Battle of Baghdad (Mexico)
See also: Battle of Baghdad
Following the independence of the Mexico, the country was prone to multiple coups d'etat. Napoleon III wanted to then benefit from the American Civil War to the the United States to set up a catholic empire combined at France in order to counter its neighbor of north: the Forwarding of Mexico.
Before the battle
The village of Baghdad to the Large mouth of the Río control the access by the river to the twin cities of Matamoros (Mexico) and Brownsville (Texas). During the Forwarding of Mexico, Matamoros was the principal point of passage of the American assistance to the Mexican Republicans. The city was kept by colonel preserving Meija with 2.000 men and supported by the French navy.
It was the most important point at the origin of the northerner pressures , under the terms of the Doctrine Monroe with respect to the French.
In 1864, Meija is threatened by the republican Mexican general Negrete. But this last is dissuaded by the unloading from 500 soldiers and 140 French artillerists in Baghdad, made by the ships Var , Magellan and Tactique .
In 1865, the situation becomes complicated. The army of the the United States drive out of Brownsville the forces of the States confederated of America favorable to the conservative of Meija. They concentrate then 40.000 men on the border. The Tisiphone arrives then in reinforcement to Baghdad.
The September 28th, the republican general Escobedo supported by an artillery of 11 guns, seems it provided by the northerner soldiers, returns concerned. The French admiral Cloué reinforced the city with the Adonis , the Magellan , the Tactique and the Tartar . After the fold of Escobedo, the admiral addressed a complaint to the northerner general Wetzel, to commander de Brownsville, on the business of the artillerists states-uniens and to carry help to the Mexican casualties.
The Antonia is added to the defense of Baghdad.
In November, new attempt at Escobedos on Matamoros which the Antonia comes to reinforce.
The French marshal Bazaine sent two columns in reinforcement, respectively ordered by the colonel d' Ornano and the general Jeanningros as well as the Allier to unload 300 Austrians, 20 Mexicans and 60 horses in Baghdad the November 20th.
The battle
All the elements were then joined together for the principal battle which took place in January 1866.
The January 4th 1866, benefitting from the departure of the Adonis , the Tartar and the Tisiphone , Escobedo supported of black regiments of the US Army attacks the village. Whereas the Mexicans and the Austrians fold up themselves on their ship, the 30 sailors of the Antonia ensure their cover.
After the battle
The northerner general Wetzel sends 150 men to restore the order by occupying the village holding with their mercy the men gathered on the Antonia . After a new protest of the admiral Cloué, the village is released the January 25th.
In June, a double column of conservatives of 2.000 men leaves in reinforcement Monterrey for Matamoros. A first half stops due to disease. The 300 men of the Olverade general of the second column, are tackled on June 15th with Camargo by 5.000 Mexicans and mercenaries states-uniens. Only 150 men parvirent in Matamoros and the Meija general. Seeing itself from now on in impossibility of holding the city, it made evacuate the 400 men who remained to him on the Adonis towards Veracruz.
See too
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