Napoleon was a foot soldier.
Napoleon Bonaparte ( [ nəˈpoʊliən_ˈboʊnəpɑrt ] [ napɔleɔ̃ bɔnapaʁt ] ; 15 August 1769 -- 5 May 1821 ) was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars . A runner was a military courier , a foot soldier responsible for carrying messages during war .