AUTHOR´S NOTE 1: THIS CHAPTER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MAIN LINE OF THE FIC, SO IF YOU WANT TO SKIP IT, YOU HAVE ALL THE RIGHT TO DO IT. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SUMMARY ABOUT ONE OF THE GREATEST HISTORY MOMENTS OF MY COUNTRY AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO READ IT, SINCE THIS MOMENT I SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE. THERE'S ANOTHER AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE BOTTOM.
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-Well kids-Mr. Atkins started- I have taught you all I know about our history, so now I'm going to teach you something about foreign history-
-What do you mean teacher?- One of the students asked.
-What would you think if I tell you that the French army wanted to help the confederated army during the civil war?- Mr. Atkins asked the students.
-I think that it would have been useless, I mean, they were French, and we are Americans, the union army would have beaten them easily- another student answered proudly.
-No, you're wrong Samuel (Sam), first, because our own army was separated in two, as you said, the union, and the confederates, and second, the French army WAS THE STRONGEST ARMY IN THE WORLD AT THAT TIME. They hadn't been beaten since Waterloo in 1815, and that was because the French army was alone against the Britain, Netherlands, German and Prussian armies.- Mr. Atkins told to the class.- So, if the French army would have helped the confederates, it's pretty sure that our history would have been very, very different as it is now. You see, Napoleon III, Napoleon Bonaparte's descendant, wanted to expand the French empire to the American continent.-
-And why didn't he does it?- Samuel asked, now very interested.
-BECAUSE MEXICO STOPPED HIM!- Mr. Atkins answered proudly.
-WWWWHHHHAAAATTTT?- All the students yelled/asked,
-Yes, as you heard me, what do you know about Mexico?- Mr. Atkins asked again.
-Uh, uh- Sonata raised her hand excitedly.
-Yes, Sonata?- Mr. Atkins was one of the few teachers who called the students by their names.
-They invented tacos- The girl answered.
-Well, yes, anything else? Yes Dash?-
-We beat them in a soccer match in the 2002 world cup and eliminated them from the competition (that still hurts, you know? ¬¬)-
-Yes, that too, anything else?- Everyone stayed silent.
-What do you know about May 5th?- The teacher asked and Kwan raised his hand.-Yes Kwan?-
-It's their independence day- Kwan answered very happy with his answer.
-Oh Kwan you are completely, absolutely, and out of question…-Kwan was getting excited- …Wrong!- Mr. Atkins finally said, killing the young man hopes.
-Uh? Why?- The boy asked, now in a sad mood.
-Mexico´s independence from Spain happened between September 16th 1810 and September 27th 1821, That´s before our civil war.-
- I don't get it Mr. Atkins. What do have to do Mexico and France with our civil war?- Samuel asked, not feeling quite good about learning this.
-Well, nothing per se, but what happened between them influenced in our war. You see, Benito Juarez, Mexico's president at that time, was a liberal who wanted, between other things, to make a reform that will make the government and the church, any kind of church, but mostly Catholic Church, two separated entities, so the church would not mess in government business and vice versa. That didn't like the Church, obviously, and the conservative people and military, so there was a war between the conservatives and the liberals called "Reform war". After 3 years, Benito Juarez defeated the conservatives and started his reforms at laws, but his country was in bankrupt, there was no money at all, not even to pay Mexico's debts with other countries, such as Spain, England and France.- Mr. Atkins started his explanation.
-What happened then?- Kwan asked.
-Benito Juarez decided to cancel Mexico's payments to all these countries, that didn't like them, and Napoleon III used this as an excuse, asked Spain and England for help and the 3 countries sent their armies to Mexico. Spain and England just wanted some warranty that Mexico would pay its debts at some point, but France wanted to conquer it and then send troops to USA to help the confederates to win the war.-
-Let me get this straight. Mexico had just ended its own war, and now THREE POTENCIES, one with the strongest army at the time invaded it?- Danny asked.
-Yes, that's correct. The three armies got to the Veracruz's port at the beginnings of 1862 year, and were ready to advance to Mexico City. On their way there, a Mexican minister reached them and proposed to get to an agreement, Spain and England armies accepted, but French army didn't. In the end of negotiations, Spain and England retreated and went back home, they even tried to convince the Count of Lorencez, French army commander, and a very trusted man of Napoleon III to stop their advance and retreat, but their efforts were useless, as the Count of Lorencez had explicit orders of taking Mexico as fast as he could and advance to USA.-
-So the French army kept on its way to Mexico City.-
-Yes, there were a few battles on the way, but the French army was way too superior, better weaponry, better trained and more disciplined. Meanwhile the Mexican army was weakened, there weren't enough well trained soldiers, didn't have enough weaponry, or enough food to feed the soldiers and the civilian men who were recruited voluntarily or by cam. And, obviously, there wasn't enough time to train the new recruits.- Explained Mr. Atkins.
-It sounds like the French were bullying Mexico to me, I mean, they were so weakened after the Reform war.- Sam said, a little offended.
