Napoleon's Soldiers in America - Paperback

by Simone Deléry (Author)

The surprising history of the French fighters who came to America--and helped build the young nation--after Napoleon's defeat and exile.

Back Jacket

Early-nineteenth-century Europe had been in turmoil. The Napoleonic Wars that once ravaged the continent had ended, Napoleon had been exiled to St. Helena, and his Grande Armï¿1/2e lay in disarray. His most devoted officers and men, refusing allegiance to the hated Bourbons, looked for new and distant lands.
Hopefully, if not enthusiastically, they came to America. Most of them remained to help build an emerging nation. Among their number were many of the skilled minds--the engineers, generals, architects, city planners, and newspaper publishers--whose contributions to a young America were vital and whose legacies still endure.
In recounting the saga of these former Napoleonics, Simone de la Souchï¿1/2re Delï¿1/2ry has drawn extensively from documents, letters, relics, and other treasured family heirlooms in the possession of their descendants. Countless Americans today can trace their ancestry to these hardy exiles who, in the manner of the Pilgrims two centuries earlier, sailed to America in search of a new life.
A native of France, Delï¿1/2ry taught French at Tulane University for thirty years. She has written two other books, France d'Amï¿1/2rique, in collaboration with Gladys Ann Renshaw, and La France en Louisiane. Napoleon's Soldiers in America was published originally in French under the title A la Poursuite des Aigles, a book of the month selection by Le Cercle du Livre de France.

Author Biography

Simone de la Souchère Deléry was a native of France who came to Louisiana and stayed to teach at Tulane University for thirty years. Along with Napoleon's Soldiers in America--originally published in French under the title A la Poursuite des Aigles and a book-of-the-month selection by Le Cercle du Livre de France --she wrote two other books: France díAmÈrique, in collaboration with Gladys Ann Renshaw, and La France en Louisiane. Deléry was a tireless historian and was decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honor by the French government for her work. She was also awarded the Prix de Langue FranÁaise by the French Academy and was named Officier de LíInstruction Publique for her contributions to education. Napoleonís Soldiers in America recounts the saga of Napoleonís devoted officers, who became exiles for their loyalty to a lost cause. Refusing to swear allegiance to the Bourbons, these soldiers left France in search of a new life in the Americaís. Louisiana, with its strong French ties, was a natural destination for many of the displaced. DelÈry drew extensively from documents, letters, relics, and other treasured family heirlooms in the possession of their descendants. Fortunately, there was a great deal of information to be found, as countless Americans today can trace their ancestry to those rugged individuals who made their way to America.