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Chapter 14 The Veracruz Invasion
Chapter 14 The Veracruz Invasion
"What a splendid little war."- King Louis Phillipe I 1837
"And we would've gotten away with the war if it weren't for those meddling French and the rebels too."- General Vicente Filisola 1840
"Looks like i don't need to prepare for a Mexican invasion any time soon."- Brigadier General William Barrett Travis 1837
With the entire nation collapsing from civil conflict it can be easy to understand why no one in Mexico expected the French of all nations to invade their country. The one question that was on everyone's mind in the region was "Why?" You see Louis was not a man who would support foreign revolutions simply out of the kindness of his heart, rather he foresaw this as an opportunity to found a Second French Empire. This time period was the start of what many historians would call, "The Second Imperial Age", new colonies were being founded in Africa and Asia every year and the whole of Europe was expected to get some action this time around. In 1837 Latin America was a land of a British trade hegemony with London churning out tons of industrial goods to the people of the region for a good profit. America was also expanding ever westward with the dream of Manifest Destiny beginning to form in the eyes of Uncle Sam, it was only a matter of time before the United States turned South. Napoleon himself had wanted to establish a grand empire in the Americas but those dreams fell after the Seven Years War and the Haitian Revolution. With Mexico, half of North America, falling apart every day and new nations appearing it was the perfect chance for France to expand it's influence here and establish client states to meet its economic and political needs. Thus, after dropping off the required 6000 troops at Galveston to begin their service within the Lone Star Republic, the other 25000 made their way down the Gulf to begin what would be called the Veracruz Invasion, as Veracruz would be their port of entry into Mexico. On February 1st, 20000 men of the French Army landed at Veracruz under the leadership of Admiral Charles Baudin, there they encountered Rueda's force of 2000 who were still Recuperating from the failed Merida campaign. The Battle of Veracruz commenced and within an hour it was a clear French victory as the Baudin's fleet surrounded the port laying heavy support fire from the naval cannons, while the French troops who had high morale and were veterans from the Algiers expedition were able to overcome surround and annihilate the war-weary Mexican force. The end of the battle had Rueda's force suffer 458 dead with 231 wounded and the rest taken prisoner, the french army suffered only 54 dead with 122 wounded. After the city capitulated the French Army began a march towards Mexico City on February 4th, their goal was to seize the capitol so that they would be able to end the war decisively and have leverage to decide Mexico's fate.
View attachment 286707
Bombardment of Veracruz. March onto Mexico City
When word reached Mexico City of the French intervention, both sides panicked as neither camp could comprehend what was France's casus belli for starting a war against them, many believed that this was the beginning of the establishment of a possible French colony over the Mexican territory. Pressure caused both the Centralists and the Federalists to engage in one last battle even though both sides weren't ready, their reasoning being that by controlling the capitol when the french came they would have legitimacy in negotiations and be able to persuade foreign powers to join their side in defense against France. Thus the Second Battle of Mexico City commenced on February 8th as the two armies clashed in the rural outskirts of the city limits. . The battle was a rather chaotic affair as both armies had low supplies and weak morale, the generals had to scrap months of planning and launch a hastily assembled force with poor coordination due to the French being only days away. Mass waves of men were launched at the enemy with artillery laying a constant barrage upon the field with their remaining ammunition, while the cavalry advanced about in a confused manner as close quarters fighting made swift charges impossible. The fighting would be drawn out from beginning to the end of the day as men on both sides fought under the assumption that it was a battle to protect their country against traitors and foreigners. The only reason that the battle was not as bloody as the Battle of Guanajuanto was due to the fact that most of the soldiers were tired of fighting in suicidal charges at this point and hundreds of men deserted from the battlefield, firsthand accounts have it that some deserting Federalists and Centralists would journey side by side as they would make their way back to their home towns. The battle ended in a Centralist victory under Filisola as their army had more manpower was the only one to have a capacity to continue fighting with extra ammunition only a few miles away. The Centralists suffered 303 killed with 496 wounded and 500 desertions, the Federalists had 365 killed with 272 wounded and the rest of the army either deserting or being captured. Corro had finally won his victory over the Federalists and was ready to meet the French Army once they arrived at the capitol. To his shock when the 20000 strong army arrived they proclaimed that they would capture the capitol for the Federalist cause and demanded an unconditional surrender. The reasoning for this was that under a Federalist government Mexico would be highly de-centralized and would not be able to conquer the independent Republics, unlike a resurgent Centralist Mexico. Corro stupidly replied that he would defend the city to the death and never surrender to a foreign power. This was the final straw for the people of Mexico City as they were tired of constant warfare and did not want their homes to be destroyed, riots erupted within the streets hours after the announcement. Fearful for their positions, Generals Bustamente and Filisola launched a coup against President Corro to make peace with the French Army and secure amnesty from a federal regime. The men managed to get most of the support of the garrison as well as the federal prisoners by freeing them, and stormed the presidential palace to arrest Corro. General Jose Urrea was one of the few men who still pledged loyalty to Corro and led a small group of patriots to protect the palace. After overwhelming the palace gaurd and storming their way inside, the coup plotters discovered Corro dead in his office after committing suicide with a pistol. The city surrendered unconditionally to the French on February 15th and the French army occupied the capitol while the remaining forces were sent across the countryside to secure Farias's claim and defeat any remaining Centralist resistance. After a bloody year of fighting the Mexican Civil War was over.
French occupation of Mexico City
Unknown to both sides fighting to claim Mexico, the French had actually sent envoys to both the Republic of the Rio Grande and the Republic of the Yucatan in order to gain alliances in support of their independence. Before leaving France, Baudin had been given specific instructions by the King that should any other independence movements rise up within Mexico then he would divert resources to support them immediately. To Baudin's surprise he had two new nations which he could use to further accomplish his objectives. The main French fleet was diverted to Merida after the Battle of Veracruz where they would enter into talks with the Yucatan government to establish troops within the nation and support the Yucatan's conquests and independence from Mexico. Meanwhile, the remaining French forces of 5000 men were sent to Tampico, Tamaulipas, to secure the Republic of the Rio Grande's fragile hold upon the region. Around the time of the French landing in Galveston, they had already sent an envoy to the Rio Grande informing them of their intentions to support the Rio Grande's claims to areas west of the Rio Grande. Thus, General Antonio Canales would order his upstart army to march into Chihuahua and Durango so they could press their claims at a future peace conference. Due to most Federal forces being sent down south the Rio Grande army was able to capture both state's capitols by the time the French arrived. With the war wrapping up and all rebel sides securing their claims, a conference would be called within the small town of Guadalupe Hidalgo where the Treaty of Guadulpe Hidalgo would be signed on April 4th, signaling the end of an era and the beginning of a new order within the Southwest.
"What a splendid little war."- King Louis Phillipe I 1837
"And we would've gotten away with the war if it weren't for those meddling French and the rebels too."- General Vicente Filisola 1840
"Looks like i don't need to prepare for a Mexican invasion any time soon."- Brigadier General William Barrett Travis 1837
With the entire nation collapsing from civil conflict it can be easy to understand why no one in Mexico expected the French of all nations to invade their country. The one question that was on everyone's mind in the region was "Why?" You see Louis was not a man who would support foreign revolutions simply out of the kindness of his heart, rather he foresaw this as an opportunity to found a Second French Empire. This time period was the start of what many historians would call, "The Second Imperial Age", new colonies were being founded in Africa and Asia every year and the whole of Europe was expected to get some action this time around. In 1837 Latin America was a land of a British trade hegemony with London churning out tons of industrial goods to the people of the region for a good profit. America was also expanding ever westward with the dream of Manifest Destiny beginning to form in the eyes of Uncle Sam, it was only a matter of time before the United States turned South. Napoleon himself had wanted to establish a grand empire in the Americas but those dreams fell after the Seven Years War and the Haitian Revolution. With Mexico, half of North America, falling apart every day and new nations appearing it was the perfect chance for France to expand it's influence here and establish client states to meet its economic and political needs. Thus, after dropping off the required 6000 troops at Galveston to begin their service within the Lone Star Republic, the other 25000 made their way down the Gulf to begin what would be called the Veracruz Invasion, as Veracruz would be their port of entry into Mexico. On February 1st, 20000 men of the French Army landed at Veracruz under the leadership of Admiral Charles Baudin, there they encountered Rueda's force of 2000 who were still Recuperating from the failed Merida campaign. The Battle of Veracruz commenced and within an hour it was a clear French victory as the Baudin's fleet surrounded the port laying heavy support fire from the naval cannons, while the French troops who had high morale and were veterans from the Algiers expedition were able to overcome surround and annihilate the war-weary Mexican force. The end of the battle had Rueda's force suffer 458 dead with 231 wounded and the rest taken prisoner, the french army suffered only 54 dead with 122 wounded. After the city capitulated the French Army began a march towards Mexico City on February 4th, their goal was to seize the capitol so that they would be able to end the war decisively and have leverage to decide Mexico's fate.
