THE FRENCH IN MEXICO.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 32, 19 August 1863, Page 3

THE FRENCH IN MEXICO.

THE BATTLE OF SAN LORENZO AND THE CAPTURE OF PUEBLA. The battle of San Lorenzo, in which Comonfort's army of 25,000 men was defeated and completely broken up, took place on the Bth of May. President Juarez, indignant at the inaction of Comonfort, went to him with the Minister of War, and insisted on an effort to raise the siege, or supply the suffering garrison with provisions. Comonfort commenced to move on the 6th; on the 7th he was within a league of Puebla, and on the morning of the next day at five o'clock, General Bezaine attacked them with 12,000 men. In an hour and a half the Mexican army was completely overthrown, with a loss of all its guns, provisions, ammunition, waggons, and 900 mules packed with provisions for the garrison. The Mexican reserve was ordered to use their camion on the pursuing French, but the latter were so mixed up vith the retreating forces that friend and foe would have suffered alike. Comonfort estimates his loss at 1800; that of the French at 300. President Juarez has appointed Gen. Garza to command the fragments of the army, Ortega made no sally during the battle. On the Bth May Juarez signed a law repealing that of the 13th March, 1861, in which certain privileges were granted to foreigners. On the same day a bill was introduced into Congress to expel all the Frenchmen from the Republic, and it was expected that the bill would pass. On the 17th Puebla surrendered, after a siege of twelve days, during which no provisions, munitions or men could enter the place from without. The garrison was reduced to the greatest straits. They had in vain attempted to break through the besieging lines, or to open roads for obtaining provisions. On the 18th inst. the soldiers had nothing to eat save a quarter of a biscuit and five beans each. That evening Ortega held a council, and, in accordance with its advice sent a flag of truce to Forey to know what conditions he would grant on a surrender of the town. He replied that they might go out with their arms, colors flying and drums beating, under parole not to bear arms against the French during the war. This generous proposition must have been misunderstood, for it was rejected. On the next day General Ortega spiked his cannon, burned his colors and muskets, and destroyed all his caissons and military material. He then released his French prisoners, and told them to tell Forey that the garrison of Puebla would make no farther resistance. Forey sent Bazaine with his division, with the Zouaves without arms, at the head, into the city. On the grand plaza, Ortega, his general and officers, received Bazaine, and offered him their swords. He requested them to keep them, and he allowed them to go at large within the city on parole. The fragments of Comonfort's army have entered the city of Mexico, which is to be defended to the last. With the reinforcements expected, the garrison will probably number 18,000 men with 156 guns. Everything is prepared for an inundation of the valley of Mexico. Until within a few days before the capture of Puebla, Forey had no guns larger than 12-pounders.