Gentlemen,
I recently bought a book about the French Foreign Legion ,to go with my other FFL Library,whearas the other books in my collection concentrate on the Airborne troops primarily 2 REP .
This one focussed on the Legion Infantry and though I have heard of Captain Danjou before, this book portrayed vividly the actions of a small Legion force facing overwhelming Mexican oddsback in the Mexican adventure of 1867
Captain Danjou's unit was taken unawares by a much larger Mexican force and forced to defend a small farm around Camerone.
One by one the Legionairres were picked off,a la Beau Geste, including Captain Danjou, who was sniped whilst trying to galvanise his troops.
What really grabbed me though was that the last 5 legionnaires standing ,fixed bayonets and decided to charge the enemy!What guts!!
Apparently ..the remaining NCO a Corporal Main,insisted they would only surrender if they werea llowwed to keep their weapons and tend to their wounded
A request to which the french speaking Mmexican in charge requested.
The last survivors wew a Lt Maudet,Cpl Main and Legionarys Wenzel (A Prussian) and Constantin
To this day,Capt Danjous wooden hand is wheeled out on Camerone day.
A real embodiement of Legion Spirit!!What courage and guts!!!
What historical last stands inspire you gentlemen the most.Can you think of any more?
I,m going to put a post in about the stand of the 25th Foot (Kings Own Scottish Borderers)at the Battle of Minden 1759 later on in this post
Plus what about the 300 Spartans at Thermopalye?
I,d love to hear more about that battle!
Look forward to hearing from you all

the only american ones that realy come to mind are the Alamo and Little BigHorn. Of course the Fort Pillow massacre could be considered, seeing of how all the blacks were put to the sword, maybe their white officers were too.

Thermopolye is a definant.
Alamo is a definant.
Vicksburg, I think it was called.
Goliad is also a good example of why never to trust youre enemy, would have been grand had the garrison not surrendered.
Little big horn wasnt really a last stand. It was a attack made by an egotist based on false intelegence that didnt exactly go according to plan, which brings me to say, not all last stands were in passes nor forts, some of the large, last hoorah type battles were as heroic as many other battles.
Falkirk, Waterloo, Battle of the Bulge, good in thier own rights.

Adobe Walls, around 100 US Infantrymen and frontiersmen and 20 Cavalrymen fight to the last man against around 1000 Indian braves.
around 6 civil war veterans held a desperate reargaurd action killing around 3 times thier number before they were taken down.

It was the biggest american loss prior to Little Bighorn

The Battle of Liege WW1

Belgium forces held out againist the germans longer than anyone expected, in the end the general of the belgium forces was carried ff the battlefield unconcious from the german bombardment

Dien Bien Phu in 1954

A failed French attempt to bring about a change in the war and defeat the Viet Minh.

Oh and on the Battle of The Little Big Horn, I think history gives Custer the shaft, because it was to be a Three pronged attack, the largest of the three prongs turned around after being attacked Un known to Custer. Custer charged into the battle not knowing that he was not to get the support that he needed.

I regard the Ft. Pillow "massacre" as a myth in many ways. Does anybody who has called it such realize what usually happened after a siege?

This isn't so much a last stand, but Pavlov's house in Stalingrad, where Sgt Yakov Pavlov and about 30 Red Army troops held off German attempts to take the house for 8 weeks. Pavlov is known to this day as the Landlord of Stalingrad.

the one out of the film zulu i think it was called rourkes drift it was during the boer wars im suprised bl didnt mention it other than that i dont know many although the legend of chuchullain was the ultimate last stand but thats only a legend

1st Zulu War Cliomdubh!!!
Boer War was 1899 -1901,(although there was a 1st Boer War fought 1881)
Many thanks for your input chums!
I suppose we could digress a little,as well as "Last stands" we could include "Victories against Overwhelming Odds"?
I hear Robert Rodriguez is allegedly making a film about the 300 Spartans at Thermopalyae tentatively titled "The 300" Does anyone know any more? :huh:

In 1755 at The Battle of Monongahela.General Braddock was ambushed by French and Indians while on his way to Fort Duquesne.British/American force numbered 1500 and the Indians had between 300-600 plus 30 French Colonials.

Casulties: British and American: 26 officers killed, 37 wounded. 430 soldiers killed and 385 wounded.

