The Battle of Camerone (also Battle of Camarón) was an important action during the Second French intervention in Mexico. It occurred in late April 1863. In the eight-hour battle, a company of 65 men of the French Foreign Legion faced almost 2,000 Mexican infantrymen and cavalrymen. This action is portrayed as a pure example of bravery and determination of fighting to the finish.

Prelude to the Battle of Camerone

In Mexico in 1861, the four-year civil war between Liberals (supported by the United States) and Conservatives was over. The same year, then liberal President Benito Juárez canceled repayments of interest on foreign loans. As a consequence of his step, French Emperor Napoleon III, supported by Britain and Spain, launched a campaign in Mexico to protect French, British and Spanish creditors. In late 1861, the Second French intervention in Mexico started.

Thereafter, the European alliance fell apart and in April 1862, the British and Spaniards withdrew their forces. French Emperor Napoleon III, supported by Mexican Conservatives, decided to overthrow Juárez. However, the situation became complicated. In early May, French forces were defeated surprisingly at Puebla, on their way to Mexico City, the capital. French reinforcements had to arrive in late 1862, to prepare and launch a new campaign in early 1863. To support this new campaign, the French Foreign Legion being stationed in Algeria (North Africa) was eventually allowed to deploy to Mexico.

In February 1863, two battalions of the Foreign Regiment, the then title of the reduced Legion (in fact, ex-2e RE, 2e REI today), left Algeria for Mexico. Almost 1,500 men led by Colonel Pierre Jeanningros. They landed in Mexico in late March. In the meantime, the Siege of Puebla was launched by the French in mid-March, to re-capture the city and to allow French forces to advance toward Mexico City, the bastion of Juárez.





French Foreign Legion in Mexico

In Mexico, Foreign Regiment legionnaires were to support the French troops besieging the city of Puebla. Their main task was to guard French supply convoys moving on Royal Road, an old important road connecting Veracruz (an eastern port city occupied by the French) and Puebla. These convoys were attacked from time to time by Mexican guerrillas (irregular militants) loyal to Benito Juárez.

The legionnaires had to protect the section of Royal Road between the towns of Soledad and Cordoba, some 40 miles (65 km) long. It was the worst part of the road. Situated in tropical lowlands, the region was affected by several diseases. Primarily vomito negro (yellow fever) and typhus fever. These diseases would kill in 1863 the majority of legionnaires being deployed to Mexico.

The Foreign Regiment battalions were stationed at Soledad and Chiquihuite (HQ), a small village situated in the foothills of the Chiconquiaco mountain range, east of Cordoba. The regiment’s companies spread into posts alongside the road, each of them guarding a designated sector.





Important French convoys for Puebla

In late April 1863, two important French convoys were to head for Puebla, besieged by French troops of General Forey. The first convoy, formed in Soledad, consisted of around 60 vehicles and 150 mules. Apart from mail and ammunition, they transported artillery guns and material for siege construction. The second important convoy being formed in Veracruz was to carry 3,000,000 francs in coins (cash payment for troops) and supplies.

Two Foreign Regiment companies were sent to Soledad to accompany and guard the convoys. Meanwhile, a high-ranking Mexican military officer of Liberals loyal to Benito Juárez was preparing for attacking and seizing the artillery convoy, to prevent it to reach Puebla: Colonel Francisco de Paula Milan. Under Juárez, he served as the governor and military chief of the Veracruz state, now partly occupied by the French. His forces to attack the convoy comprised almost 2,000 Mexican infantry and cavalry. According to an official report of the Foreign Regiment’s second-in-command Major Regnault, from August 1863, the presence of such a force in the region was unexpected.

To be fair, the legionnaires were only four weeks in Mexico and during that time, they were facing nothing but small groups of Mexican irregular mounted guerrillas. It’s more than sure, that the forces of Colonel Milan were gathered as the last chance to turn the game for besieged Liberals in Puebla. Once the French would have received the artillery guns, Puebla would be lost, and, subsequently, even Mexico City and the reign of Benito Juárez.





A planned reconnaissance mission

On Wednesday, April 29, at the regiment’s HQ of Chiquihuite, Colonel Jeanningros prescribed a reconnaissance mission in support of the artillery convoy coming from Soledad. A company should march to Palo Verde. An elevated orientation point and an important stopover for French convoys on Royal Road, situated some 15 miles (25 km) north-east of Chiquihuite, with an important waterhole/fountain nearby (giving “delicious water”). A large wooden military construction was built there to provide shade and rest for French troops.

At Palo Verde, the legionnaires should scour the sector in the perimeter of about 2,5 miles (4 km) to see if there aren’t any Mexican guerrillas wandering around and posing a threat to the French artillery convoy. As the guerrillas did at Palo Verde three months ago, in late January 1863. However, their then attack on a French convoy was successfully repulsed.





3rd Company, 1st Battalion, Foreign Regiment

In the afternoon, 3rd Company, 1st Battalion, Foreign Regiment was designated for that reconnaissance mission, as a service duty company of that week. It was stationed at Chiquihuite, the headquarters of both the regiment and the 1st Battalion. However, the then company was in poor condition.

After only four weeks spent in Mexico, the third of the men had already been in the hospital, affected by yellow fever. The commander of the company, Captain J. Cazes, was being detached to lead a smaller outpost near Veracruz, to recover from his wound he had suffered during embarking in Algeria. His deputy, Lieutenant Gans, was suffering from malaria. The third officer of the company, Second Lieutenant Jean Vilain, was being detached to serve temporarily as a battalion paymaster.

So, there were only 62 combat-ready men within the 3rd Company: 5 NCOs, 6 corporals and 51 legionnaires. A strength of two platoons.

These men comprised 20 Germans, 16 Belgians (including the French with a changed identity), 8 Swiss (also, including the French), 7 Frenchmen, 1 Austrian, 1 Dutchman, 1 Dane, 1 Italian, 1 Spaniard and 6 men born to immigrants seeking asylum in France (with or without a French mother).

Captain Jean Danjou, the Adjutant of Colonel Jeanningros, asked voluntarily to lead the company during that one-day reconnaissance mission. The colonel agreed. Two other officers volunteered to accompany Captain Danjou and to complete the company’s leadership: Second Lieutenant Jean Vilain and Second Lieutenant Clément Maudet, the regimental color bearer.

Captain Jean Danjou

35 years old, of French nationality

a French officer, over 10 years with the Legion (since Sep 1852)

in Algeria in early May 1853, he lost his left hand

during a topographical expedition, when the canon of his musket exploded

then Second Lieutenant Danjou refused to leave the Army

he got a wooden hand and continued to serve with the Legion

promoted to Captain during the Crimean War (1854-56)

bearing the Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest French order of merit

in 1859, a campaign in Italy (Battle of Magenta and Battle of Solferino)

a regimental adjutant since 1858





Second Lieutenant Jean Vilain

27 years old, of French nationality

9 years with the Foreign Legion

enlisted as a simple legionnaire in his 18

after having left a military academy

campaigns in Crimea and Italy

bearing the Cross of the Legion of Honour

promoted to the officer rank only 4 months ago

among the three officers, the only member of the 3rd Company

a battalion paymaster at the time





Second Lieutenant Clément Maudet

34 years old, of French nationality

the longest-serving man among the 65 company members

almost 15 years with the Foreign Legion

enlisted as a simple legionnaire in the Year of Revolution, 1848

campaigns in Algeria, Crimea and Italy

bearing the Cross of the Legion of Honour

promoted to the officer rank only 3 months ago

the most decorated junior commissioned officer of the 1st Battalion

because of that, he served as the regimental color bearer









Mission to Palo Verde – April 30

From Chiquihuite to Paso del Macho

On Thursday, April 30, at 01:00 in the early morning, Captain Danjou and his 3rd Company left Chiquihuite. Forming the column of two close files in the middle of the road, they should march 15 miles (25 km) to reach Palo Verde, their destination. The legionnaires wore a Mexican sombrero (a wide-brimmed hat worn instead of képi, to shield from the sun), a dark blue jacket with yellow epaulettes for voltigeurs (skirmishers) or green epaulettes for fusiliers (ordinary infantrymen), red sash and beige trousers (used for operations, instead of the ordinary red ones). They were equipped with a French rifled musket Minié (model 1851), updated/converted by the French in 1857. Each legionnaire bore also a sword bayonet + 60 bullets. Two mules were assigned to the company to carry food supplies.

An hour later, at 02:00 AM, the column reached Paso del Macho. A small village 4 miles (6,5 km) north-east of Chiquihuite, with a French post and a watchtower (from 1836-38) used by legionnaires to observe the surroundings. A Legion company was stationed there to guard the road and an old Spanish bridge nearby. The unit was led by Captain Saussier, a friend of Captain Danjou and a future Military governor of Paris (1884-98).

The 3rd Company took a short break at Paso del Macho. Thereafter, Captain Danjou shaked hand with his friend and the column hit the road. Captain Saussier and his men were the last French to see them alive.





Camerone and Palo Verde

Three hours later, around 05:30 in the morning, the 3rd Company passed Camarón (Camerone in French), a small abandoned Indian settlement composed of a few ruined huts. Nearby, along the road, two or three ruined small constructions. Opposite them, across the road, a long-abandoned hacienda (a Spanish colonial villa) with a large, enclosed farmyard – La Trinidad Hacienda.

The legionnaires combed both, the hacienda and the farmyard to be sure there isn’t any hidden Mexican enemy. Thereafter, Captain Danjou ordered to form two platoons. Each of them would be tasked with scouring the sector on one of the two sides of the road, overgrown with wild vegetation, towards their destination. The captain, accompanied with legionnaires-skirmishers (acting as a vanguard) and followed by the mules, continued to Palo Verde, the French stopover situated some 2,5 miles (4 km) east of Camerone.





Alarm at Palo Verde

Gathered around 07:15 at Palo Verde, after having marched 15 miles (25 km) from Chiquihuite, the 3rd Company took a break at the wooden shelter built for French troops and convoys. The men emptied their bottles into a large pot to make coffee. Thereafter, Corporal Magnin and his group went to the nearby fountain to bring fresh water for the whole unit. The sun shined and a number of legionnaires went to sleep. It should be another calm day in Mexico…

Between 7:45 and 08:00, the company was alerted by a sentinel having seen something raising a cloud of dust about 1,5 mile (2,5 km) from there, between Palo Verde and Camerone. Captain Danjou took a look at the road through his field glass: Mexicans! Then he shooted: Enemy! To arms!

Within five minutes, the men were ready for combat. The unfinished coffee was poured away. Corporal Magnin and his group had to return back hastily, without water. Meanwhile, the Mexican irregular cavalrymen (guerrillas) disappeared. An order to leave the place was issued, to go closer to see what’s happened.

Back to Camerone

During the next hour, the legionnaires and their commander were marching back to Camerone. To avoid any contact with Mexicans, the unit went around the village. North of the road, through the wild vegetation protecting them from cavalry. Legionnaires-skirmishers ahead of the column, from time to time using their sword bayonets to hack the way through a heavy thicket.

Before 9:00, the men were back on the road, about 250-300 yards (some 250 m) west of Camerone. As far as one could see, there wasn’t any Mexican cavalryman in the sector. Suddenly a shot fired (most likely) from the village wounded a legionnaire in the leg. The company reacted quickly and the legionnaires went to scour the ruins and the hacienda. Nevertheless, they didn’t find anybody.





Mexicans

The men of Captain Danjou still didn’t know the number of enemy guerrillas they had seen. No doubt they expected a common independent group of 30-70 Mexican mounted guerrillas, operating often in the region and provoking the French, without any more significant impact on well-trained, disciplined and cold-blooded legionnaires.

However, that day, this wasn’t the case. At his HQ situated some 3 miles (5 km) north-east of Camerone, between two local rivers, Colonel Milan gathered an army of three battalions, each of them comprising about 400 men, accompanied with some 500 regular cavalrymen and 300 irregular mounted guerrillas. In total, almost 2,000 men.

The 300 mounted guerrillas were the first to face the 3rd Company of Captain Danjou. According to a report of Colonel Milan from May 1863, he himself led this group to conduct a reconnaissance mission in the sector. However, as he added, he and his cavalrymen were surprised by the legionnaires. So, the French were to be “removed” to not thwart the plans of Colonel Milan for seizing the artillery convoy.

First Mexican charges

When leaving Camerone, the legionnaires saw for the first time the enemy. The cavalrymen were advancing from the north-east, ready for a charge. Captain Danjou ordered to form an infantry square, with him and mules inside. However, the two mules got scared and stampeded in panic. Thereafter, a mass of screaming guerrillas launched their first charge. The cold-blooded legionnaires stopped them quickly by a precise salvo, and put Mexicans into a retreat by a following fire.

Thereafter, the company penetrated a natural barrier of cacti on the left, stretching along the road as far as Camerone and protecting the men from the cavalrymen. Captain Danjou thought of entering wild tropical vegetation in the south-west, some 500 yards (450 m) distant, to continue through it back until Paso del Macho. Nevertheless, part of Mexicans coming from behind the hacienda blocked their way.

After a short decision-making, the captain chose to reach the hacienda with its farmyard instead, to defend themselves inside until a potential reinforcement could arrive. The men formed a new infantry square and stopped the advancing group of Mexicans. Then they fixed bayonets and launched a charge. Mexicans withdrew in a hurry and the legionnaires successfully entered the farmyard.





La Trinidad Hacienda

La Trinidad Hacienda was built in 1814-17 by Spanish Lord Ferrer. Later the property of the Alarcon family, it was abandoned in the late 1850s due to the Reform War in Mexico (1858-60). The hacienda was a Spanish colonial building with a farmyard forming a square, with about 55 yards (50 m) long stone-built walls. The walls were roughly 10 feet (3 m) tall. The north side of the building facing the road had a raised, whitewashed facade with at least one entry/doorway (without doors) close to the western corner. On the other side of the facade, inside the farmyard, a three-room house of an unspecified length, comprising a first/ground floor + attic.

On the western side, the wall was pierced by two large gateways. Both gateways were without gates, however. The legionnaires barricaded them and a group of 6-8 men was put to guard each gateway.

A plan to occupy the house and defend themselves there was thwarted by an unspecified number of Mexicans. The legionnaires discovered that two house rooms had already been seized by the enemy (having broken in through another entry from the outside??). So, two groups of legionnaires (14 men) seized the last room instead, situated in the western part of the house, being open to the road by the entry without doors and to the farmyard by a window. Another big, closed door connected this room with the two others.

A small group of Sergeant Morzycki (born in France, a son of a Polish officer) jumped up onto the roof of the house to observe the surroundings.

On the eastern side of the farmyard, in the southeastern corner, the wall was interrupted by an old opening about 3,3 feet (1 m) wide. Around this hole, a ruined wall of a former shed. Another group of legionnaires was placed there to guard the old opening.

The rest of legionnaires were placed between the two gateways, along the wall, as a reserve, keeping an eye on the house (to shoot any Mexican having appeared in the window) and on the upper part of the walls.

Meanwhile, according to Colonel Milan, he and a small group of his cavalrymen hurried to his field camp to inform the rest of Mexican troops about the situation and to get a reinforcement.





Preparing for the battle

Captain Danjou took his bottle of wine and distributed it among his men. Each legionnaire got a few drops in the hand. The only liquid they would have drunk that hot day. It was 9:30 AM (9.30).

A Mexican negotiator arrived (Lieutenant Ramon Lainé, 22 years old, of French origin) and proposed the surrender of the 3rd Company. Still on the roof, Sergeant Morzycki interpreted him the answer of his commander, Captain Danjou:

“We have munitions. We will not surrender!”

Thereafter, Captain Danjou asked his men to fight bravely to the finish. They made a pledge. Shortly afterwards, around 9:45, the battle started.

