"Mexican-French War (1861–1867)" Topic

"When President Benito Juarez (1806-72) sought to bring economic relief to impoverished Mexico by declaring a moratorium on the payment of foreign debts, he opened the door to European imperialism, providing an excuse for Britain, France, and Spain to send a military force to Mexico, ostensibly to compel the payment of the debt. The joint army landed at Veracruz on December 17, 1861, and advanced to Orizaba. Acting in good faith, however, the British and Spanish contingents withdrew after Juarez persuaded diplomats that the debts would be paid in good time. Emperor Napoleon III (1808-73) of France, however, seized the opportunity to effectively render Mexico a puppet with the intention of creating a new French empire in the New World.

Napoleon III sent an army of 7,500 men under General Charles Ferdinand Latrille de Lorencez (1814-92) against Mexico City, which was defeated at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, by 12,000 men under General Ignacio Zaragoza (1829-62). (The victory is celebrated today as the Mexican national holiday of Cinco de Mayo.) French casualties were in excess of 400, whereas the Mexicans lost 215 killed and wounded…"

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Amicalement
Armand

A nice but necessarily BRIEF intro to the subject.

So much more to say on one of the most dramatic stories of the Western Hemisphere. I still think it's worthy of at least three or four really good operas! (I DID say "dramatic.")

Still slogging through rough translations to finish "Viva Juarez!" with full color maps of remarkable battles and OB's to present this surprisingly under-represented subject for wargamers.

TVAG

Agree!.

Amicalement
Armand