The Guns of Cinco de Mayo – Mexico’s Victory Over French Forces

By Logan Metesh

Puebla, Mexico -(AmmoLand.com)- It’s not uncommon for people to mistake Cinco de Mayo as a day to celebrate Mexico’s independence, but that’s actually September 16, 1810. Instead, Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s May 5, 1862, victory over French forces in Puebla City.

In 1861, Mexico had just ended a civil war and was in a financially ruinous state. As a result, President Juarez suspended all payments of foreign debt. France, Great Britain, and Spain were owed significant sums of money and they were not pleased with this decision, so the three countries banded together to demand repayment.

By early 1862, Mexico had convinced Great Britain and Spain to stand down with the promise of future payments. However, France was undeterred and their troops remained on Mexican soil. War was inevitable.

The battle at Puebla involved approximately 11,000 soldiers: 4,500 Mexicans commanded by Ignacio Zaragoza and 6,000-6,500 French commanded by Charles de Lorencez. When the dust settled, Mexico had won, with France sustaining a casualty ratio of 5:1.

The guns …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand