Battle of Miahuatlán
| Battle of Miahuatlán | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of French intervention in Mexico | |||||
 Battle of Miahuatlán | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
| Mexican Republican Army | Second Mexican Empire Army | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Porfirio Díaz | Carlos Oroñez | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| 880 | 1,400 | ||||
The Battle of Miahuatlán took place on 3 October 1866 in the vicinity of the current municipality of Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. It was fought between elements of the Mexican republican army under General Porfirio Díaz and troops of the Second Mexican Empire.
The Imperial troops were defeated, opening the way for Diaz to advance on the city of Oaxaca.
Background
French forces of the Second French Empire invaded Mexico in 1862, and entered Mexico City on 7 June 1863. In July 1863, supported by many conservative Mexicans, they proclaimed a Catholic Empire. The throne was given to an Austrian Archduke who became Maximilian I of Mexico. The republicans resisted, but with limited success. However, with the ending of the American Civil War in 1865 the United States began to actively assist the republicans and to put pressure on the French to withdraw, which began in May 1866. Without French support, the tide turned against the Imperial forces, who lost several battles to the republican forces. At the time of the Battle of Miahuatlán, Diaz was advancing from the south towards the city of Oaxaca.[1]
Battle
Diaz's forces at Miahuatlán were almost out of food and ammunition, drenched by rain and demoralized.[2] He took a defensive position facing northwest, where he was found and attacked by 1,100 Imperial troops under General Carlos Oronez assisted by a French officer, Enrique Testard. The attackers bombarded the republican positions from long range, then closed in on them with a skirmishing line followed by three columns. Diaz skillfully held off the attackers, then sent his cavalry across the Miahuatlán river to unexpectedly attack the right rear of the Imperial troops. Facing certain defeat, General Oronez fled the battle. His forces lost 70 dead and 400 prisoners, against Republican losses of 59 killed and 14 wounded.[3]
The victory was due to Diaz's imaginative use of terrain and deception. He placed riflemen in the Nogales Ravine, and a group of armed peasants in a maguey field field opposite them, hidden from view. Diaz then made himself conspicuous on the crest of a hill behind them. His cavalry retreated towards Diaz pursued by the imperial forces, who were caught in a lethal cross-fire from the concealed republican troops. While Diaz launched a frontal assault led by Manuel González (later to become President of the Republic) on the imperial forces, the surprise cavalry attack from rear decided the day.[2]
Aftermath
As a result of the battle, Diaz's forces were replenished with about 1,000 captured rifles, two field pieces and over 50 mules loaded with ammunition. He was able to continue his advance with little opposition, reaching Oaxaca on 8 October 1866.[2] In his memoirs, Dias described the battle as the most strategic and brilliantly fought action during the second French Intervention in Mexico. This victory, and that of the Battle of La Carbonera, gave Dias national fame.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ Brian R. Hamnett (2006). A concise history of Mexico. Cambridge University Press. p. 165ff. ISBN 0521618029.
- ^ a b c James Creelman (2008). Diaz, Master of Mexico. READ BOOKS. p. 234ff. ISBN 1444660063.
- ^ David Marley (1998). Wars of the Americas: a chronology of armed conflict in the New World, 1492 to the present. ABC-CLIO. p. 561. ISBN 0874368375.