During his previous military career with the freebooting revolutionists of Mexico, there had been no drill whatever.

Before the orders arrived to proceed to the front, he was sufficiently acquainted with the commands and terms to pass muster with any in the company.
While still in camp, the news of the fall of Sedan was received and the tireurs were hurried forward to the vicinity of Paris on which the Prussians were rapidly advancing.

Their first engagement was at Creteil.
They did skirmishing for the army of General Vinoy, who had about fifteen thousand men.

This was on the 11th of Dec., 1870.

The engagement opened early in the morning by the Franc-tireurs and skirmishers on the hills of Mely.