30th April 1863. The Battle of Cameron, in Mexico.
62 Legionnaires and 3 Officers.
800 Mexican Calvary and two thousand foot soldiers.
The Mexican officer called on the French to surrender twice. "Merde"was the reply. Finally a surrender was accepted. 43 French dead, 17 wounded. 190 Mexicans died. Some of those 17 wounded died. Major Campos said "These are not men, they are demons", surveying the carnage
Excuse the ramble. However you might agree that to give a blanket condemnation to a whole country is not just. Each country has legends of at least one great act of courage by it's soldiers.
The Universal Soldier ( Hank Williams Sr).
And in every surrender, there is usually a moment when slaughter is the only other possible outcome. The British at Singapore were left with a Royal Navy that had been destroyed and complete loss of the air.
At Bataan, no rescue was coming for the American forces.
At Stalingrad, the Germans faced surrender or the death of everyone. No victory or escape was possible.
At Dunkirk, the Brits leaving was the only sane strategic choice. They could stay with the French, die, and leave England defenseless. Or they could retreat and prepare for the German attack.
The Germans in North Africa were cut off and surrendered by the tens of thousands.
Besides the American west against Indians, and the Japanese on islands, most battles are not fought to utter annihilation. Only armchair Generals think otherwise.
But the French soldier is a solid performer. Always has been, and still is. And generals everywhere in that era pretty much sucked.
Battle of Cameron, the end.
By 18:00, with ammunition exhausted, the last of Danjou’s soldiers, numbering only five, including Lt. Maudet, desperately mounted a bayonet charge. Two men fell outright, while the rest were surrounded. Victor Catteau, had leapt in front of Maudet in an effort to protect him, and died in the Mexican barrage. Major Campos ordered the legionnaires to surrender, to which Corporal Phillipe Maine answered, “We will surrender if you leave us our weapons and our equipment. You also have to promise to take care of our wounded lieutenant.”
When Campos brought the trio to Milan, he asked, “Is this all of them? Is this all of the men who are left?” Then, in amazement, he exclaimed, “These are not men! They are demons!”
Each year, the French Foreign Legion commemorates the battle of Camarón in its headquarters in Aubagne.
As promised, Lt. Maudet was treated on the battlefield by Dr. Francisco Talavera.