For many years I have known about and occasionally participated in the festivities of the Mexican holiday known as Cinco de Mayo, although my participation is usually limited to a hoisted Margarita or two in honor of that day, and in support of my friends who honor the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo. I have also known for years that this celebration marks Mexico's defeat of French occupation forces and is NOT the BIG independence day, the day of Mexican independence from Spain, or Deiz y Seis (de Septiembre), the more important day in Mexican history, if not the most celebrated day.
But I have to confess that I did NOT know that the hero of Cinco de Mayo, Ignacio Zaragoza, was a man right from deep in the Heart of Texas. The Battle of Puebla could be considered as Mexico's version of the Battle of San Jacinto in Texas. A small but well-trained army led by Zaragoza, numbering about 800 men (as did Houston's Texas army at San Jacinto) repelled an attack by the much stronger French Army which numbered between 1000 and 2000 soldiers at Puebla, in a battle that lasted much longer than the eighteen minutes of fighting at San Jacinto. The battle at Puebla not only cost the French about half their men that day, but also delayed the French in their eventual attack on Mexico City. This delay and other factors resulted in the defeat of the French and their expulsion from Mexico. A lesser known aspect of the French Intervention in Mexico was that Spain attempted to reassert its influence on Mexico, if not the reoccupation of that nation. England also aided the French and Spanish in the blockade of Veracruz. Unfortunately for France, however, both Spain and England backed out of the combination, and Mexican forces took great advantage of this turn of events.
Zaragoza was the human factor behind the successful defense of Puebla and the eventual expulsion of the French from Mexico's soil. Zaragoza, even in the face of great personal tragedy (his wife passed away only two months before the battle), inspired his soldiers to fight in spite of great odds, and to regain their freedom. Further, Zaragoza was largely responsible for reviving a great national spirit of independence in Mexico, thus igniting the flame and spirit that led to permanent independence for Mexico. Unfortunately, Zaragoza became ill and died only four months later, and just a week before Diez y Seis was celebrated in 1862.
Like the Battle of San Jacinto nearly thirty years earlier in Texas, the Battle of Puebla changed the course of history in a much bigger way than the size of the forces involved and the immediate victory prize would imply. It appears that the French intended to use the continued occupation of Mexico as a springboard for providing assistance to the Confederate States of America via crossing the Texas border to convoy military supplies to Confederate forces. Had badly needed arms and ammunition reached the Confederacy in 1862, while the early war momentum was with Confederate forces, the outcome of the American Civil War might have been much different.
Zaragoza added a Texas flavor to the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo. Zaragoza was a native of Goliad, south of San Antonio. His father, Miguel, was an infantryman in the Mexican Army and was loyal to Mexico. With the news of the defeat of General Santa Anna at San Jacinto, Miguel moved his family to Matamoros, and later to Monterrey. Inspired by his father's loyalty to Mexico and his service in the army, Ignacio, a businessman by this time, joined the militia of Monterrey. His rise to fame and the valuable place he would take in Mexican history began a few years later when his militia chapter was absorbed into the regular army. Ignacio, a sergeant of the militia, was promoted to the rank of captain in the Mexican army. Thus a native Texan (of Mexico) rose in the ranks and eventually served as the Ministry of Defense under Mexico's President Benito Juarez, starting in 1860. Zaragoza resigned his Cabinet post in 1861 to accept a commission as the Commander in Chief of the Mexican Army of the East. In this capacity he engineered the victory at Puebla.
Although Ignacio Zaragoza remained loyal to Mexico, he was well-respected on both sides of the Border. Sam Houston and other prominent Texans admired Zaragoza both for his loyalty and for his military skills. Proof of this lies in Zaragoza being honored by Texas historians and the Texas Legislature. Zaragoza's birthplace in Goliad was preserved and eventually restored. This man and his accomplishments are remembered at this two-acre sight to this very day. Thus, Ignacio Zaragoza most likely the biggest reason that Mexicans were victorious on Cinco de Mayo, added a taste of Texas to that Mexican holiday.
