Illy Calvary

This hamlet, whose splendid panorama overlooks the village of Illy, has certainly been frequented for centuries by villagers from the surrounding area as a high place where the spirit blows. The Calvary of Illy could not fail to attract the attention of General Margueritte in the early afternoon of 1 September 1870, as he gathered his division in preparation for a charge of several thousand cavalry in the hope of pushing back the German infantry climbing the slopes of the Terme plateau.
Around 2:30 pm, he advanced his troops at a slow trot to within 400 metres of the enemy, himself reconnoitring their positions on three separate occasions. It was just as the charge was launched that he was mortally wounded near the Terme inn.
General de Galliffet immediately succeeded him and took charge of this heroic charge with great ardour, as all these cavalrymen wanted to avenge their commander — most particularly those of the 1st Regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique, which he had previously commanded.
This was the last great charge of the French cavalry, whose memory is preserved by the memorial of the Braves Gens.