Jean Danjou
Encyclopedia
Jean Danjou was a decorated captain in the French Foreign Legion
. He commanded the two lieutenants and 62 legionnaires who fought the legendary Battle of Camarón
during the French intervention in Mexico
. He was killed during the battle.
into a family with a great military history. At the age of 20, he enlisted in the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
, the foremost French military academy. He graduated from the academy as a 2nd lieutenant.
After graduation from Saint-Cyr, Danjou was transferred to Algeria
, to assist French colonization efforts. It was here that he lost his hand in combat on 1 May 1853 when his rifle misfired and exploded in his hands. He had a wooden prosthetic hand made, which he used for the rest of his life. Danjou was promoted to 1st lieutenant on 24 December 1853.
As a 1st lieutenant, Danjou was part of the French army that fought in the Crimean War
, and served during the Siege of Sevastopol. He was promoted to captain on 9 June 1855.
His next campaign during the Austro-Sardinian War, where in 1859 he fought in the Battle of Magenta
and the Battle of Solférino
.
After serving in Morocco
for some time, Danjou was part of the French expeditionary corps
sent to Mexico
in 1862. He was the quartermaster
of Colonel
Jeanningros, who was in charge of the Foreign Legion regiment in Mexico. It was the duty of the French Legion to ensure the movement and safety of French supply convoys.
On 29 April, Colonel Jeanningros was informed that an important convoy was on its way to Puebla
with three million francs and material and munitions for the siege. Danjou decided to send a company to escort the convoy. The 3rd company of the Foreign Regiment was assigned to this mission, but had no officers available. Danjou himself took command. Two others officiers volunteered for this mission : 2nd Lt. Jean Vilain, Regimental Financial Officer, and 2nd Lt. Clément Maudet, Regimental Colours-Bearer.
to rest. Soon after, a Mexican force of 2,000 soldiers (800 cavalry
and 1,200 infantry
) was spotted. Danjou had the company take up a square formation
and, even though retreating, he drove back several cavalry charges, inflicting the first heavy losses on the enemy.
Looking for a more defensible position, Danjou decided to make a stand at the nearby Hacienda Camarón, an inn protected by a 10 foot (3 m) high wall. His plan was to tie up the enemy forces to prevent any attacks on the nearby convoy. While the legionnaires prepared a defense of the inn, the Mexican commander, Colonel Milan, demanded that Danjou and his men surrender, pointing out the fact that the Mexican Army was greatly superior in number. Danjou went around to each of his men with a bottle of wine and made them all swear not to surrender.
At noon, Danjou was shot in the chest and died. His soldiers continued to fight, despite overwhelming odds and the extreme heat until 6 p.m. The 60 men, who had had nothing to eat or drink since the day before, resisted many charges of the Mexican army. The last five survivors were all down to their very last bullet. Instead of dishonour, they decided to charge with fixed bayonets. When they did, the Mexican commander ordered his troops to cease fire. Out of admiration for their courage, he spared the surviving men and allowed them to form an honour guard for the body of Captaine Danjou. They were released to return to France. This story has become legendary in French military history.
Danjou was buried on 3 May 1863 in Camarón.
After the battle, a Mexican named Ramirez took Danjou's wooden hand. Ramirez was arrested and the hand retrieved by Lieutenant Karl Grübert of the Austrian army, which replaced the Foreign Legion in this conflict on 17 July 1865. Today, Danjou's wooden hand is paraded annually on April 30, Camerone Day.
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
. He commanded the two lieutenants and 62 legionnaires who fought the legendary Battle of Camarón
Battle of Camarón
The Battle of Camarón, which occurred 30 April 1863 between the French Foreign Legion and the Mexican army, is regarded by the Legion as a defining moment in its history...
during the French intervention in Mexico
French intervention in Mexico
The French intervention in Mexico , also known as The Maximilian Affair, War of the French Intervention, and The Franco-Mexican War, was an invasion of Mexico by an expeditionary force sent by the Second French Empire, supported in the beginning by the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain...
. He was killed during the battle.
Education
Jean Danjou was born in ChalabreChalabre
Chalabre is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.The capital of the Kercorb is a relatively unspoilt bastide with shady streets and quiet alleyways....
into a family with a great military history. At the age of 20, he enlisted in the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
, the foremost French military academy. He graduated from the academy as a 2nd lieutenant.
