Opposed to Maximilian is Juarez, who leads the Mexican resistance.
Juarez leads 20,000 men.
Escorting the convoy is the Third Company of the First Battalion of the Foreign Legion. Its effective strength (due to yellow fever) is 62 legionnaires (no officers). Three officers volunteer to go with them: Captain Danjou, Lt. Vilain (the pay officer), and 2nd Lt. Maudet.
The Mexican sector commander, Colonel Milan, learns of the convoy and makes plans to capture it. He musters 2,000 men (including 800 cavalry armed with Remington and Winchester rifles). The French have no idea that a large Mexican force is in the area.
Before 7 a.m. on 30 April, the convoy passes through the village of Camerone. A mile later, the legionnaires halt and make fires to boil coffee. At that moment, the Mexican cavalry attacks.
The legionnaires form square. The terrain is not good for a cavalry attack, due to waist-high grass and clumps of tropical vegetation. Milan's men are kept at a distance by French volleys, and maneuver instead to surround the legionnaires. The Legion's mules have run off, taking the rations and reserve ammunition with them.
To avoid being surrounded, the legionnaires move (still in square) the mile back to Camerone. They arrive with 42 men left, including wounded. The village consists of a farmhouse and outbuildings, plus some ruined hovels, all enclosed in a courtyard. The French begin setting up barricades and improving their positions.
At 9 a.m., the Mexican infantry (three battalions, 1200 men) arrive. They make several assaults on Camerone. Around noon, Milan calls on the legionnaires to surrender. Danjou instead persuades his men to fight to the end.
About this time, a Mexican assault reaches the upper story of the farmhouse. Danjou is killed, and Vilain is in charge. Two hours later, Vilain is slain, and Maudet takes command.
At 5 p.m., only Maudet and 12 legionnaires remain alive. The Mexicans light the farmhouse on fire, forcing the French to flee across the courtyard to an outhouse. The legionnaires still refuse to surrender.
After a brief lull, the Mexicans mass and slowly approach the outhouse. It is 6 p.m. Maudet and the 5 survivors fire a volley, then charge the Mexicans with bayonets fixed. They are engulfed by the Mexican infantry.
Three of the legionnaires who made the final charge were captured, and survived the battle.
April 30th is celebrated as Camerone Day by the Foreign Legion, and is the most cherished battle in the history of the Legion. The word "Camerone" is inscribed in gold on the walls of Les Invalides in Paris. Danjou's wooden hand rests in the Legion Hall of Honour in Aubagne.
Source: Legionnaire, Appendix.
| Last Updates | |
|---|---|
| 26 May 1997 | removed bad Camerone link |
| 22 June 1996 | link to Camerone website |
| 24 May 1996 | reformatted |
| Comments or corrections? | |