The operations against Puebla were carried on with the utmost vigor, the besiegers gaining some advantage every day, till on the 2d of April at 4 o'clock in the morning their artillery opened fire, under cover of which assaults were undertaken simultaneously at different parts, which culminated in the capture of the place. In less than one hour the assailants were assembled in the place d'armes, the survivors of the garrison having taken refuge in the Loreto and Guadalupe forts.[1] The latter offered on the 4th to surrender if honorable terms were granted them, but Diaz would listen to nothing but an unconditional surrender, and they had to comply. Being amenable to the death penalty for high treason, many of the prisoners employed that day in preparation for it. But such was not to be their fate. The victorious general had a difficult problem to solve. He had in Dajaca over 1,000 prisoners — Mexican officers of all ranks, and foreign Officers and soldiers — and those of Puebla were more numerous, for even leaving out the rank and file, they must have exceeded 600.[2] To shoot them was out of the question, and to set them at liberty, though a magnanimous act, might not meet with the approval of the government.[3] He adopted the latter course.[4] That same day he issued a general order to the military commandants to release all the prisoners, who were to remain for the time under
- ↑ The same day Diaz wrote the minister of war at San Luis Potosí of his success, and that the traitors Febronio Quijano, Mariano Trujeque, and 20 others had been executed. La Estrella de Occid., May 17, 1967; Arrangoiz, Méj., iv. 316-17; Mier y Terán, Apunt. Biog., 30-6; Pera and Pradillo, Maxim., 121-57.
- ↑ Among them were the bishops Colima, Berea, and Covarrubias.
- ↑ Diaz remarked to one who recommended the release, "Va á creer Juarez que le disputo el porvenir.' Diaz, Porf., Biog., 112.
- ↑ Diaz took with him the imperialist generals Noriega and Tamariz to the place where the prisoners were confined, and addressing them, said: The nation has expressed her judgment on the empire's cause, but will not do herself justice unless she forgives the errors of her children; you are all free.' Then turning to those accompanying him he added, 'I was not born to be & jailer nor an executioner.' Diaz, Datos Biog., MS., 314; Diaz, Porf., Biog. Méx., Col. Ley., 1863-7, iii. 188-91, 256-61; Méx., Mem. Hacienda, 1870, 681.