Battle of Camerone – April 30, 1863

09:45 – 11:00 AM

– Fierce fighting

– the fights started

– the legionnaires were attacked from all sides

– the worst situation was in the house

– in the room with the open entry

– protected by two groups of legionnaires

– being under attack from the road

– during the fighting, Mexicans were most likely reinforced

– by the remaining cavalrymen of Colonel Milan

11:00 AM

– Captain Danjou killed

– the defenders lost their captain

– he was shot in the chest

– after having visited the house

– when returning to the reserve

– Captain Danjou died within five minutes

– Second Lieutenant Vilain took command





11:05 AM

– House abandoned

– at the same time, the house had to be abandoned

– after more than a hour of fierce fighting

– Mexicans smashed down the closed door

– connecting the rooms inside the house

– legionnaires withdrew

– from 14 men, only 5 left now

– they reinforced the remaining Legion positions

– however, Mexicans didn’t gain an advantage

– well-shooting legionnaires kept an eye on the house

– they fired at every Mexican having appeared there

12:00 AM

– Mexican reinforcement

– at noon, the battle was suspended

– the attackers were reinforced again

– by three infantry battalions

– originated in Veracruz, Cordova and Jalapa

– some 1,200 men altogether

– Jalapa infantrymen had kepis instead of sombreros

12:15 AM

– Second proposal to surrender

– Lieutenant Lainé arrived once again

– he made his second proposal to surrender

– Sergeant Morzycki rejected it in an undiplomatic manner

– his answer infuriated the attackers

– the battle continued

– Sergeant Morzycki rejoined the men inside the farmyard

12:15 AM – 02:30 PM (14.30)

– Mexican assaults + terrain modification

– the legionnaires faced waves of assaults

– aimed at two gateways + old opening

– in the house, Mexicans tried to pierce a hole in the wall

– to get access to the farmyard

– on the eastern side, the wall was also perforated

– the attackers did several battlements

– to shoot easily at legionnaires

– moreover, Mexicans pierced a huge hole

– about ten-foot (3 m) wide, in the same eastern wall

– because of that, the Legion reserve had to change their position





02:00 PM (14.00)

– Reserve to change their position

– the reserve had to change their position

– because of the huge hole made by Mexicans

– pierced right opposite the Legion reserve

– the reserve was the largest group of legionnaires

– until now, placed between the two gateways

– the reserve desided to move to the south

– between the southern gateway and the southwestern corner

– two sheds were situated there

– Two sheds in the south-west

– the first shed was in good condition

– a wooden shed with well-preserved walls

– built next to the southern gateway

– the second one in the corner was open (no walls)

– only a dilapidated roof remained

– being supported by two or three wooden piles

– standing on a low brick wall

– the reserve would occupy it

– led by Second Lieutenant Maudet

– Reserve reinforced

– at the same time, the reserve was reinforced

– by the group having defended the southern gateway

– reportedly, this gateway “hadn’t been attacked anymore”

– there are any other info to explain that

– the group joined the reserve in the open shed





02:30 PM (14.30)

– Second Lieutenant Vilain killed

– after having visited the old opening

– when crossing the farmyard

– in direction of the northern gateway

– he was visiting the posts personally

– as did Captain Danjou

– to encourage their men

– Second Lieutenant Vilain was shot in the head

– he died immediately

– Second Lieutenant Maudet took command







– Terrible conditions

– the legionnaires suffered much during the battle

– the tropical sun was really beating down

– it was very hot and sultry

– the men were hungry and, above all, very thirsty

– they hadn’t drunk anything during last seven hours

– except for the few drops of their captain’s wine

– the men had swollen tongues and chapped lips

– suffered from thirst, several of the wounded lost their mind

– they started to harm themselves, their open wounds

– to draw blood to suck it thereafter

– the rest of legionnaires had to drink their own urine

– on top of that, the defenders fought among their dead

– there wasn’t anybody to carry their killed comrades away

– nevertheless, they didn’t even think of surrender

03:00 PM – 04:30 PM (15:00 – 16:30)

– Fire

– at the time, the situation got worse

– Mexicans were all around

– crossing the farmyard wasn’t no more possible

– then, the enemy set the hacienda on fire

– first, a shed outside, in the north-east

– then, the fire spread over the hacienda

– a heavy smoke smothered the legionnaires

– the smoke intensified also their thirst

– moreover, it blocked their view on the farmyard

– about one and a half hours later, the fire was over





04:30 PM – 05:00 PM (16:30 – 17:00)