French and Indians: probably less than 30 killed. Wounded unknown.

General Braddock was killed and is buried near Uniontown Pa.There is a hugh monument not far from Fort Necessity.

It was the most deaths of white soldiers in one single battle of the Indian Wars in America.

If you like French and Indian War, here is the story.

http://www.britishbattles.com/braddock.htm

I live in the middle of the campaign (not far from Fort Logonier).It was the Frontier in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War.

Sounds like that great battle scene from the film "Last of the Mohicans".
Its probably based on that incident no doubt..... :huh:

What the Story does not tell you is that George Washington was commander of the Virginia Militia.He managed to escape and change history.

(Western Pennsylvania was part of Virginia Colony then.)

Another famous person was at the battle and survived.

Daniel Boone.

He was a mule skinner.

For the USA I would offer....

1.) The Battle of Mogadishu

2.) The Maine regiment that held the Union left at Gettysburg, and then charged with bayonets when they ran out of ammo

3.) The Siege of Khe Sanh

How is Mogadishu a last stand? :blink:

Yes, i would reccomend Rorkes Rift, i've read about it an played many games about it :) Well, lead miniatures.

PyrrhusIV

Hey Mike, could you explain why Khe Sanh is a last stand? Thanks!

http://www.efavata.com/CBM/300.htm

I heard about this last year, but details back then were sketchy

Zach Snyder is directing, with Gerard Butler as Leonidas

Also check http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0416449/fullcredits

They usually keep things relatively updated.

2006 release; I just hope they do it justice B)

I think he's putting Khe Sanh and Mogadishu under victory against overwhelming odds.

For those I suppose San Jacinto(sp?) in wich Sam Houston lead the final defeat of Santa Anna taking the Mexicans completley by suprise and driving them into the river.

Shame to all,

The Alamo. It was the last stand until it was decided that it wouldn't be.

how bout a famous 1st stand?

Bunker Hill baby

Perhaps Wake Island. That's always called the "Alamo of the Pacific".

Oh Here we go!!!
Bunker Hill as in 1775 American War of Indepedence Visigothe?
We did win that one,but as Vgothe pointed out it was a "Phryicc" Victory in the sense that we won,but with tremendous losses to us Brits.
1-0 to you Vgothe.
I won't mention how most of your "Minutemen" ran away at the first sight of the British RedCoat at Lexington though,"The shot that rang around the World" .... <_<

I would have to say the Knights Hospitaller on Malta. Basically outnumber like 30 to 1.

yes BL but with the battle of bunker hill the american stand on Breed's Hill and their refusal to leave until they were out of ammo despite being drastically outnumbered galvanized the american will to fight the red coats

and militia are known for one thing in all wars, retreating

except for Lieutenant-Colonel Charles-Michel de Salaberry and his canadian Voltigeurs that repelled a superior force of american regulars during the war of 1812 and thus saved Montreal from being attacked and started the american retreat out of canada

His greatest claim to fame came at Chateauguay the next Fall, in October 1813, when he intercepted and turned the American troops advancing on Montreal under Gen. Wade Hampton. With regular reports from loyal farmers along the border, de Salaberry knew all of Hampton's movements and troop numbers as the Americans approached the Chateauguay River south-west of Montreal. He ordered the felling of trees to build tangled breastworks of "abatis" in the ravines where the Chateauguay met the English River, then dispersed his troops through the woods. Facing Hampton's force of 4000 troops and 10 cannon, de Salaberry led an advance guard or 250 Voltigeurs plus 50 allied warriors of the Kaunawakee Mohawk nation. The rest of de Salaberry's corps, 1500 men, remained in reserve.

On October 26, when Hampton encountered the barricades, he sent 1500 of his troops to surround the French Canadians. De Salaberry used the twilight and difficult terrain to confuse the enemy, ordering bugles to be blown from several locations and convincing Hampton that a much larger force was lurking in the darkness. Les Voltigeurs then launched a withering fire down into the ravine, inflicting numerous casualties. Unable to outflank de Salaberry, Hampton elected to withdraw back to the American border.

