Charles-Louis du Pin was a noted French military officer, who became a notorious mercenary in the French invasion of Mexico. On his controversial discharge from the army, du PIn had served in several French wars (Algeria, Crimea, Italy and China) around the world, continuing to rise in rank with each conflict and increase in medals
for bravery and service in each campaign. In 1865, he began spelling his name as du Pin.
In 1812, his parents Mayor of Lasgraisses Pierre Paul Charles Louis de Dupin and Marie-Sophie de Genton de Villefranche were wed in Amarens. With the deaths of
his parents, the blue-eyed, blond-haired boy was adopted by Guillaume-Stanislaus Marey-Monge. In 1834, du Pin graduated from the elite École Polytechnique (school) in Palaiseau with a bachelor degree in literature. He also seems to have received advanced training in cartography and early photography here or elsewhere. In Jan. 1837, du pin was commissioned an under-lieutenant and became a pupil at the École d’application d’état-major, where he received infantry and cavalry training for two years. After passing his examination, du Pin was promoted to full-lieutenant in 1839 and assigned to the Government Cartography Service, where he created maps.
After du Pin's promotion to captain, he was deployed to Algeria in 1843 to make maps for the French Army. Capt. du Pin broke out of his academic shell with a fury in the dynamic battle of Smala. On May 16, 1843, Henri d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale's now famous Chasseurs d'Afrique (French light cavalry) charged into the camp of Algerian resistance leader Abd al-Qadir, who was luckily absent at the time. The 500 cavalrymen killed 300, captured 3000 and sent 27000 Algerians running for their lives. Capt. du Pin rode in the forfront of the attack and in a heroic incident saved the life of his lieutenant, which was later immortalized in a painting (see pics) of the one-sided battle by famed artist Émile Jean-Horace Vernet. Like the Duke of Aumale, Capt. du Pin was awarded the chevalier de la Légion d'honneur for his actions. He returned home a minor hero and was made aide de camp to his foster father Gen. Guillaume-Stanislas Marey-Monge. Now Major du Pin, he distinguished himself again in Algeria, then served in the Crimean War. As a lieutenant colonel, du Pin next commanded a cavalry division in support of the 1859 Italian War of Independence. In 1860, full Colonel du Pin was given command of the Topographic Service during the closing months of the Anglo-French Occupation of China in the Second Opium War.
In Mexico, du pin commanded a large counter guerilla force that were known as the Diablos Rojos (The Red Devils) for their red sashes, red coats and possibly blood-thirty treatment of the enemy and Mexican civilians. Col. du Pin was called: el Tigre de la Tropicos (The Tiger of the Tropics), el Vengeur de Camerone, (The Avenger of Camerone). el Monstruo de el Tierra Caliente (The Monster of the Hot Lands), el Hiena de Tamaulipas (The Hyena of Tamaulipas) and el Condottiero (The Mercenary), all of which he seemed to relish.
Col. du Pin died from some form of Meningitis at the military hospital in Montpellier, France.
Rentré en France en 1867, on lui confia pour le récompenser, le poste de chef d'état-major de la division de Montpellier, où il mourut le 3 Octobre 1868
He possibly added the space to his last to make a royal connection to King Louis XIV's stud farm The Haras national du Pin.
Citations :
Cité le 16 Mai 1843 au combat de la Smala (Algérie), par le Duc d'Aumale
Cité le 28 Octobre 1844 au combat de Flissas El Bahr (Algérie), par le Maréchal Bugeaud
Cité le 7 Mars 1846 au combat de Ben Nahr (Algérie), par le colonel Camon
Cité le 13 Mars 1846 au combat de Mengren (Algérie), par le général Yusuf
Cité le 13 Août 1854 pour l'expédition des Zouaves (Algérie), par le Maréchal Randon
Cité le 21 Août 1860 pour la prise du fort Pei-Ho (Chine), par le général de Montauban
Cité le 17 Avril 1864 au combat de San Antonio (Mexique), par le général Bazaine
Décorations :
Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur (27 Novembre 1844), Officier (29 Juillet 1854), Commandeur (26 Décembre 1864)
Médaille de 4è classe de l'ordre du Medjidié
Médaille anglaise de Crimée British Crimea Campaign Medal awarded to certain French units
Médaille sarde de la valeur militaire
Médaille d'Italie
Médaille sarde de Saint Maurice et Lazare
Médaille de Chine
Médaille du Mexique
for bravery and service in each campaign. In 1865, he began spelling his name as du Pin.