– Mexican advance

– thanks to the fire, Mexicans advanced

– they fixed their positions inside the farmyard

– to shoot easily at the legionnaires

– the two last forward posts of the company suffered a lot

– northern gateway + old opening

– they lost the majority of their defenders

– the northern gateway was defended by a single legionnaire

– the old opening was defended by four legionnaires

05:00 PM – 05:30 PM (17:00 – 17:30)

– Pause

– at five o’clock, the attackers withdrew

– the battle was suspended

– at the moment, only 12 combat-ready legionnaires left

– led by Second Lieutenant Maudet

– out of 65 men, 52 had already been killed or wounded

– 2 officers + 50 legionnaires

– Colonel Milan’s call to Mexicans

– Colonel Milan came to visit his men

– gathered outside the hacienda

– he gave an ardent speech

– to finish the battle and capture the legionnaires

– if not, it would be a “big shame” for all Mexicans

– Third (and last) proposal to surrender

– the third offer to surrender was made

– the legionnaires didn’t even answer

– the battle resumed

05:30 PM – 05:45 PM (17:30 – 17:45)

– Severe Mexican attacks

– after the pause, the battle resumed

– severe attacks aimed at the legionnaires

– conducted by Mexicans coming from all openings

– Northern gateway seized

– shortly after, the northern gateway was overrun

– Corporal Berg, its last defender, was captured

– however, the reserve were aiming at the gateway

– they fired at every attacker trying to enter the farmyard

– in ten minutes, more than 20 Mexicans were killed there

– Old opening seized

– at the same time, the old opening was overrun too

– defended by four legionnaires

– Corporal Magnin + Corporal Pinzinger

– legionnaires Gorski and Kunassek

– their were attacked from behind

– by Mexicans coming from the north

– the legionnaires were captured





05:45 PM – 06:00 PM (17:45 – 18:00)

– Last legionnaires

– after the two posts were overrun, only the reserve left

– during the next 15 minutes, another 3 legionnaires were killed

– Sergeant Morzycki + legionnaires Bertolotto and Leonhard

– thereafter, only 5 men of the 3rd Company left

– Second Lieutenant Maudet + Corporal Maine

– legionnaires Cateau + Constantin + Wensel

– they almost ran out of ammunition

06:00 PM (18:00)

– Final assault

– at six o’clock, Mexicans occurred everywhere

– they slowly advanced to the open shed

– in the south-west corner

– occupied by the last defenders

– Second Lieutenant Maudet ordered last fusillade

– to be followed by a bayonet charge

– the charge would by led by Maudet

– Mexicans fired back at the charging defenders

– legionnaire Cateau jumped in front of his leader

– he received 19 bullets and died

– still, Second Lieutenant Maudet was badly wounded

– legionnaire Wensel was also wounded

– meanwhile, the last defenders were quickly surrounded

– by Mexicans with fixed bayonets being aimed at them

– at this moment, the battle was over



A Mexican officer (Colonel Angel Cambas, of French origin) step out and ordered his troops to cease fire and spare the last three legionnaires. He allowed them to keep their equipment and promised them to take care of badly wounded Second Lieutenant Maudet. Then, under his protection, they were going to meet Colonel Milan in his provisional field camp, established during the battle not far from the hacienda.

Fifteen minutes later, the three legionnaires being accompanied by the Mexican officer reached the provisional field camp. When amazed Colonel Milan saw the last three defenders, he exclaimed:

“That’s all what is left?? These aren’t men, they are devils!”

The legionnaires got something to drink and eat and waited for their wounded comrades. Thereafter, around 08:30 PM (20.30), Mexicans and legionnaires left Camerone for La Joya, the main camp of Colonel Milan situated some 3 miles (5 km) in the north-east, between two local rivers.

