Siege of Puebla (1863)

The siege of Puebla occurred between the 16 March and the 17 May 1863 during the French Intervention in Mexico and resulted in a Franco-Imperial victory.

The Battle
After a failed first attempt to capture the city of Puebla on the 5th May 1862, General Charles de Lorencez was dismissed and replaced by General Forey who arrived at Veracruz in September 1862. During the winter, the French were busy preparing the campaign schedulded for the spring. While in Puebla, new fortifications were built, including Fuerte San Javier, under the command of General Ortega.

The siege began on March 16 by an encircling movement led by Generals Bazaine and Douay. By the 18th encirclement was effective and by the 22nd a rescue attempted from Republicans from Cholula failed.

On March 29, the first assault was launched on the Fort San Javier. Facing serious resistance from the Mexicans, it took 20 hours to the French to emerge victorious in a particularly confused melee. On March 31, the French seized the convent of Guadalupita. From that moment resistance became even more ferocious, Mexican raised barricades in every street and led the French to fight house to house. Simultaneously, the French repulsed a Mexican Republican offensive which aimed to break the siege.

On 25 April, after a failure to capture the convent of Santa Ines, the French decided to keep their position and wait for artillery reinforcements. It is in this period that the famous battle of Camarón took place, while French Foreign Legionnaires escorted the siege equipment.

From May 5 General Ignacio Comonfort attempted to break the siege but failed both at San Pablo del Monte and at San Lorenzo. On May 8, 7,000 Mexicans attempted a great sortie, but they were successfully repulsed by General Bazaine.

On May 16, the besieged Mexicans demanded an armistice and disbanded their troops the next day. The city was eventually occupied on the 19 May and the road to Mexico was now open.