In 1812, his parents Mayor of Lasgraisses Pierre Paul Charles Louis de Dupin and Marie-Sophie de Genton de Villefranche were wed in Amarens. With the deaths of
his parents, the blue-eyed, blond-haired boy was adopted by Guillaume-Stanislaus Marey-Monge. In 1834, du Pin graduated from the elite École Polytechnique (school) in Palaiseau with a bachelor degree in literature. He also seems to have received advanced training in cartography and early photography here or elsewhere. In Jan. 1837, du pin was commissioned an under-lieutenant and became a pupil at the École d’application d’état-major, where he received infantry and cavalry training for two years. After passing his examination, du Pin was promoted to full-lieutenant in 1839 and assigned to the Government Cartography Service, where he created maps.
After du Pin's promotion to captain, he was deployed to Algeria in 1843 to make maps for the French Army. Capt. du Pin broke out of his academic shell with a fury in the dynamic battle of Smala. On May 16, 1843, Henri d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale's now famous Chasseurs d'Afrique (French light cavalry) charged into the camp of Algerian resistance leader Abd al-Qadir, who was luckily absent at the time. The 500 cavalrymen killed 300, captured 3000 and sent 27000 Algerians running for their lives. Capt. du Pin rode in the forfront of the attack and in a heroic incident saved the life of his lieutenant, which was later immortalized in a painting (see pics) of the one-sided battle by famed artist Émile Jean-Horace Vernet. Like the Duke of Aumale, Capt. du Pin was awarded the chevalier de la Légion d'honneur for his actions. He returned home a minor hero and was made aide de camp to his foster father Gen. Guillaume-Stanislas Marey-Monge. Now Major du Pin, he distinguished himself again in Algeria, then served in the Crimean War. As a lieutenant colonel, du Pin next commanded a cavalry division in support of the 1859 Italian War of Independence. In 1860, full Colonel du Pin was given command of the Topographic Service during the closing months of the Anglo-French Occupation of China in the Second Opium War.
In Mexico, du pin commanded a large counter guerilla force that were known as the Diablos Rojos (The Red Devils) for their red sashes, red coats and possibly blood-thirty treatment of the enemy and Mexican civilians. Col. du Pin was called: el Tigre de la Tropicos (The Tiger of the Tropics), el Vengeur de Camerone, (The Avenger of Camerone). el Monstruo de el Tierra Caliente (The Monster of the Hot Lands), el Hiena de Tamaulipas (The Hyena of Tamaulipas) and el Condottiero (The Mercenary), all of which he seemed to relish.
Col. du Pin died from some form of Meningitis at the military hospital in Montpellier, France.
Rentré en France en 1867, on lui confia pour le récompenser, le poste de chef d'état-major de la division de Montpellier, où il mourut le 3 Octobre 1868
He possibly added the space to his last to make a royal connection to King Louis XIV's stud farm The Haras national du Pin.
Citations :
Cité le 16 Mai 1843 au combat de la Smala (Algérie), par le Duc d'Aumale
Cité le 28 Octobre 1844 au combat de Flissas El Bahr (Algérie), par le Maréchal Bugeaud
Cité le 7 Mars 1846 au combat de Ben Nahr (Algérie), par le colonel Camon
Cité le 13 Mars 1846 au combat de Mengren (Algérie), par le général Yusuf
Cité le 13 Août 1854 pour l'expédition des Zouaves (Algérie), par le Maréchal Randon
Cité le 21 Août 1860 pour la prise du fort Pei-Ho (Chine), par le général de Montauban
Cité le 17 Avril 1864 au combat de San Antonio (Mexique), par le général Bazaine
Décorations :
Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur (27 Novembre 1844), Officier (29 Juillet 1854), Commandeur (26 Décembre 1864)
Médaille de 4è classe de l'ordre du Medjidié
Médaille anglaise de Crimée British Crimea Campaign Medal awarded to certain French units
Médaille sarde de la valeur militaire
Médaille d'Italie
Médaille sarde de Saint Maurice et Lazare
Médaille de Chine
Médaille du Mexique
Charles-Louis du Pin was a noted French military officer, who became a notorious mercenary in the French invasion of Mexico. On his controversial discharge from the army, du PIn had served in several French wars (Algeria, Crimea, Italy and China) around the world, continuing to rise in rank with each conflict and increase in medals
for bravery and service in each campaign. In 1865, he began spelling his name as du Pin.
