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Today is Camerone Day, celebrated at French Foreign Legion posts everywhere. Though not Civil War per se, it would have been a well known incident in the US by late 1863. In addition, the French were emboldened to go into Mexico because the war would keep the U.S. from enforcing the Monroe Doctrine and, equally, a large part of their decision to leave was the end of the war and the U.S.’s huge standing army flushed with recent victory.
Just after 1 AM April 30th Captain Jean Danjou led the 3rd company of the 1st Battalion of the French Foreign Legion on a patrol to clear the road between La Soledad and Chiquihuite for a convoy bringing 3 million in gold bullion from Vera Cruz. Danjou had lost his left hand years earlier and habitually wore white gloves to hide its wooden replacement. The company halted at dawn near a pond and per Legion custom the men emptied all canteens into pots, one squad starting coffee while another went for water. Minutes later they were surprised by Mexican cavalry and had to fall in with canteens unfilled, coffee poured out. The 3rd of the 1st had 65 officers and men, the Mexicans about 200 in the immediate vicinity with their main body under Colonel Milan gathered nearby to ambush the convoy. Captain Danjou formed square and began retreating towards the shelter of a two story farmhouse, beating off several charges. Unfortunately the Mexicans reached the house first, and worse, while moving through a cactus hedge the company lost cohesion briefly, the pack mules with all food and extra ammo bolted and a group of 16 men were cut off and overwhelmed. Those remaining took shelter in an adobe walled corral behind the house. The walls were ten feet high, they had no loopholes and could only fire as men tried to come through openings or over the wall. Sergeant Morzycki climbed to the roof of the main building and reported that Mexican strength had grown to over 800 cavalry against their 49, several already wounded. Colonel Milan demanded immediate surrender and Morzycki climbed down to ask the Captain how to reply: “Réponds simplement que nous avons des cartouches et que nous ne nous rendons pas” – (“Simply reply that we have cartridges and we don’t surrender”). It was approaching 9 AM and the heat was already stifling. There was nothing to drink except for the captain’s small flask of wine which he shared out equally – a few drops per man - asking each to take an oath to fight to the death. Near 11 AM the Captain kept his oath, shot in the chest, Sous-Lieutenant Vilain taking command. Hour after hour in the blistering sun they fought without relief. They drank urine and blood, wounded men helpless in the open drank their own blood. About 2:30 PM Vilain also went down, shot in the forehead. The remaining officer, Sous-Lieutenant Maudet, fought on. By late afternoon 1,500 Mexican infantry arrived and surrender was offered again. This time Morzycki replied on his own: “Merde!” The house and outbuildings were set on fire and the small group remaining gathered in a ruined stable and shot down anyone trying to cross the corral through the smoke. Just before dark they ran out of ammunition and Maudet and the four men still able to fight made a bayonet charge into several hundred Mexican infantry. All but Corporal Maine were hit by the first volley, Maudet and another fatally. The three men still able to stand said they would surrender only if they were allowed to keep their weapons and Sous-Lieutenant Maudet was cared for. The battle was over. Said Colonel Milan: “Pero non son hombres! Son demonios!” – (“These are not men! They are demons!”)
The 3rd of the 1st had fought against 2,000 men for twelve hours, inflicted 300-400 casualties and saved the convoy from attack. Danjou’s wooden hand was taken as a souvenir but later recovered and returned to France, the Legion’s most precious possession. Captain Danjou and the 3rd of the 1st lie in a mass grave near the site of their struggle.
Rickards, Colin
“Camerone And The French Foreign Legion In Mexico, 30 April 1863”
Marlborough, GB, The Cromwell Press, 2005
Ryan, James W.
