On the 29th April 1863, Mexico, Colonel Jeanningros asked Captain Danjou to organise a company to escort a major convoy leaving Vera-Cruz for Puebla. It was the 3rd Company’s duty tour but, noting that all its officers were sick, Danjou proposed that he should command it. To assist him in his task, he took the standard bearer, Second Lieutenant Maudet, and the paymaster, Second Lieutenant Vilain. Cpt. Danjou The Foreign Legion's column left at one o’clock in the morning on 30th April, intending initially to reach Palo Verde. Meanwhile the Mexicans, having discovered the passage of the convoy, organised a force of 800 cavalry and three battalions of infantry-about 2,000 all told, to attack it. At about 5.00am, Danjou’s company stopped for a brief halt and, having posted sentries, set about making a morning coffee, which was well under way when sentries announced approaching cavalry. In seconds the coffee was thrown away, the mules were re-loaded and the company was moving to the outskirts of the village of Camerone, where rang out the first shot of the battle, that of a nervous Mexican sentry. The first cavalry charge quickly followed and was as soon broken up and repulsed by well-controlled fire and by the use of the thick scrub into which Danjou had moved his force. In the hubbub the mules took fright, broke loose and disappeared with the rations, water and spare ammunition. Though the 65 strong company only had about 60 rounds each, Danjou decided to stand and fight and distract attention from the valuable convoy. Rapidly he moved his force to a defensive position in a nearby hacienda which they were to hold for the next ten hours. By 9:00am the sun was already high and the legionnaires had no water or no food. Colonel Milian commanding the Mexicans called on the legionnaires to surrender, they replied that they had ammunition and had no intention of surrendering. The legionnaires promised Danjou that, come what may, they would fight to the bitter end. He was killed at about 11:00am. At this moment, the three battalions of Mexican infantry arrived on the scene, and again the legionnaires were called upon to surrender. They replied "Merde" (shit). The situation worsened, the Mexicans had broken into various rooms of the hacienda and having killed the legionnaire occupants, had set fire to the rooms. For the wounded, intense heat, dust, smoke and no water. The battle continued - Vilain was killed just before 2p.m and Maudet took command, but by 5:00pm he had only 12 in a fit state to fight. Again Milian called on the legionnaires to surrender. They did not deign to reply and a fresh attack was launched against them. Maudet was by now alone with a corporal (Maine) and four legionnaires (Leonhard, Catteau, Wenzel and Constantin). With their cartonchieres empty, they fired a final salvo, left their shelter, and charged the Mexicans with fixed bayonets. All fell before reaching the enemy. Maudet was hit twice and Legionnaire Catteau, who had thrown himself in front of his officer to protect him, was hit 19 times. They were the last. It was 6p.m, the battle was over. Maine, Wenzel and Constantin, although wounded, were still standing. Of the 65 strong company, 2 officers and 22 legionnaires were dead, one officer and 8 men were mortally wounded and 19 soon died of their wounds in captivity: 12 others, all wounded, were captured. The Mexicans had around 500 casualties. Cpl. Maine When Maine, Wenzel and Constantin were called upon to surrender, they said that they would not do so unless they were allowed to keep their arms and tend the wounded; Colonel Milan said; "One can refuse nothing to men like you". The Emperor Napoleon III of France had the title "Camerone 1863" inscribed on banners of the 1st Regiment, and in 1892 a monument was raised on the site of the battle, (which Mexican troops present arms to whenever they pass), bearing the inscription: HERE, THEY WERE LESS THAN SIXTY AGAINST A WHOLE ARMY ITS NUMBER CRUSHED THEM BUT LIFE RATHER THAN BRAVERY LEFT THESE FRENCH MEN ON THE 30TH OF APRIL 1863. TO THEIR MEMORY THE COUNTRY BUILT THIS MONUMENT. Each year on the 30th April every unit of the French Foreign Legion celebrates the anniversary of Camerone, Mexico. At Aubagne the Legion headquarters the false wooden hand of Captaine Danjou, which was recovered from the battleground is parade in a grand ceremony. Emperor Napoleon the 3rd decided that the name of Camerone would be written on the flag of the Foreign Regiment and the names of Danjou, Vilain and Maudet would be engraved in golden letters on the walls of Les Invalides, in Paris. Should a Legionnaire find himself in prison during Camerone, then a Legion tradition may come into force, giving him a reprieve, only however if there is less than ten days remaining on the sentence on Camerone Day. It is know as an amnesty in remembrance to those Legionnaires who sacrificed their lives at Camerone in Mexico in 1863. No.9
An interesting book on the subject is CAMERONE by James W. Ryan. His book is a little pricey but an interesting read. Very nice man as well, Mr. Ryan. Happened to get in touch with him regarding a WW2 book that he was working on but never finished (himself)...
Thank you for this on Camerone and Capt Danjou. I think I still have a military magazine issue that has a great account for his fight there. Trouble--this is STILL in storage out of town
Most excellent post, nine! Fantastic! Those were incredibly brave men! Now I should come with some post about the battle of Puebla of May 5th 1862, which is a national holiday in Mexico, which celebrates the victory against a supeior French Army. What Mexicans oftenly ignore is that after their 'glorious' battle, the city of Puebla itself was occupied and the French couldn't be thrown away in two years...
Thank you Carl, Freddy, it is an amazing soldier’s story isn’t it. I think it also speaks highly of the Mexican’s who followed the “gentleman’s” code of combat. Col. Milian I look forward to your story on Puebla Freddy. Carl, you'll have to unpack sometime. No.9 [ 30. April 2003, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: No.9 ]
Last stand...cant remember author..good chapters on famous last stands including this one.. Others are Alamo..Islandwhanna..Rourkes Drift..Little Big horn...and numerous ww1 and 2 last stands..
Great work NINE... great account. I think some of the most interesting facets of military history come from those exploits of the Legion.
