Why Napoleon Brought a Band to Every Battle

The Napoleonic Wars were very loud and busy times.

Soldiers used music to help them stay together.

Every big army had its own group of musicians.

These groups were often called a war band or a military band.

Musicians usually did not carry guns during the fight.

Instead, they played drums, flutes, and trumpets.

The loud drums helped the soldiers walk in a straight line.

Music also helped the soldiers feel brave during a battle.

The leaders used specific sounds to give important orders.

Different drum beats told the men when to move forward.

Some sounds told the soldiers to stop or turn around.

It was very hard to hear a human voice in the noise.

Therefore, the loud instruments were very useful tools.

After the battle, the war band played music to cheer the men.

They played popular songs from their home countries.

Some musicians even became famous for their great talent.

People in the cities loved to watch the bands march by.

These groups changed the way we think about military music.

Today, we still see bands marching in special parades.

Music was just as important as weapons in these old wars.