The encounter won fame and honours for de Salaberry, but had he not succeeded, his personal fortunes may have been quite different. He was so convinced that victory would be his that he neglected to report the Americans' advance to his senior officers. Failure would likely have meant court-martial for him and, possibly, the fall of Montreal. The gambit worked, however; Britain struck a gold medal to commemorate the Battle of Chateauguay and de Salaberry became a legendary figure in Quebec history.

it takes balls to fight 4000 men and ten cannons with 300 guys

Yeah, but they sure paid you back at concord later on. ;)

With defeat certain, the govenor of a roman city charges headlong into death with defiance

I am sure to the ones who died there it was.

btw, if you haven't seen "ZULU", which is about Roarke's drift, it is definately worth seeing. Michael Caine's first movie I believe.

Mike

edit: I guess I interpreted the topic to mean famous and heroic "hold the line" fights against overwhelming odds.

Touche Emperer Napoleon,
You got me there old pal!!
It was Brother fighting Brother though!!

Surely Vizigothe,
The incident you are refferring to is a very pro -British statement.
Driving the Americans out of Canada in the 1812-14 war!
i must admit I am a little surprised!(I thought you were having a dig about Bunker Hill thats all!
A nice example of a small force over coming superior odds though!
Many Thanks Sir! ;)

ha pro british they were french canadians

they british got whooped upon later on, in lake Erie and with the death of Techumseh you had merely managed to hold the present border, the war of 1812 ended in a stalemate

neither side gained anything, altho america did lose, i mean the Brits sacked D.C. in the end that war forced america to industrialize

wars may be bad but they do sometimes have good effects in the end.

but yes i have no qualms with the british they put up a tough fight

Not really a last last stand, but the Germans at the Bulge. Quite an enthusiastic offensive to keep hope in German spirit.

What did Patton say?

"They haven't launched an offensive during the winter since Frederick the Great. Therefore I think that is precisely what they will do."

Of course, they ran away (but not until the shooting started). They were poorly-trained militia, armed with deer and squirrel rifles, against the best troops in the world. Also, they did not block the bridge, but rather, stood aside "on the green", as a protest against the British move. The British commander decided to engage them.

No one actually knows who fired the "shot heard round the world". But whoever did ignited a chain of events that is still unfolding in world history.

For example, people talk about Europeans getting to the Americas prior to Columbus, like the Vikings. No matter how many people sailed across the Atlantic before Columbus, it was the voyage of Columbus that changed the world.

The "shot heard round the world" changed world history. And that history didn't change no matter how many times the "colonials" ran from the redcoats. The outcome is what matters ...

Indeed Old Gamer,
And very well said Sir!
America is the greatest nation on the Earth
So perhaps we in the West can look at the shortcomings of my predescessors in trying to bully and intimidate the fledgling United States in the 1770,s and transfer that to the current day.The age of Empires is over :huh:

No. The British weren't bullying anyone, no matter what the perception of it in the colonies. They were simply protecting their own rights. The British commander I mentioned, in the previous post, who decided to engage the Americans on Lexington Green did what he should have done ... he didn't allow a group of armed men to stay unmolested upon his line of communications. However, he didn't reckon with the reaction in the area, after British troops opened fire on Americans (and this caused his force dearly, on its long return to Boston).

All nations, no matter what the level of their strength, will protect their own interests. At this time, the United States of America is the "King on the Mountain", and will act to prevent overwhelming threats from developing. The British did it, and we will do it.

However, thanks to the unique alliance between Mssrs. Bush and Blair, the British people can vicariously share in the joys of empire, here in the 21st Century ...

Thats a very refreshing slant on the Revolutionary War Old Gamer!Coming from an American I mean!
It is oft forgot that many Americans in the 13 colonies wished to remain part of Britain I suppose.
Many Thanks Old Gamer! ;)

You're welcome, sir!

Going out of theme, but I seriously don't believe that.

"The British War of Independance from the Americans" :lol:

It's one way to look at it.

I think it is Pablo!
I mean , I'm not a fan of the Bush regime or its cronies,but America for me embodies all the ideals of freedom,free speech.Look at the spirit that bonded the U.S people post 9/11?
A land where people can become new citizens under the U.S Flag,regardless of creed or culture.Thats what me and the OldGamer just touched upon before when discussing Lexington 1775.."The shot that rang around the World"
Hell,I don't agree with the OldGamer on a lot of things,but I'd stand with him any time if it meant giving up all my freedoms to some crazy Muslim fundamentalist ideology!
But you are right,save this for the Arena!We digress! ;)