Although he cannot spell Camerone... I bet a beer his account has been read by many, many, many more people over the last 10 years than in any Legion books.
By that I mean, he reaches a very wide audience... and I think probably fires up the imagination...
I remember camerone every year, standing with presented arms, the kepi biting into the forehead, frowninh and waggling my ears to reduce the pain... while the recital of the battle was read out....
But I gotta admit... his version is not bad either...
In 1863 the French Emperor Napoleon III was being a dumbshit and trying to ###### with Mexico for some reason that is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. The important thing for this story is that the French Army was besieging the Mexican town of Puebla, and it wasn't really going so hot for them. - See more at: http://www.badassoftheweek.com/index.cgi?id=352802417164#sthash.44PV0mr6.dpuf
The Mexican commander approached the Cameron Inn under a flag of peace. He told Danjou, "you guys are basically ######ed so you might as well just give up". Danjou looked at him cooly and responded: "We have munitions. We will not surrender." The Legion began to fortify their position, and the Mexicans attacked. - See more at: http://www.badassoftheweek.com/index.cgi?id=352802417164#sthash.44PV0mr6.dpuf