Napoleon was obsessed with covering more miles per day and doing things faster. He had his men live off the land, have them sleep under the stars,. instastead of taking the time to set up and take down tents. At the battle of lode, napoleon is spectacular. He's personally leading attacks. He's helping to position and fire artillery. It's at this battle that he gains a new nickname: le petite corporal. So they're like a low ranking officer jokingly saying, "A man not afraid to get dirty"