CHAPTER IX.
THE EMPIRE A FAILURE.
1865-1866.
Capitulation of Oajaco — Army Movements — Battles and Sieges — War Measures — Presidential Term — New Republican Plan of Campaign — Sympathy in the United States — Napoleon Recognizes his Failure — The United States Demand his Withdrawal — Maximilian Overwhelmed — Charlotte Visits Europe — She Pleads in Vain with Napoleon — Then Seeks Consolation at Rome — Her Sad Fate
The extensive provinces south of Puebla had in the middle of 1864 been abandoned to the indefatigable Diaz and his allies; but their wealth and proximity to the capital induced the imperialists to make in this direction an advance corresponding to that in the north. Extensive preparations were accordingly undertaken, and toward the close of the year General Courtois d'Hurbal entered by way of Yanhuitlan, other columns following from Orizaba and Mexico.[1] Diaz had concentrated at Oajaca his forces, consisting of 3,000 regulars and an equal number of mountaineers, and converted the town and surrounding heights into fortified camps, the inhabitants taking refuge elsewhere.[2] The importance of overcoming this last
- ↑ By way of Cuernavaca and Teotitlan. Iglesias assumes the total force to be 7,000 French and 1,500 'traitors.' Revistas, iii. 99.
- ↑ The four chief convents formed a sort of bastions at the cardinal points, enclosing a vast square, while a double line of barricades and fortified houses represented the curtains. Cannon extended along the terraces, and apertures had been cut in every direction for loop-holes and communication. Outlying houses had been razed. A fort on La Soledad hill commanded the town, and intrenchments covered every adjoining height. Niox describes some of these. Expéd. du Mex., 447-8. In view of the extensive and determined preparations of the French, Diaz' policy has been questioned in thus passively
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