Chapter 89 Twilight of the Mexican War
"Beinto Juarez may call me an autocrat yet his regime in Mexico is a democracy in name only. At the end of the day the difference between me and Benito is simple. I finish wars, he can't."- Supreme Protector Andres de Santa Cruz 1864
"While the Americas may have been a fruitful experience, they have become far too costly and do not grant us the prestige of an empire. It is time to shift focus to the East."- Emperor Napoleon III 1863
"We may have stopped the Mexicans from taking our land, but what's to stop them from trying again?"- Lieutenant General William Barrett Travis 1863
When the Mexican War began many people on both sides had thought that the conflict would take months or a year at most. While seemingly short-sighted today, this mindset is rather believable in context due to the nature of Post-Napoleonic War which saw conflicts range to two or three years at the most and engagements being quick and decisive, with the peace terms often meaning radical changes either territoriality or in the change of political power within the combatants. In the beginning the Mexicans thought that they would have their revenge, while the Texans and Yucatani sought to rid the world of Mexico for good, hoping that a loss would mean the end of the state for good. Neither side would get what they want. By the beginning of 1863 with almost two years end, both sides were unable to come to a decisive victory with the odds seeming to look worse each day. The war became unpopular among tens of thousands in all three nations and there were no clear tides of battle besides Texas managing to defend their borders completely. The real reason why the Mexican war would end in 1863 would not be due to the fighting spirits of each nation, rather due to the impossibilities for total victory on each side.
For Mexico to have come so far and be able to see the amount of success it did in the Mexican War is a true testament to Juarez's leadership and the rapid transformation the Mexican Army had undergone in the past decade. Before the war the prospect of a Mexican victory in any sort of battle against a foreign power was laughable at best. Yet two years into the war and they had conquered the majority of the Republic of the Rio Grande and had managed to make incursions into California and Western Yucatan. While they had been pushed back on both fronts, Mexico still managed to obtain a number of victories over their foes and made sure that each mile lost would be payed with blood. However behind the mask of glory and prestige that the Juarez regime liked to portray to the people of Mexico, the situation was far from good. Only nine years ago Mexico had been in the midst of a bloody civil war that would have seen the complete destruction of the country if it weren't for the efforts of Juarez. Despite the best efforts of the President, Juarez could not undo 30 years of incompetence and corruption in Mexico's ruling leadership. The economy had been growing rapidly in 1860, but that was only thanks to heavy British investment and Mexico was far below other hemispherical powers such as Brazil and Peru-Bolivia. The war only worsened these conditions as Mexico would come to lose tens of thousands of able manpower in a nation that was little more than 6 million. The Texan blockade had a horrible effect on the Mexican economy as a majority of Mexican exports were now unable to reach foreign markets with Mexican ships either sunk or boarded. The Pacific was barely an alternative thanks to nonexistent trade routes with most Pacific trade being directed to California and South America unwilling to trade with Mexico. With land travel being blocked off due to Texas in the north and the Yucatan in the South, Mexico could barely perform trade and the northern and southern states would once more fall into ruin with the battles that took place. Whatever standing Mexico had left in the international community was also at its worst. The Battle of Tampico caused relations with the French Empire to cease entirely with Napoleon's involvement in the war and turned potential benefactors away due to the brutality that had been spread of Tampico and the zealous actions of Mexican troops in the Rio Grande and the Yucatan. The other major powers had no desire to help Mexico with Russia, Germany, the Ottomans, and Spain not having any vested interests. Italy would become hostile to Mexico due to Juarez's secularization policy and his attacks against the power of the Catholic Church in the region, Texas and the Yucatan were also Catholic majority nations so there was no desire for an intervention based on religion. Great Britain was the only one that was friendly to the Juarez regime but aid had ceased almost altogether in the war thanks to British investments in the Confederacy and the ongoing Opium War. Aside from the diplomatic front, the military situation was getting worse every day with numerous setbacks in the fall of 1862 and Texas and Yucatan making gains every day. While both countries would not be able to waltz into Mexico City, they could not be beaten back either. In the start of 1863 Juarez ordered his generals to hold to every piece of Mexican land that they could and give hell to the rebels. Behind the facade the President knew that a total victory could not be obtained and peace had to be achieved now under the best conditions. Juarez would send feelers to multiple nations abroad in search of a peace agreement.
