon back from the British. I feel that

my commander is destined for great things indeed.



June 15, 1800Yesterday our troop played a crucial part in the battle and Marengo. We arrived

with Napoleon and were able to drive off the Austrian assaults on all fronts. Ourgeneral has done it again and we are victorious. Though I suppose I should refer

to him by his new position as first consulate. If any, I would have been the one toguess that it would be Bonaparte to take power. After crossing the Alps withvictories in Italy, and now defeating the Austrians here, we will probably soonstart negotiating with treaties and trade agreements. For now, Europe is at peace.



April 13, 1814The unimaginable has happened, after arriving to a burnt Moscow with huge

numbers of casualties in Russia, we tried to return to France under our emperor'sorder. But many of my own commanding officers turned against Napoleon. With

Paris now under the control of the Allied Powers, he was quickly imprisoned and

forced to sign the Treaty of Fontainebleau, and has now been exiled of to the Mediterranean island of Elba. I can only hope that our cause is not yet lost.



November 21, 1815Our emperor has been defeated again. Duke Wellington flanked and destroyed

our army in the first battle it had seen since Napoleon's return from Elba. Now,after signing the Treaty of Paris, Napoleon has been cast out on a desolate islandin the far reaches of the Mediterranean Sea, with little to no hope of rescue. Godhelp our general. The nation is now being run by King Louis XVll who is no doubt

just a vessel for the English to exert their power through. It has been a sad year,and though many disliked him, I'm sure all will start to feel to absence of a strong

leader. Nine days before Napoleon’s defeat, the Congress of Vienna signed the'Final Act' which split Europe among all the countries. I think that our emperor's

dream of full unification of Europe would have been far better for the coming

generations and I don't believe at all that this will truly be the “Final Act” of Europe. But now, I must away, for I am going to travel our continent not as asoldier this time, but a tailor. I go now to live my life, hopefully, in peace... adieu.



The Congress of Vienna marked the end to both the French revolution andNapoleon's era. These events changed the way people thought about government,and showed that it is the people who hold the power. Napoleon changed the faceof Europe with his brilliant tactics, nearly unifying the entire continent under hisrule. The 'Final Act' split these lands up again, giving pieces to different countries;

this caused a great deal of tension between the Austrians, Russians, and Prussians,tensions that would eventually lead to the first world war.

From wars to politics, destruction to creation, this era forever changed the face ofthe earth, for better or for worse.

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