View attachment 286707Bombardment of Veracruz. March onto Mexico City
When word reached Mexico City of the French intervention, both sides panicked as neither camp could comprehend what was France's casus belli for starting a war against them, many believed that this was the beginning of the establishment of a possible French colony over the Mexican territory. Pressure caused both the Centralists and the Federalists to engage in one last battle even though both sides weren't ready, their reasoning being that by controlling the capitol when the french came they would have legitimacy in negotiations and be able to persuade foreign powers to join their side in defense against France. Thus the Second Battle of Mexico City commenced on February 8th as the two armies clashed in the rural outskirts of the city limits. . The battle was a rather chaotic affair as both armies had low supplies and weak morale, the generals had to scrap months of planning and launch a hastily assembled force with poor coordination due to the French being only days away. Mass waves of men were launched at the enemy with artillery laying a constant barrage upon the field with their remaining ammunition, while the cavalry advanced about in a confused manner as close quarters fighting made swift charges impossible. The fighting would be drawn out from beginning to the end of the day as men on both sides fought under the assumption that it was a battle to protect their country against traitors and foreigners. The only reason that the battle was not as bloody as the Battle of Guanajuanto was due to the fact that most of the soldiers were tired of fighting in suicidal charges at this point and hundreds of men deserted from the battlefield, firsthand accounts have it that some deserting Federalists and Centralists would journey side by side as they would make their way back to their home towns. The battle ended in a Centralist victory under Filisola as their army had more manpower was the only one to have a capacity to continue fighting with extra ammunition only a few miles away. The Centralists suffered 303 killed with 496 wounded and 500 desertions, the Federalists had 365 killed with 272 wounded and the rest of the army either deserting or being captured. Corro had finally won his victory over the Federalists and was ready to meet the French Army once they arrived at the capitol. To his shock when the 20000 strong army arrived they proclaimed that they would capture the capitol for the Federalist cause and demanded an unconditional surrender. The reasoning for this was that under a Federalist government Mexico would be highly de-centralized and would not be able to conquer the independent Republics, unlike a resurgent Centralist Mexico. Corro stupidly replied that he would defend the city to the death and never surrender to a foreign power. This was the final straw for the people of Mexico City as they were tired of constant warfare and did not want their homes to be destroyed, riots erupted within the streets hours after the announcement. Fearful for their positions, Generals Bustamente and Filisola launched a coup against President Corro to make peace with the French Army and secure amnesty from a federal regime. The men managed to get most of the support of the garrison as well as the federal prisoners by freeing them, and stormed the presidential palace to arrest Corro. General Jose Urrea was one of the few men who still pledged loyalty to Corro and led a small group of patriots to protect the palace. After overwhelming the palace gaurd and storming their way inside, the coup plotters discovered Corro dead in his office after committing suicide with a pistol. The city surrendered unconditionally to the French on February 15th and the French army occupied the capitol while the remaining forces were sent across the countryside to secure Farias's claim and defeat any remaining Centralist resistance. After a bloody year of fighting the Mexican Civil War was over.
French occupation of Mexico City
Unknown to both sides fighting to claim Mexico, the French had actually sent envoys to both the Republic of the Rio Grande and the Republic of the Yucatan in order to gain alliances in support of their independence. Before leaving France, Baudin had been given specific instructions by the King that should any other independence movements rise up within Mexico then he would divert resources to support them immediately. To Baudin's surprise he had two new nations which he could use to further accomplish his objectives. The main French fleet was diverted to Merida after the Battle of Veracruz where they would enter into talks with the Yucatan government to establish troops within the nation and support the Yucatan's conquests and independence from Mexico. Meanwhile, the remaining French forces of 5000 men were sent to Tampico, Tamaulipas, to secure the Republic of the Rio Grande's fragile hold upon the region. Around the time of the French landing in Galveston, they had already sent an envoy to the Rio Grande informing them of their intentions to support the Rio Grande's claims to areas west of the Rio Grande. Thus, General Antonio Canales would order his upstart army to march into Chihuahua and Durango so they could press their claims at a future peace conference. Due to most Federal forces being sent down south the Rio Grande army was able to capture both state's capitols by the time the French arrived. With the war wrapping up and all rebel sides securing their claims, a conference would be called within the small town of Guadalupe Hidalgo where the Treaty of Guadulpe Hidalgo would be signed on April 4th, signaling the end of an era and the beginning of a new order within the Southwest.
- Kaiser Chris
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