Battle of Camarón

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Camarón


caption=Battle of Camarón
partof=the French intervention in Mexico
date=April 30, 1863
place=Hacienda Camarón, near Palo Verde, Mexico
result=Mexican victory, successful French delaying action
combatant1=flagicon|Mexico|1823 United Mexican States
combatant2=flagicon|France 2nd French Empire
commander1=Colonel Milan
commander2=Jean Danjou †
strength1=800 cavalry,
1200 infantry
strength2=3 officers
62 soldiers
casualties1= 300 killed, 300 wounded
casualties2=43 killed, 19 captured

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, Lt Maudet and Lt Vilain, numbering 62 soldiers and 3 officers was attacked and besieged by a force that may have eventually reached 2,000 [http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/E/escape_to_the_legion/legion.html] Mexican infantry and cavalry, and was forced to make a defensive stand at the nearby Hacienda Camarón, in Camarón de Tejeda, Veracruz, Mexico.

Background

As part of the French intervention in Mexico, a French army commanded by the 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.

The battle

On the 30th of April, at 1 a.m., the 3rd company — 62 soldiers and 3 officers — was en route. At 7 a.m., after a 15-mile march, they stopped at Palo Verde to rest. Soon after, a Mexican Army force of 600 cavalry 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 army.

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, an oath which was seconded by the men. Around mid-day the Mexicans were increased in size by the arrival of 1,200 infantry.

At noon, Captain Danjou was shot in the chest and died; his soldiers continued fighting despite overwhelming odds under the command of an inspired Lt. Vilain, 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 beaten to the earth. Colonel Milan, commander of the Mexicans, managed to prevent his men from ripping the surviving legionnaires to pieces. When the last two survivors were asked to surrender, they insisted that Mexican soldiers allow them safe passage home, to keep their arms, and to escort the body of Captain Danjou. To that, the Mexican commander commented, "What can I refuse to such men? No, these are not men, they are devils," and, out of respect, agreed to these terms.

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 for the Legionnaires, when the wooden prosthetic hand of Capitaine Danjou is brought out for display and veneration in special ceremonies at the Legion headquarters at Aubagne, France.

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 containing a plaque with the following inscription in French :"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".

Notes

The site of the battle can be visited at the village of Cameron de Tejeda, Veracruz. This village was formerly known as El Camerón, and later as Adalberto Tejeda, Villa Tejeda or Camaron de Tejeda.

In the village is a monument erected by the Mexican government in 1964 honoring the Mexican soldiers who fought in the battle. There is also a memorial site and parade ground on the outskirts of the village. The memorial has a raised platform, which covers the resting place of the remains of French and Mexican soldiers disinterred in the 1960’s. The surface of the platform has a plaque in Latin. Diligent search of the area has failed to locate the plaque with the 1892 French language inscription referred to above.

Every year on April 30th the Mexican government holds annual ceremonies at the memorial site, with political speakers and a parade of various Mexican military units. The village holds a fiesta on the same day. The ceremonies are sometimes attended by representatives of the French military, and the site is also visited by retired veterans of the French Foreign Legion.

The village of Adalberto Tejeda (also known as Villa Tejeda, Camaron de Tejeda, or simply El Camarón) is located on secondary roads about 25 to 30 km west of the town of Soledad de Doblado, Veracruz, and about 64 km. west of the city of Veracruz. The 1964 monument is in the center of town. The memorial and parade ground, know as El Mausoleo (the Mausoleum), is a few blocks away on the edge of the village, near the town cemetery. The coordinates of the village of Adalberto Tejeda are Lat. 19.0216°; Long. -96.6154.

Reference verifying Notes:
* [http://www.johntoddjr.com/07%20El%20Camaron/el%20camaron0.html John Todd, Jr. locates site and visits site of Battle of Camarón]
* [http://www.johntoddjr.com/66%20Camaron/camaron1.htm John Todd, Jr. visits site of Battle of Camarón on 4/30/04 anniversary]
* [http://www.johntoddjr.com/112%20Camaron/camaronshow.htm John Todd, Jr. visits site of Battle of Camarón, and surveys monument and memorial, seeking 1892 plaque]
* [http://www.johntoddjr.com/123%20Camaron/camaron01.htm John Todd Jr. visits site of Battle of Camarón once again, seeking 1892 plaque, and recalling 4/30/05 anniversary]

External links

* [http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/E/escape_to_the_legion/legion.html About the Legion and the Battle]
* [http://www.lalegion.de/camerone_index.html lalegion.de The official battle report]
* [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/legion/ecameron.htm The Battle of Camerone]
* [http://www.forum-lalegionetrangere.fr/f72/le-recit-du-combat-de-camerone-4516/ French Foreign Legion Website with statistics about the battle]
* [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camar%C3%B3n_de_Tejeda_(Veracruz)] Website of village of Camaron de Tejada, Veracruz (in Spanish).