1863 Battle of Camerone: Aftermath

The 3rd Company, 1st Battalion, Foreign Regiment was annihilated. The majority of its men were killed or wounded. However, even Colonel Milan and his troops suffered important losses. At least 300 Mexicans are estimated to be killed or wounded. Between the killed, Lieutenant Colonel José Ayala (Chief of Staff of Colonel Milan), Captain Francisco Zaragoza and his brother Lieutenant Vicente Zaragoza, or a chief of the guerrillas Peréz.

As a result, the operation to seize the French convoy was cancelled. Moreover, being fearful of the French retaliation, Colonel Milan and his men left hurriedly the region.

The way for both French important convoys was safe. They reached Puebla and two weeks later, the besieged city was finally captured by the French. The road to Mexico City was open. Another three weeks later, June 10, the French forces of General Bazaine entered the capital and captured it for the French Empire. Benito Juaréz fled.

The ultimate sacrifice of a small company of brave legionnaires resulted in the fall of the Mexican government and an important French victory.





3rd Company: Results of the battle

During the battle, the company suffered heavy losses: 2 officers were killed, an officer was badly wounded. As for the men, the figures are not completely accurate (they varied even in 1863). Jean Brunon, a honorable member of the Legion, stated in his Camerone from 1963 that the following numbers (provided by General Zédé in his memories published in the 1930s) should be the most accurate:

– 30 legionnaires killed or fatally wounded during the battle

– 19 legionnaires having died from their wounds

– 12 legionnaires (mostly injured) survived the imprisonment

Drummer Casimir Lai, an Italian legionnaire, was found naked and half dead close to the hacienda on May 1, by a Foreign Regiment column. His body was pierced seven times by a lance or a saber, and two times by a bullet. During the cold night, he woke up to find himself among the dead and decided to crawl away. The only member of the company to escape the imprisonment, he eventually survived.

Second Lieutenant Maudet died of his wounds a week later, on May 8.

The majority of imprisoned legionnaires were released in mid-July 1863.





1863 Battle of Camerone: Legend was born

Battle honor and Legion colors

The Battle of Camerone became a crucial moment in history of the French Foreign Legion. It is portrayed as a pure example of bravery and determination of fighting to the finish. An example to be followed by every legionnaire. The phrase “gonna make Camerone” (on va faire Camerone) became popular among legionnaires, clearly expressing their will to fight to the last bullet.

In response to this famous action, then French Emperor Napoleon III prescribed the name of Camerone as a battle honor to be emblazoned on the Foreign Regiment’s regimental color. Today, this battle honor is seen on all Foreign Legion flags and standards.

Also, it’s more than sure that the green and red colors of Mexico on the French Empire’s Medal of the Mexican Expedition (issued in 1863) were adopted by the Legion to become its official colors. By the way, the design of this medal decorates the current regimental badge of the Foreign Legion’s “Motherhouse” – 1st Foreign Regiment.





Camerone Day

During the next decades, after an unintended withdrawal from Mexico in 1867, sad events in France of 1870-71, the famous campaign in Indochina in the 1880s and the bloody world war in 1914-18, the Battle of Camerone had been all but forgotten. This changed in 1931, when then Foreign Legion chief General Rollet (the popular commander called Father of the Legion) decided to give the Legion its new character and ideology, lost after WWI, to improve moral and esprit de corps of this unique military unit.

The 30th April of 1931 was designated for both the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Foreign Legion’s creation (although it should be March 10) and the first official commemoration of the epic Battle of Camerone. General Rollet determined that the day marking the famous battle is much more important than the birthday… and it hasn’t changed since then.

The 30th April has become the most important holiday of the Foreign Legion, called Camerone Day. It is proudly commemorated even by the smallest Legion unit in the most isolated place of the planet. Narration of Camerone (Recit de Camerone), telling of the story, is inseparable from the ceremony. The legend was born.





Captain Danjou’s wooden hand

In Algeria in early May 1853, Captain Jean Danjou lost his left hand during a topographical expedition, when he was giving a signal gunshot and the canon of his musket exploded. Because of that, he wore a precisely-made wooden hand instead.