I am proud to honor Ignacio Zaragoza in the small way I am able to do so in the pages of this blog. While not truly a Texas hero, Zaragoza embodies the spirit of loyalty, bravery, and independence that native Texans value so much to this very day.
God Bless Mexico, God Bless Texas...and
May God Bless America! Viva Cinco de Mayo!
But I have to confess that I did NOT know that the hero of Cinco de Mayo, Ignacio Zaragoza, was a man right from deep in the Heart of Texas. The Battle of Puebla could be considered as Mexico's version of the Battle of San Jacinto in Texas. A small but well-trained army led by Zaragoza, numbering about 800 men (as did Houston's Texas army at San Jacinto) repelled an attack by the much stronger French Army which numbered between 1000 and 2000 soldiers at Puebla, in a battle that lasted much longer than the eighteen minutes of fighting at San Jacinto. The battle at Puebla not only cost the French about half their men that day, but also delayed the French in their eventual attack on Mexico City. This delay and other factors resulted in the defeat of the French and their expulsion from Mexico. A lesser known aspect of the French Intervention in Mexico was that Spain attempted to reassert its influence on Mexico, if not the reoccupation of that nation. England also aided the French and Spanish in the blockade of Veracruz. Unfortunately for France, however, both Spain and England backed out of the combination, and Mexican forces took great advantage of this turn of events.
Zaragoza was the human factor behind the successful defense of Puebla and the eventual expulsion of the French from Mexico's soil. Zaragoza, even in the face of great personal tragedy (his wife passed away only two months before the battle), inspired his soldiers to fight in spite of great odds, and to regain their freedom. Further, Zaragoza was largely responsible for reviving a great national spirit of independence in Mexico, thus igniting the flame and spirit that led to permanent independence for Mexico. Unfortunately, Zaragoza became ill and died only four months later, and just a week before Diez y Seis was celebrated in 1862.
Like the Battle of San Jacinto nearly thirty years earlier in Texas, the Battle of Puebla changed the course of history in a much bigger way than the size of the forces involved and the immediate victory prize would imply. It appears that the French intended to use the continued occupation of Mexico as a springboard for providing assistance to the Confederate States of America via crossing the Texas border to convoy military supplies to Confederate forces. Had badly needed arms and ammunition reached the Confederacy in 1862, while the early war momentum was with Confederate forces, the outcome of the American Civil War might have been much different.
Zaragoza added a Texas flavor to the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo. Zaragoza was a native of Goliad, south of San Antonio. His father, Miguel, was an infantryman in the Mexican Army and was loyal to Mexico. With the news of the defeat of General Santa Anna at San Jacinto, Miguel moved his family to Matamoros, and later to Monterrey. Inspired by his father's loyalty to Mexico and his service in the army, Ignacio, a businessman by this time, joined the militia of Monterrey. His rise to fame and the valuable place he would take in Mexican history began a few years later when his militia chapter was absorbed into the regular army. Ignacio, a sergeant of the militia, was promoted to the rank of captain in the Mexican army. Thus a native Texan (of Mexico) rose in the ranks and eventually served as the Ministry of Defense under Mexico's President Benito Juarez, starting in 1860. Zaragoza resigned his Cabinet post in 1861 to accept a commission as the Commander in Chief of the Mexican Army of the East. In this capacity he engineered the victory at Puebla.
Although Ignacio Zaragoza remained loyal to Mexico, he was well-respected on both sides of the Border. Sam Houston and other prominent Texans admired Zaragoza both for his loyalty and for his military skills. Proof of this lies in Zaragoza being honored by Texas historians and the Texas Legislature. Zaragoza's birthplace in Goliad was preserved and eventually restored. This man and his accomplishments are remembered at this two-acre sight to this very day. Thus, Ignacio Zaragoza most likely the biggest reason that Mexicans were victorious on Cinco de Mayo, added a taste of Texas to that Mexican holiday.
I am proud to honor Ignacio Zaragoza in the small way I am able to do so in the pages of this blog. While not truly a Texas hero, Zaragoza embodies the spirit of loyalty, bravery, and independence that native Texans value so much to this very day.
God Bless Mexico, God Bless Texas...and
May God Bless America! Viva Cinco de Mayo!
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