A Tejano mural meant to villify Juarez as building his accomplishments on the bodies of his enemies.
In regards to both the Republics of Texas and the Yucatan, the Mexican War was a rude wake up call which helped to push the two nations into maturity. While these two countries were nowhere near Great powers in the first 25 years of their existence, their development gave off an air of invincibility which lead to a heavy hubris. Texas had been the one to start the Revolutions which would see Mexico's downfall as a rising power and it was quickly becoming a North American maverick with its rapidly growing economy and overall population growth from a backwater country to a nation on par with some European countries as Sweden and Hungary. The Yucatan had a massive expansionist streak which saw itself become the protector of the Mayan tradition and virtual ruler of Central America. Unfortunately this tradition of growth and success would come to hinder the two in the beginnings of the war and were not enough to allow them to finish it. Had this been a war between the United States and Mexico then Mexico would have surely fallen due to the sheer industrial might of America. Texas and the Yucatan were anything but. The only areas in both nations of considerable industrial strength were California, Eastern Texas, and the Yucatan Peninsula. The early defeats in the war were devastating with the imprisonment of nearly 35,000 troops and a tens of thousands of casualties on both sides. Southern California and the Western half of the Yucatan were devastated and desperately needed reconstruction. But what impaired the two countries above all else was the population game. Against Mexico's 6 million, Texas and the Yucatan had only 4.5 million between the two. Estimates by historians place that the Southwestern alliance would've needed at least 450,000 troops to occupy all of Mexico. The fact that their enemy was so underdeveloped actually worked against their favor as as they could not live off the land and support an occupation. Finally there is the nature of the Mexican people. In the First Mexican Civil War and the Border Wars, the Mexican people were weak and scared under the leadership of corrupt politicians that had little idea on how to run a proper war. Under the Juarez regime the Mexicans had a Nationalistic fury to fulfill their Vengan lust for the lost land. Even when the tides were turned in the late fall of 1862, overall morale in Mexico barely dropped and tens of thousands, along with the general civilian population, marched happily to the tune of El Presidente. It was becoming quite clear to the Seguin and Peraza administrations that while they could obtain some victory from the war, they could not "win" like in the last two. Communication between Austin and Merida across the Gulf became frequent in 1863 over just what to do for the end of the war. The economies of each nation were being pushed to the brink and a final solution was needed fast. Between Seguin and Peraza it was generally agreed that they would do the best they could by the summer and if possible reach for a truce.
In stark contrast to the dynamic campiagns waged on the Texan-Mexican border in 1862, the remaining months in 1863 leading to the Treaty of Havana was quite dull in comparison. While the front was not quiet it would remain static due to the stretching of the supply lines on both sides and limitations on realistic goals. On the Western front some minor excursions from California would be made into Sonora, though these were more to paralyze the state and prevent the possibility of another invasion rather than a full occupation. Entire border towns would be wiped off the map with the destruction of their crops and any infrastructure which the Mexicans could use to support their army. Plans were drawn for a potential invasion of Hermosillo or Guayamas, however these were canned as soon as word had arrived of the peace treaty. In Coahuila the Texans were stuck between a rock and a hard place. This was mainly due to the hostility of the Mexican population which required the regiments to be spread out, along with the defending of the borders from Mexican incursions. Major General Phillipe Castanzo who had become hated among the Texans with sheer vile thanks to El Paso, took overall command of the region and led several successful attacks on Texan supply lines which deprived the invaders of much needed munitions while providing relief to the Mexicans. Two major battles took place in 1863 with the Battles of Monterrey (Nuevo Leon) and Saltillo. Both battles were attempts by the Mexicans and Texans to take over neighboring major cities on both sides and make an advancement. Unfortunately for the attackers in the dual cases, it was a victory for the defenders. Saltillo, which took place on March 8th, was a Texan victory due in large part to the Texans cavalry outnumbering the Mexicans 3 to 1 and the Mexicans having been caought in a pincer movement when pushing through the city, though they were able to escape. Monterrey, which took place on April 4th, was a Mexican victory thanks to the near unanimous support from the local population to erect defenses and join the fight against the Texans which gave the Mexicans a numerical advantage and hold the Texans at the gates, the Mexicans only incurring heavy losses thanks to artillery fire. While Travis had been stopped in his objective from liberating the rest of the Rio Grande, his actions were able to save Coahuila from Mexican annexation and deny them the whole victory of annexing the Rio Grande Republic. Coahuila's Texan occupation would be a sore point for Mexicans many years after the war and add to the Texans the satisfaction of having secured the borders of the original Texan colony.
