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Jakob Walter was born in the province of Wurttemberg, a German state, in 1788. He was Roman Catholic. Walter was conscripted into Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grande Armee in 1807, and served in several campaigns. When Napoleon decided to invade Russia in 1812, Walter was again called up to serve. He survived the retreat from Moscow and retired from the military. Jakob wrote his memoirs later in life for his family; he mailed the manuscript to his son Albert, who was living in the United States, in 1856. 

 Question to answer below :

In the diary, there are really no heroics or glorious moments; there is just the everyday life of a soldier trying to survive. What was daily life like for an ordinary foot soldier during the Napoleonic Wars? Why is it important to have the memoirs of an ordinary infantry soldier? Give your critical thoughts on the subject.