A young boy named Isidret wanted to join the fight against Napoleon's invading army in early 19th century Catalonia, despite being told he was too young. When the villagers of Santpedor gathered their forces, Isidret snuck away with a drum. He chased after the Catalan villagers confronting the French army in the mountains. During the battle, Isidret began loudly playing his drum, and the echoes made it seem like many drums were playing. The French general believed reinforcements were arriving and ordered a retreat, allowing the Catalan army to win. Isidret was celebrated as a hero for using his drum to turn the tides of battle in favor of his homeland.

2. The drummer boy

3. Once upon a time, at the beginning of the 19th century , the most powerful army
in the world invaded Catalonia.
The soldiers were French and they were led by General Napoleon. The army crossed
the Pyrenees to occupy our country.

4. In a little village called Santpedor, a bright and brave boy called Isidret
wanted to face the French army
- You’d see if I were older! – he said to his mother.
- Oh yes? And what would you do alone? – she asked.
- Isidret shouted: I would declare the war!
- Oh my God! – shouted his mother. This is a men’s work… and you are
just a little boy.

6. Soon, the riot against the French army and the French laws began.
In every village, you could see bonfires with French papers burning in them.
And the villagers were so angry!
- Go away invaders! – they shouted.
- Freedom for our country!- they cried out
Finally, the mayor of the village asked the villagers to fight against
Napoleon’s army.

8. Alot of men from Santpedor, accepted what their mayor asked them.
The bells of the bell tower chimed without stop, until every man met on the main
square of the village.

10. Isidret heard all the noise and he went to the balcony, to see what was
going on.
- Look mum! The war has been declared.
- Oh my God! Everybody is in the street! – she said scared. What a mess!
- I want to go with them- said Isidret.
- Do not be silly Isidret! You are too young.
Isidret and his mother went back in.

12. Isidret went out of the house, without her mother noticing it.
Once in the main square, he saw a lot of people in a queue to get a
gun to fight against Napoleon.
Isidret went to the queue without saying anything. When it was his
turn to get the gun, the man asked him:
- What are you doing here?
- I want to fight against them, just like you!- Isidret said.
- Get out of here and go back to your home. Your mother must be
worried- said the man.

13. Isidret lied to the man, instead of going home, he waited for a while
until all the men had gone away to fight. He got into the town hall to see
if the could find a gun.
Once in, he shouted: - Oh, what is that? A drum!
I will take it! It may be useful to help our soldiers against Napoleon’s
army! – he thought.

15. Meanwhile, three thousand soldiers were going forwards to
Isidret’s village. They had very bad intentions, they wanted to
destroy everything.

17. The young boy chased the Catalan villagers, that
were going to Montserrat to do and ambush to the
French army.
- Wait for me!- Isidret cried out.
- I am one of yours!
- What are you doing here? Are you crazy?- said
John, one of the villagers.
- And what are you doing with this drum? You are
not going to play any songs. Come on, go back
home- said another man.
- Let my fight for my country!
He was a stubborn person and he never gave up.

18. Suddenly, the gun fire started. Everybody ran. The war began.
Isidret and his drum climbed up the Montserrat mountains. He could hear the
gun fire and people shouting.
He thought: I have to do something. But I just have a drum... I will play it!
Isidret’s drum began to play echo between the mountains. It sounded like
hundreds of people playing a drum!

20. The sound of the drum arrived to the French general.
- Oh my God! A lot of soldiers are coming to fight against us. We are
going to lose.
- Retreat , retreat!- he shouted to his soldiers.
The French army were very scared and started to run away. So the Catalan
army won the battle.

21. All the villagers started to shout: God bless you Isidret! You saved our
country!
- Hurray, hurray for Isidret! Our hero!

22. Isidret has been an important character for Catalonia. In the main square
of Santpedor, there is a sculpture to his memory.

23. THE END