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In late 1861 Napoleon III of France sent his troops to Mexico, supposedly to collect debts owed by a previous Mexican government which Mexican President Benito Juárez had agreed to pay, but only in installments over time. Napoleon III's troops took the port city of Veracruz on December 8, 1861. It soon became apparent, however, that their actual goal was not collection of debts, but rather the control of Mexico.
French General Count of Lorencez commanded 6,000 to 6,500 well trained troops.
Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza commanded some 2,000 to 4,000 forces. Less than 1,000 were regular Mexican army; these were supplemented with local militias, hastily conscripted men of Puebla, and untrained volunteers.
The pass leading to Puebla was protected by Fort Loreto and Fort Guadalupe. Zaragoza had defensive trenches dug across the road and linking the forts.
The Mexicans were aided by the weather, as the rain made the ground muddy slowing the movement of French artillery.
General Lorencez was at first contemptuous of the Mexican troops, assuming they would quickly flee from heavy fighting. He therefore directed his first charge directly at the Mexican center. The Mexicans held their ground and drove the French back.
The French regrouped and launched two more charges, both of which were similarly defeated.
The Mexicans then counter-attacked, including a force of Zacapoaxtlas and Xochiapulcos Indians, many armed only with machetes, who nonetheless succeeded in overrunning part of the French lines. Porfirio Diaz (later to be President of Mexico) led a well disciplined company of Mexican cavalryAn army unit consisting of mounted soldiers are commonly known as cavalry . Cavalry fight from the backs of their mounts, which most often are horses or camels. Infantry travelling by horse and fighting on foot are instead known as dragoons. Modern cavalr which flanked the French.
The French then pulled back some distance as dark fell. General Lorencez waited two days for a Mexican counter-offensive, but Zaragoza did not wish to attack the French in open country where he would lose his defensive advantage. Unwilling to risk another attack on the Mexican position, Lorencez then withdrew his forces back to OrizabaOrizaba is a city in Veracruz, Mexico, which is located 20 km. from Cordoba and Ixtaczoquitlan on highways 180 and 190. Alejandra Boschetti Reyes and Francisco Gabilondo Soler, a composer also known as Cri-Cri, were born in Orizaba. External links ..
On May 9May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). There are 236 days remaining. Events 328 Athanasius elected bishop of Alexandria. 1092 Lincoln Cathedral is consecrated. 1429 Joan of Arc defeats the English troops besieg, 1862, President Juárez declared that the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla would be a national holiday, the Cinco de Mayo.
The French realized their forces were inadequate to their intended task, and were eventually reinforced with an additional 30,000 troops. In 1863Events January-March January 1 Abraham Lincoln delivers the Emancipation Proclamation during the second year of the American Civil War. January 1 The first claim under the Homestead Act is made for a farm in Nebraska January 8 Ground is broken in Sacramen the French again marched towards Mexico CityMexico City ( Spanish: Ciudad de Mexico known in Pre-Columbian times as Tenochtitlan is the capital of Mexico; it geographically spans both the Mexican Federal District and part of the state of Mexico, to the north of the Federal District. Mexico City is -- this time bypassing Puebla on their route-- and succeeded in taking the capital and installing the puppet regime of Emperor MaximilianMaximilian I, Emperor of Mexico ( July 6, 1832 June 19, 1867) was a member of Austria's Imperial Habsburg family. With the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican conservatives, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on April 10, 1864. Many.
While the Battle of Puebla did not stop the French takeover of Mexico, it was an important victory for the Mexicans none the less. It greatly raised Mexican morale and strengthened determination to resist the invasion. It gave the Juárez government more time to prepare, and while they were forced to abandon Mexico City and retreat to the north of the country, they continued to maintain a working government which was recognized as the legitimate government of Mexico by many foreign nations, and eventually succeeded in defeating Maximilian and his allies in 1867Events January 8 African-American men granted the right to vote in the District of Columbia January 11 Benito Juarez becomes Mexican president again January 30 Emperor Komei of Japan dies. Crown Prince Mutsuhito is expected to become the next Emperor of J.
The Mexican victory surprised much of the international community, demonstrating the Mexican resolve not to be governed by a foreign monarch and that the Mexicans could defeat one of Europe's best armies.
The Battle of Puebla was also of historic importance in that it quashed Napoleon III's hopes of a quick take over of Mexico, which he could then use as a base to aid the ConfederatesThe Confederate States of America CSA also known as the Confederacy was the confederacy formed by the southern states that seceded from the United States during the period of the American Civil War. The 11 states of the Confederacy were Alabama, Arkansas, in the American Civil War.
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