| Siege of Puebla | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of thesecond French intervention in Mexico | |||||||
 General Bazaine attacks the fort of San Xavier during the siege of Puebla, 29 March 1863 Jean-Adolphe Beaucé, 1870 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 France Mexican Empire |  Mexican Republic | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Élie ForeyFélix DouayFrançois BazaineLeonardo MárquezJuan Nepomuceno Almonte | Jesús OrtegaIgnacio ComonfortFelipe BerriozábalPorfirio DiazTomás O'Horán[1] | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 28,600 | 22,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1,150 killed and wounded[2][3] | 2,000 killed and wounded[3] 12,500 captured[4] | ||||||
Thesiege of Puebla occurred between 16 March and 17 May 1863 during theSecond French intervention in Mexico, between forces of theSecond French Empire and forces of theSecond Federal Republic of Mexico. The French were advancing towardMexico City, and were blocked by Mexican troops atPuebla.
French forces had advanced toward Mexico City in 1862, but weredefeated at Puebla on 5 May 1862. GeneralCharles de Lorencez was dismissed and replaced byGeneral Forey, who arrived atVeracruz in September 1862. During the winter, the French prepared for a new campaign in spring 1863, while in Puebla, Mexican forces under the command of General Ortega built new fortifications, includingFuerte ("fort") San Javier.
The siege began on 16 March with an encircling movement led by Generals Bazaine and Douay. By 18 March, encirclement was effective and by 22 March, a relief attempt by Mexican troops fromCholula had failed.
On 29 March, French troops made the first assault on Fort San Javier. Against serious resistance from the Mexicans, it took 20 hours for the French to emerge victorious in a particularly confused melee. On 31 March, the French seized the convent of Guadalupita. From that moment resistance became even more ferocious. The Mexicans raised barricades in every street and forced the French to fight house to house. Simultaneously, the French repulsed another Mexican offensive which aimed to break the siege.
On 25 April, after failing to capture the convent of Santa Ines, the French decided to hold their position and wait for siege artillery to arrive. Troops of theFrench Foreign Legion escorted the siege artillery. During this operation, the famousBattle of Camarón took place.
From 5 May, GeneralIgnacio Comonfort attempted to break the siege, but failed both atSan Pablo del Monte and atSan Lorenzo. On 8 May, 7,000 Mexicans attempted a greatsortie, which was repulsed by General Bazaine.
On 16 May, the besieged Mexican garrison asked for anarmistice; on 17 May the garrison disbanded. On 19 May, the French occupied the city and the road to Mexico City was now open.
19°03′00″N98°12′00″W / 19.0500°N 98.2000°W /19.0500; -98.2000