“Camerone, The French Foreign Legion’s Greatest Battle”
Westport, CT., Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996
Sergeant, Pierre
“Camerone, La Campagne Héroique de la Légion Étrangère Au Mexique”
Paris, Fayard, 1980
Just after 1 AM April 30th Captain Jean Danjou led the 3rd company of the 1st Battalion of the French Foreign Legion on a patrol to clear the road between La Soledad and Chiquihuite for a convoy bringing 3 million in gold bullion from Vera Cruz. Danjou had lost his left hand years earlier and habitually wore white gloves to hide its wooden replacement. The company halted at dawn near a pond and per Legion custom the men emptied all canteens into pots, one squad starting coffee while another went for water. Minutes later they were surprised by Mexican cavalry and had to fall in with canteens unfilled, coffee poured out. The 3rd of the 1st had 65 officers and men, the Mexicans about 200 in the immediate vicinity with their main body under Colonel Milan gathered nearby to ambush the convoy. Captain Danjou formed square and began retreating towards the shelter of a two story farmhouse, beating off several charges. Unfortunately the Mexicans reached the house first, and worse, while moving through a cactus hedge the company lost cohesion briefly, the pack mules with all food and extra ammo bolted and a group of 16 men were cut off and overwhelmed. Those remaining took shelter in an adobe walled corral behind the house. The walls were ten feet high, they had no loopholes and could only fire as men tried to come through openings or over the wall. Sergeant Morzycki climbed to the roof of the main building and reported that Mexican strength had grown to over 800 cavalry against their 49, several already wounded. Colonel Milan demanded immediate surrender and Morzycki climbed down to ask the Captain how to reply: “Réponds simplement que nous avons des cartouches et que nous ne nous rendons pas” – (“Simply reply that we have cartridges and we don’t surrender”). It was approaching 9 AM and the heat was already stifling. There was nothing to drink except for the captain’s small flask of wine which he shared out equally – a few drops per man - asking each to take an oath to fight to the death. Near 11 AM the Captain kept his oath, shot in the chest, Sous-Lieutenant Vilain taking command. Hour after hour in the blistering sun they fought without relief. They drank urine and blood, wounded men helpless in the open drank their own blood. About 2:30 PM Vilain also went down, shot in the forehead. The remaining officer, Sous-Lieutenant Maudet, fought on. By late afternoon 1,500 Mexican infantry arrived and surrender was offered again. This time Morzycki replied on his own: “Merde!” The house and outbuildings were set on fire and the small group remaining gathered in a ruined stable and shot down anyone trying to cross the corral through the smoke. Just before dark they ran out of ammunition and Maudet and the four men still able to fight made a bayonet charge into several hundred Mexican infantry. All but Corporal Maine were hit by the first volley, Maudet and another fatally. The three men still able to stand said they would surrender only if they were allowed to keep their weapons and Sous-Lieutenant Maudet was cared for. The battle was over. Said Colonel Milan: “Pero non son hombres! Son demonios!” – (“These are not men! They are demons!”)
The 3rd of the 1st had fought against 2,000 men for twelve hours, inflicted 300-400 casualties and saved the convoy from attack. Danjou’s wooden hand was taken as a souvenir but later recovered and returned to France, the Legion’s most precious possession. Captain Danjou and the 3rd of the 1st lie in a mass grave near the site of their struggle.
THERE WERE LESS THAN SIXTY OF THEM
OPPOSED TO A WHOLE ARMY
ITS MASS CRUSHED THEM
LIFE RATHER THAN COURAGE
ABANDONED THESE FRENCH SOLDIERS
April 30, 1863
OPPOSED TO A WHOLE ARMY
ITS MASS CRUSHED THEM
LIFE RATHER THAN COURAGE
ABANDONED THESE FRENCH SOLDIERS
April 30, 1863
Rickards, Colin
“Camerone And The French Foreign Legion In Mexico, 30 April 1863”
Marlborough, GB, The Cromwell Press, 2005
Ryan, James W.
“Camerone, The French Foreign Legion’s Greatest Battle”
Westport, CT., Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996
Sergeant, Pierre
“Camerone, La Campagne Héroique de la Légion Étrangère Au Mexique”
Paris, Fayard, 1980
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