Here ‘s the pulp story I was supposed to post back on Camerone Day but I had too many things on my to-do lists back then so it had to wait. (Yes, I have multiple lists; one big one that my wife gives me and my own.) This one appeared in the May 1948 issue of Adventure. Fictional last stand battles of the French Foreign Legion are a specialty of the author, Robert Carse, so it was interesting to see how he approaches this historical last stand.
The story begins in the maelstrom of the battle at Camerone and crusty old Legionnaire Waldemar Karig, slightly wounded and taking pulls from his canteen containing the local brew known as pulque, takes cover behind the wall of the hacienda. (Of course there was no Legionnaire Karig at this famous battle and I’m pretty sure that Robert Carse, a U.S. Merchant Marine sailor during the war, is paying some tribute to the popular writer and Navy Captain Walter Karig who is alleged to have served in the Foreign Legion in WWI.) Legionnaire Karig somehow escapes from the battle with his beloved mule Suzy but only after he removes the wooden hand of the fallen Captain Jean Danjou. What follows is a wonderful alternative history of how the famous hand made it’s way back to the Foreign Legion’s headquarters and their Salle d’honneur at Side Bel Abbes, Algeria. It contains elements of actual events, people and places but also takes some liberties with the truth such as how Danjou lost his hand in the first place. It’s a delightful read and well written. Old Waldemar Karig is a well developed character as well–one of the ancient Legion with a penchant for drink and caring for his mules.
Note: The entire issue of this issue of Adventure can be found here in .cbr format.
Mon Legionnaire 