This has probably been mentioned, but I just finished reading
The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier, by
Jakob Walter,
a stonemason from Württemberg, and his experiences in 1806, 1809 and finally 1812 in the Grande Armeé.
It's one of the only known descriptions of the wars by a common footsoldier.
It's both funny at times and harrowing to read about the march towards Moscow and the horrible retreat.
Highly recommended, and not without inspiration for the mod
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakob_Walter
(In the article a Joseph Abbeel is also mentioned. Has anyone read his diary?)