Military career
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, to assist French colonization efforts. It was here that he lost his hand in combat on 1 May 1853 when his rifle misfired and exploded in his hands. He had a wooden prosthetic hand made, which he used for the rest of his life. Danjou was promoted to 1st lieutenant on 24 December 1853.
As a 1st lieutenant, Danjou was part of the French army that fought in the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, and served during the Siege of Sevastopol. He was promoted to captain on 9 June 1855.
His next campaign during the Austro-Sardinian War, where in 1859 he fought in the Battle of Magenta
Battle of Magenta
The Battle of Magenta was fought on June 4, 1859 during the Second Italian War of Independence, resulting in a French-Sardinian victory under Napoleon III against the Austrians under Marshal Ferencz Gyulai....
and the Battle of Solférino
Battle of Solferino
The Battle of Solferino, , was fought on June 24, 1859 and resulted in the victory of the allied French Army under Napoleon III and Sardinian Army under Victor Emmanuel II against the Austrian Army under Emperor Franz Joseph I; it was the last major battle in world...
.
After serving in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
for some time, Danjou was part of the French expeditionary corps
French intervention in Mexico
The French intervention in Mexico , also known as The Maximilian Affair, War of the French Intervention, and The Franco-Mexican War, was an invasion of Mexico by an expeditionary force sent by the Second French Empire, supported in the beginning by the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain...
sent to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1862. He was the quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Jeanningros, who was in charge of the Foreign Legion regiment in Mexico. It was the duty of the French Legion to ensure the movement and safety of French supply convoys.
On 29 April, Colonel Jeanningros was informed that an important convoy was on its way to Puebla
Battle of Puebla
The Battle of Puebla took place on 5 May 1862 near the city of Puebla during the French intervention in Mexico. The battle ended in a victory for the Mexican Army over the occupying French forces...
with three million francs and material and munitions for the siege. Danjou decided to send a company to escort the convoy. The 3rd company of the Foreign Regiment was assigned to this mission, but had no officers available. Danjou himself took command. Two others officiers volunteered for this mission : 2nd Lt. Jean Vilain, Regimental Financial Officer, and 2nd Lt. Clément Maudet, Regimental Colours-Bearer.
The Battle of Camarón
At 1 a.m. on 30 April, the 3rd company was on its way, with three officers and 62 men. At 7 a.m., after a 15 miles (24.1 km) march, it stopped at Palo VerdePalo Verde
-Botany:*Palo Verde trees, several species of the genus Parkinsonia **Mexican Palo Verde **Blue Palo Verde **Yellow or Foothill Palo Verde gay-Places:...
to rest. Soon after, a Mexican force of 2,000 soldiers (800 cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
and 1,200 infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
) was spotted. Danjou had the company take up a square formation
Infantry square
An infantry square is a combat formation an infantry unit forms in close order when threatened with cavalry attack.-Very early history:The formation was described by Plutarch and used by the Romans, and was developed from an earlier circular formation...
and, even though retreating, he drove back several cavalry charges, inflicting the first heavy losses on the enemy.
Looking for a more defensible position, Danjou decided to make a stand at the nearby Hacienda Camarón, an inn protected by a 10 foot (3 m) high wall. His plan was to tie up the enemy forces to prevent any attacks on the nearby convoy. While the legionnaires prepared a defense of the inn, the Mexican commander, Colonel Milan, demanded that Danjou and his men surrender, pointing out the fact that the Mexican Army was greatly superior in number. Danjou went around to each of his men with a bottle of wine and made them all swear not to surrender.
At noon, Danjou was shot in the chest and died. His soldiers continued to fight, despite overwhelming odds and the extreme heat until 6 p.m. The 60 men, who had had nothing to eat or drink since the day before, resisted many charges of the Mexican army. The last five survivors were all down to their very last bullet. Instead of dishonour, they decided to charge with fixed bayonets. When they did, the Mexican commander ordered his troops to cease fire. Out of admiration for their courage, he spared the surviving men and allowed them to form an honour guard for the body of Captaine Danjou. They were released to return to France. This story has become legendary in French military history.
Danjou was buried on 3 May 1863 in Camarón.
After the battle, a Mexican named Ramirez took Danjou's wooden hand. Ramirez was arrested and the hand retrieved by Lieutenant Karl Grübert of the Austrian army, which replaced the Foreign Legion in this conflict on 17 July 1865. Today, Danjou's wooden hand is paraded annually on April 30, Camerone Day.