The best known of all the Napoleonic memoirs. Baron De Marbot was an aide-de-camp to a number of Napoleon's Marshals: Augereau, Lannes and Massena, before receiving command of a cavalry regiment. He saw action from Spain to Russia. His description of the action is concise and vivid, even though perhaps, somewhat exaggerated - enemy casualties frequently seem very high, and French losses very low. His book gives a good insight into the role of an aide-de-camp, and later a colonel of a regiment in this period: The quality of horses, of sleeping arragements, risks, food and water. He doesn't romanticise the fighting by glossing over wounds either; his own or those of others. His insight into the tactics used is also interesting given his first-hand experience. At no time does he get bogged down in details however, the book moves along at a very good pace at all times. I was never bored and always favourably impressed. No combatent in these wars was at more critical and history changing events than Marbot.
Memoirs of Baron De Marbot: Late Lieutenant-General in the French Army 2 Vol set
1990 Greenhill Books - facsimilie of 1892 edition
Napoleonic Library #10