The fall of Pueblo.
The French steamer
Darien has arrived from
Vera Cruz, bearing dispatches which announce the capture of
Pueblo by
General Foray, commander of the
French army.
On the 16th ult, he opened fire with heavy artillery, and on the 17th effected a breach in the
Fort Toximehuacan, when he moved to the assault, and, after encountering a desperate resistance, entered the Plaza, where he received the unconditional surrender of
General Ortega.
The prisoners made by the capture of the city number twenty three
Generals, nine hundred subordinate officers, and seventeen thousand men. A division of General.
Forey's army left on the 20th, for the city of
Mexico, a sufficient garrison remaining at
Pueblo.
The following are the particulars of the fall of the most important city but one in
Mexico:
It appears that on 16th of May the
French having established a parallel at about 200 yards from Fort Toximehuacan opened a brisk fire upon that position and dismounted all its guns.
The
Mexicans fought bravely, but the next day, the parallels having been extended up to the foot of the fortress, the
Mexican General Mendoza presented himself in the camp asking
General Foray to let the garrison leave with its arms, baggage, and a portion of the artillery, and stating that they would, on those conditions, surrender the city.
General Foray refused to accept these propositions, and replied that, if in a few hours the city was not given up, he would resume the bombardment.
At 5 o'clock in the afternoon an officer brought a letter from
Ortega to
General Foray, announcing that he was ready to surrender unconditionally with his troops.
Col. Manique, the second officer of
General Foray's staff, was then detached with the first battalion of foot chasseurs,
Commander Cowray, and with a platoon of hussars, for the purpose of occupying the place.
The entrance of the
French troops took place in an orderly manner, and without any casualty on either side.
On the morning of the 19th, at 11 o'clock,
General Forey made his entry into
Pueblo, and was saluted by a volley of 100 guns.
On the same day
General Bazaine made his preparation and was ready to move toward
Mexico on the following morning, May 20
During the nights of the 7th and 8th of May
General Comonfort, who had abandoned his position at
San Martin, in order to march to the assistance of
Ortega, was surprised by
General Bazaine at 2 o'clock A. M. A brisk engagement ensued, in which
Comonfort lost eight rifled guns, twenty artillery trains, 200 mules, and 2,500 men, most of whom were made prisoners.
