Battle of Camarón

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Camarón

Part of the French intervention in Mexico

Battle of Camarón

Date	April 30, 1863
Location	Hacienda Camarón, near Palo Verde, Mexico
Result	Mexican Pyrrhic victory

Combatants

Mexico

France

Commanders

Colonel Milan

Jean Danjou †

Strength

800 cavalry, 1200 infantry

Casualties

300 killed, 300 wounded

59 killed, 3 captured, 3 wounded who escaped after feigning death

The Battle of Camarón occurred on 30 April 1863, between the French Foreign Legion and the Mexican army. In this battle the French Foreign Legion made its legend. A small infantry patrol led by Capitaine Danjou, Sous-Lieutenant Maudet and Sous-Lieutenant Vilain, numbering 62 soldiers and 3 officers was attacked and besieged by more than a thousand[1] Mexican infantry and cavalry units organized into 3 battalions, and was forced to make a defensive stand at the nearby Hacienda Camarón.

1 Background
2 The Battle
3 Aftermath
4 External links

[edit] Background

As part of the French intervention in Mexico, a French army commanded by Count of Lorencez, was besieging the Mexican city of Puebla, in Puebla state. Fearing a logistical shortage, the French sent a convoy with 3 million francs, matériel, and munitions for the siege. The French Foreign Legion detachment was charged with protecting the convoy, and Captain Danjou assigned the 3rd company of the Foreign Regiment. As the company had no officers, Captain Danjou assumed command.

[edit] The Battle

On the 30th of April, at 01.00 hrs, the 3rd company — 62 soldiers and 3 officers — was en route. At 0700 hrs, after a 15-mile march, they stopped at Palo Verde to rest. Soon after, a Mexican Army force of 2,000 soldiers (800 cavalry & 1,200 infantry) was sighted. Captain Danjou ordered the company take up a square formation, and, though retreating, he rebuffed several cavalry charges, inflicting the first heavy losses on the Mexican enemy.

Seeking a more defensible position, Danjou made a stand at the nearby Hacienda Camarón, an inn protected by a 3-metre-high-wall. His plan was to occupy Mexican forces to prevent attacks against the nearby convoy. While his legionnaires prepared to defend the inn, the Mexican commander, Colonel Milan, demanded that Danjou and soldiers surrender, noting the Mexican Army's numeric superiority. Danjou replied: "We have munitions. We will not surrender." He then swore to fight to the death, and had his men second the oath.

At 12.00 hrs, Captain Danjou was shot in the chest and died; his soldiers continued fighting despite overwhelming odds under the command of an inspired Lt. Vilian, who held for four hours before falling during an assault. With ammunition exhausted, the last of Danjou's soldiers, numbering only five under the command of Lt. Maudet, desperately mounted a bayonet charge. Two men died outright, while the rest continued the assault. The tiny group was surrounded and literally beaten to the earth. Colonel Milan, commander of the Mexicans, managed to prevent his men from ripping the surviving legionaires to pieces. When the last two survivors were asked to surrender, they insisted that Mexican soldiers allow them safe passage home, to keep their flag, and to escort the body of Captain Danjou. To that, the Mexican commander commented, "What can I do with such men? No, these are not men, they are devils," and, out of respect, agreed to these terms.

[edit] Aftermath

Thanks to the heroic stand of the Foreign Legion, the French supply convoy made it safely to Puebla. The Mexicans failed to relieve the siege and the city fell on May 17.

Today "Camerone Day" is an important day of celebration for the Legionnaires, when the wooden prosthetic hand of Capitaine Danjou is brought out on display.

After hearing of the battle, French Emperor Napoleon III had the name Camerone embroidered onto the flag of the Foreign Legion.

In 1892, a monument commemorating the battle was erected on the battlefield with the following inscription :"They were here less than sixty opposed to a whole army. Its mass crushed them. Life rather than bravery gave up these French soldiers at Camerone on April, 30 1863. In memory of them, the fatherland has erected this monument".