In 1812, his parents Mayor of Lasgraisses Pierre Paul Charles Louis de Dupin and Marie-Sophie de Genton de Villefranche were wed in Amarens. With the deaths of
his parents, the blue-eyed, blond-haired boy was adopted by Guillaume-Stanislaus Marey-Monge. In 1834, du Pin graduated from the elite École Polytechnique (school) in Palaiseau with a bachelor degree in literature. He also seems to have received advanced training in cartography and early photography here or elsewhere. In Jan. 1837, du pin was commissioned an under-lieutenant and became a pupil at the École d’application d’état-major, where he received infantry and cavalry training for two years. After passing his examination, du Pin was promoted to full-lieutenant in 1839 and assigned to the Government Cartography Service, where he created maps.
After du Pin's promotion to captain, he was deployed to Algeria in 1843 to make maps for the French Army. Capt. du Pin broke out of his academic shell with a fury in the dynamic battle of Smala. On May 16, 1843, Henri d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale's now famous Chasseurs d'Afrique (French light cavalry) charged into the camp of Algerian resistance leader Abd al-Qadir, who was luckily absent at the time. The 500 cavalrymen killed 300, captured 3000 and sent 27000 Algerians running for their lives. Capt. du Pin rode in the forfront of the attack and in a heroic incident saved the life of his lieutenant, which was later immortalized in a painting (see pics) of the one-sided battle by famed artist Émile Jean-Horace Vernet. Like the Duke of Aumale, Capt. du Pin was awarded the chevalier de la Légion d'honneur for his actions. He returned home a minor hero and was made aide de camp to his foster father Gen. Guillaume-Stanislas Marey-Monge. Now Major du Pin, he distinguished himself again in Algeria, then served in the Crimean War. As a lieutenant colonel, du Pin next commanded a cavalry division in support of the 1859 Italian War of Independence. In 1860, full Colonel du Pin was given command of the Topographic Service during the closing months of the Anglo-French Occupation of China in the Second Opium War.
In Mexico, du pin commanded a large counter guerilla force that were known as the Diablos Rojos (The Red Devils) for their red sashes, red coats and possibly blood-thirty treatment of the enemy and Mexican civilians. Col. du Pin was called: el Tigre de la Tropicos (The Tiger of the Tropics), el Vengeur de Camerone, (The Avenger of Camerone). el Monstruo de el Tierra Caliente (The Monster of the Hot Lands), el Hiena de Tamaulipas (The Hyena of Tamaulipas) and el Condottiero (The Mercenary), all of which he seemed to relish.
Col. du Pin died from some form of Meningitis at the military hospital in Montpellier, France.
Rentré en France en 1867, on lui confia pour le récompenser, le poste de chef d'état-major de la division de Montpellier, où il mourut le 3 Octobre 1868
He possibly added the space to his last to make a royal connection to King Louis XIV's stud farm The Haras national du Pin.
Citations :
Cité le 16 Mai 1843 au combat de la Smala (Algérie), par le Duc d'Aumale
Cité le 28 Octobre 1844 au combat de Flissas El Bahr (Algérie), par le Maréchal Bugeaud
Cité le 7 Mars 1846 au combat de Ben Nahr (Algérie), par le colonel Camon
Cité le 13 Mars 1846 au combat de Mengren (Algérie), par le général Yusuf
Cité le 13 Août 1854 pour l'expédition des Zouaves (Algérie), par le Maréchal Randon
Cité le 21 Août 1860 pour la prise du fort Pei-Ho (Chine), par le général de Montauban
Cité le 17 Avril 1864 au combat de San Antonio (Mexique), par le général Bazaine
Décorations :
Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur (27 Novembre 1844), Officier (29 Juillet 1854), Commandeur (26 Décembre 1864)
Médaille de 4è classe de l'ordre du Medjidié
Médaille anglaise de Crimée British Crimea Campaign Medal awarded to certain French units
Médaille sarde de la valeur militaire
Médaille d'Italie
Médaille sarde de Saint Maurice et Lazare
Médaille de Chine
Médaille du Mexique
for bravery and service in each campaign. In 1865, he began spelling his name as du Pin.