This wooden hand was stolen at the hacienda by a Mexican as a souvenir and wasn’t discovered until 1865, when an Austrian officer Grueber of the Austrian Legion (allies of France) found it in a ranch, bought it and handed it over to Marshal Bazaine, then the chief of the French forces in Mexico and a former NCO (and an officer) with the Foreign Legion. Thereafter, the hand was transferred to Algeria, to the HQ of the Legion.

Today, the wooden hand of Captain Jean Danjou is paraded annually on Camerone Day in Aubagne, the Legion’s current HQ in southern France, carried by a designated veteran – a legionnaire, NCO or an officer. To be designated to carry the wooden hand of Captain Danjou during Camerone Day is seen as the most deserved honor for any veteran of the French Foreign Legion.





1863 Battle of Camerone: Additional information

War Memorial at Camarón

In 1863, a simple wooden cross was raised at Camerone by the Foreign Regiment. In 1892, a small official tomb was built there by the then French ambassador in Mexico. Finally, a large war memorial replaced that tomb in the 1960s.

Camarón: La Trinidad Hacienda

The original La Trinidad Hacienda was built in 1814-17 and abandoned in the late 1850s due to the Reform War in Mexico (1858-60). In November 1864, a French railway reached Camerone. We don’t know if the farmyard still existed back then. However, a new village was established around the new station, a few hundred yards/meters distant from the original one. Thereafter, the railway was modernized in the 1890s and the location moved a little bit once again. The farmyard has been presented as demolished since then.

Today, a hacienda in the center of the town of Camarón is presented to tourists as the original La Trinidad Hacienda, occupied by the legionnaires of Captain Danjou during the epic battle. Its then interior side should be the current exterior facade and the building measures much less than 55 yards (50 m). But whatever we may think, if you are interested in the battle and think about visiting the town, visit also the hacienda.

3rd Company: Forgotten officers

Captain J. Cazes. The official commander of the 3rd Company, 1st Battalion, Foreign Regiment, when the Battle of Camerone happened. An officer since 1852, Captain J. Cazes was being detached to lead Medellin, a smaller outpost south-west of Veracruz. By an unbelievable quirk of fate, this forgotten officer followed almost the same destiny as Captain Jean Danjou, who replaced him for a one-day mission on April 30, 1863. Captain Cazes himself became an Adjutant, of the 2nd Battalion. In early March 1866, he was killled in front of the hacienda of Santa Isabel (Mexico), during a tragic battle considered as the second, but needless “Camerone”. A sad affair of Major Brian, his chief.



Lieutenant Gans. Another official member of the 3rd Company, 1st Battalion and one of its three original officers, alongside Captain Cazes and Second Lieutenant Vilain. At the time of the Battle of Camerone, Lieutenant Gans with 15 years of service (most likely also a former legionnaire promoted to the officer rank, just as Vilain and Maudet) was suffering from malaria. In February 1867, when the Foreign Regiment was leaving Mexico, the men made a stopover at Camerone to pay homage to their fallen comrades, for the last time. Deeply moved Lieutenant Gans said to his friend that his place had to be there, among his dead men. He died back in Algeria a few weeks later, from a disease caught in the Tropical lowlands of Mexico. He had 19 years of service and took part in many campaigns.



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Main information & images sources:

Testimony of Louis Maine (Revue des Deux Mondes, III. period, 1878)

Official report on the battle by Major Regnault, August 1863

Report on the battle by Colonel Milan, May 1863

Camerone by Jean Brunon (France-Empire, 1963)

Képi blanc magazines

Vert et Rouge magazines

The Mexican Adventure 1861-67 by René Chartrand (Osprey Military, 1994)

Camerone by Pierre Sergent (Historia, 1981)

Sur le Camerone by Pierre Sergent (RHA, 1980)

Veracruz State bulletin (July 2007)

Google Maps

Wikipedia.org



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More from the Foreign Legion’s history:

1908 Forthassa Disaster

Foreign Legion in the Balkans: 1915-1919

1932 Turenne Rail Accident

1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu

1976 Loyada Hostage Rescue Mission

1976 Djibouti helicopter crash

1978 Battle of Kolwezi

1982 Mont Garbi Accident



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The page was updated on: April 29, 2019

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