[1] On April 28, 1807, at age 18 he entered the École Spéciale Impériale Militaire, the premier French military academy at the time.

The next year Conrad quickly moved up the ranks being promoted to Corporal to Sergeant to Sergeant-major in rapid succession.

He fought at the Battle of Essling where his regiment was part of the 2nd Division of the 2nd Corps under Marshall Jean Lannes.

The next year he deployed to Spain where he was wounded in action a second time at the Battle of Fuentes de Orono.

He returned to France in September 1814 and was assigned to the 13th Régiment Infanterie Légère where he served until he was dismissed following Napoleon's abdication in 1815.