In 1812, his parents Mayor of Lasgraisses Pierre Paul Charles Louis de Dupin and Marie-Sophie de Genton de Villefranche were wed in Amarens. With the deaths of
his parents, the blue-eyed, blond-haired boy was adopted by Guillaume-Stanislaus Marey-Monge. In 1834, du Pin graduated from the elite École Polytechnique (school) in Palaiseau with a bachelor degree in literature. He also seems to have received advanced training in cartography and early photography here or elsewhere. In Jan. 1837, du pin was commissioned an under-lieutenant and became a pupil at the École d’application d’état-major, where he received infantry and cavalry training for two years. After passing his examination, du Pin was promoted to full-lieutenant in 1839 and assigned to the Government Cartography Service, where he created maps.
After du Pin's promotion to captain, he was deployed to Algeria in 1843 to make maps for the French Army. Capt. du Pin broke out of his academic shell with a fury in the dynamic battle of Smala. On May 16, 1843, Henri d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale's now famous Chasseurs d'Afrique (French light cavalry) charged into the camp of Algerian resistance leader Abd al-Qadir, who was luckily absent at the time. The 500 cavalrymen killed 300, captured 3000 and sent 27000 Algerians running for their lives. Capt. du Pin rode in the forfront of the attack and in a heroic incident saved the life of his lieutenant, which was later immortalized in a painting (see pics) of the one-sided battle by famed artist Émile Jean-Horace Vernet. Like the Duke of Aumale, Capt. du Pin was awarded the chevalier de la Légion d'honneur for his actions. He returned home a minor hero and was made aide de camp to his foster father Gen. Guillaume-Stanislas Marey-Monge. Now Major du Pin, he distinguished himself again in Algeria, then served in the Crimean War. As a lieutenant colonel, du Pin next commanded a cavalry division in support of the 1859 Italian War of Independence. In 1860, full Colonel du Pin was given command of the Topographic Service during the closing months of the Anglo-French Occupation of China in the Second Opium War.
In Mexico, du pin commanded a large counter guerilla force that were known as the Diablos Rojos (The Red Devils) for their red sashes, red coats and possibly blood-thirty treatment of the enemy and Mexican civilians. Col. du Pin was called: el Tigre de la Tropicos (The Tiger of the Tropics), el Vengeur de Camerone, (The Avenger of Camerone). el Monstruo de el Tierra Caliente (The Monster of the Hot Lands), el Hiena de Tamaulipas (The Hyena of Tamaulipas) and el Condottiero (The Mercenary), all of which he seemed to relish.
Col. du Pin died from some form of Meningitis at the military hospital in Montpellier, France.
Rentré en France en 1867, on lui confia pour le récompenser, le poste de chef d'état-major de la division de Montpellier, où il mourut le 3 Octobre 1868
He possibly added the space to his last to make a royal connection to King Louis XIV's stud farm The Haras national du Pin.
Citations :
Cité le 16 Mai 1843 au combat de la Smala (Algérie), par le Duc d'Aumale
Cité le 28 Octobre 1844 au combat de Flissas El Bahr (Algérie), par le Maréchal Bugeaud
Cité le 7 Mars 1846 au combat de Ben Nahr (Algérie), par le colonel Camon
Cité le 13 Mars 1846 au combat de Mengren (Algérie), par le général Yusuf
Cité le 13 Août 1854 pour l'expédition des Zouaves (Algérie), par le Maréchal Randon
Cité le 21 Août 1860 pour la prise du fort Pei-Ho (Chine), par le général de Montauban
Cité le 17 Avril 1864 au combat de San Antonio (Mexique), par le général Bazaine
Décorations :
Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur (27 Novembre 1844), Officier (29 Juillet 1854), Commandeur (26 Décembre 1864)
Médaille de 4è classe de l'ordre du Medjidié
Médaille anglaise de Crimée British Crimea Campaign Medal awarded to certain French units
Médaille sarde de la valeur militaire
Médaille d'Italie
Médaille sarde de Saint Maurice et Lazare
Médaille de Chine
Médaille du Mexique
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