Down south the situation was far worse for the Yucatan. While they had been able to liberate the states of Yucatan proper along with the state of Tabasco, Chiapas remained very much a quagmire. With the ethnic genocide committed against the Mayans the Yucatan had nearly no allies within their state and the frequent burnings and destruction of the rainforests would impede any army movement. Suggestions were made for a possible sea invasion, though these were ludicrous due to the fact that the Yucatan had only 3 Pacific ships and Texas had their Pacific squadron focused on the northern Mexican states. In the spring of 1863 two final offensives were launched with the primary targets being Tapachula and Comitan. The battle of Tapachula took place on February 16th with Yucatan Major General Salvador Terrano leading 8,500 men against the cities defenders of 5,000. The Yucatan were able to take the city with their superior usage of artillery thanks to them having 40 units versus the Mexicans sole 12 units of artillery and the majority of the defenders being infantry, unable to effectiely escape thanks to the cavalry cutting them down on the roads. Comitan was the exact opposite thanks to Pancho Morales making the environment a living hell for the attackers. Traps were laid all throughout the jungle with little regard to where the Yucatan would attack, instead targeting all possible avenues. The dirt roads that lead to the city were blocked off with timber obstructions and Yucatan camps would reguarly be torched by raider units of the Republican Guard, a dangerous prospect in the jungle. With regular sneak attacks by infantry companies, the Yucatan under Brigadier General Enrique Martinez to retreat to the Yucatan borders. Unfortunately for the Mexicans they would not be able to replicate their success up north against the combined French and Yucatan units under Ignacio Rojas and Achile Bazaine. The Veracruz front would be where the Yucatan put the most effort with 20,000 men alongside the french 18,000; leading to 38,000 against the 20,000 of Mexico. The race to Veracruz as it would become known would see the combined armies race to the port of Veracruz to claim Mexico's major oceanhub and largest city on the Gulf. The Yucatan juggernaut seemed unstoppable with Coatzacoalcos falling on February 26th and Minatitlan falling on March 2nd. The final major battle of the war would be the Battle of Veracruz which would become the bloodiest battle of the war as well. Rojas marched into the city with 30,000 to faced off against Ignacio Zaragoza with 18,000. The odds were against Zaragoza as he was outnumbered with the Yucatan having more artillery and the complete support of the Texan navy who were ordered to come to the city and aid in the capture. Still the "Hero of Tampico" would not relent and would see that it be defended to the last man. Veracruz would be fought for three days from April 5th-7th and see the city nearly get torn apart. The harbor and all coastal constructions were ruined by the Texan ships who laid waste to any place that the Mexicans might provide. The Yucatan would systematically bombard the Mexican positions with near perfect coordination and lead dozens of charges against the defenses. Zaragoza would lead at the front of the battle lines and hold the Mexicans in the trenches, each foot having to be earned with blood. By dawn on the 7th the Yucatan were a 1/3rd into the city. The battle would become lost near midday when Zaragoza would be shot in the head by an unknown sniper, falling with sabre in hand. The Mexican defenders which had fought with every last ounce of strength until then, lost the will to continue and many would retreat west. The battle of Veracruz would be extremely bloody with the Mexicans losing 7,234 killed, 3,408 wounded, and 2,955 taken prisoner. The Yucatan would suffer 6,109 killed, 2,537 wounded, and 1,444 taken prisoner. French losses were relatively light in comparison with 720 killed, 386 wounded, and 502 taken prisoner. Veracruz would come to be a bloody stain for the Mexicans as word of their loss would reach the delegates in Cuba before negotiations began, forcing them into a hard place as they wanted to achieve total victory, but had to make a peace or risk eventual destruction.
Battle of Veracruz (Left). Yucatan Army advancing into Chiapas (Right)