-Well, kind of, jaja.- Mr. Atkins continued.- The Count of Lorencez even sent a letter to Napoleon III, where he declared that there was no military force at all, and that the French were so superior in every way possible to the Mexicans, as in race, discipline, strength and society that with the 6,000 men he was commanding, he was Mexico's owner-
-He was a cocky and arrogant bastard- Nathan declared.
-Haha, yes he was. But then he got to Puebla, where the Mexican army was waiting for him. And there is something else; there were Mexican conservatives yet, with 7,000 soldiers that joined the French army. This conservative army sent a few men to infiltrate in the advanced camp the Mexican army had in "Chalchicomula" where the Oaxaca division, the best Mexican soldiers at the time, heroes of the reform war and veterans of the war Mexico had from 1845 to 1848 were…-
-…Wait! You mean…- Sam was asking but Mr. Atkins finished for him.
- Yes Sam, those soldiers fought against USA army… Sigh. The infiltrated men made explode the powder room, destroying most of the weapons and killing almost all the horses, and more importantly, many men, women and children died, and the whole Oaxaca division was dead. Both, the French and the Mexican conservative armies took separated ways, in order to surround the Mexican army and defeat it in the Guadalupe, and Loreto forts.-
-Ok, the Mexicans were screwed!- Jessica declared.
-Almost screwed. At some point, some Mexican saw the conservative army and informed the General Ignacio Zaragoza, the Mexican army commander, and he took a risky choice, and sent 3,000 men under General Carvajal and General O'horan command, in order to stop the conservative army and defeat it if possible.-
-If possible… but 7,000 against 3,000 is not a very good math in a battle- Charles said.
-True, but even so, numbers doesn't win battles, and May 4th, that was proven by Carvajal and O'horan. They defeated the conservative army and destroyed it-
-Really?- Dash asked.
-Yes really, but there was not enough time for them to get back to the Forts, besides they were tired and had injured men, so general Zaragoza stayed at Puebla with no more than 2,000 soldiers, and other 1,000 or 1,500 civilians who joined the army, with no military training at all; but during the May 4th night, 2,000 reinforces from Queretaro and Guanajuato got to the Guadalupe fort and joined Zaragoza's force.
-So, in the end, everything was between the Mexicans and the "all too powerful" French army- Valerie said.
-Yes, the next morning, Ignacio Zaragoza told his men "You are going to face the strongest army in the world, they are warriors…"-
-That… doesn't sound very inspiring to me- Danny said.
-Yes, but he also said "… but you are warriors too, as our ancestors. Show them what we Mexicans are made of." At 11:15 in the morning, the battle started with the French infantry advancing to the Guadalupe Fort, with the idea of the artillery covering them. That didn't work, because the field was too irregular. The canyon balls weren't even close to damage the Mexicans. So, instead, as arrogant as he was, Count of Lorencez ordered full attack of infantry over the Mexicans and The Forts, meanwhile the canyons had to be relocated in order to reach the Forts. The battle was fierce, but the French had never fought against the "machetes", a very long and thick blade, made mostly for sowing, but useful to kill someone too, so the French retreated a little. Lorencez had to change strategy again and ordered to attack the right flank with both infantry and artillery; that seemed to work at the beginning, but Mexican artillery from the Forts, and a surprise attack from a cavalry made the French retreat again. This cavalry attack was so unexpected for the French, that at first they thought that it was an ally cavalry that came to their aid-
-Didn't the French army have cavalry?- Dash asked.
-No, they left their horses behind, in order to keep them save, because they didn't have enough food for them. Lorencez was getting desperate, but instead of retreat, as his advisers were telling him, he said "THE FRENCH ARMY WON'T BE DEFEATED BY A BUNCH OF INDIANS" and ordered the total attack over the Guadalupe Fort. This time it was all or nothing, The French attacked fiercely and got to the Fort walls, they took their ladders and tried to climb them to take the Fort, but the Mexicans were throwing them the canyon balls directly at them, and there were soldiers shooting them from the sides and corners…-
-Just like in the Helm's deep battle in The Lord of the rings: The two towers movie- Nathan interrupted, getting excited.
-Sort of. The Mexicans fought with everything they had, and were keeping the French at bay, but the French were getting the upper hand, until General Porfirio Diaz flanked them and ordered a surprising attack, disobeying Zaragoza's orders, with his cavalry over them…-
-JUST LIKE THE ROHAN CAVALRY ATTACKED THE ORCS IN THE FIELDS OF PELENOR IN THE LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING MOVIE!- Nathan interrupted again very excited.
-Nathan, you can't compare the Lord of the rings with this.- Mr. Atkins said annoyed.
-Why not? It sounds pretty similar to me- Nathan answered.
-Well, basically because the May 5th battle DID happened, and Lord of the rings is fictional, that's all- Mr. Atkins explained and Nathan fell in his seat, very sad.
Mr. Atkins finished his explanation- That was all, at this point, the French broke ranks, and were running for their lives. Lorencez ordered the retreat without believing his own actions. The battle was over. The most powerful army at the time was defeated, the news flew over the world and no one could believe it, but that's how it happened.
-So that's all, the Mexicans did the impossible, but what happened with Lorencez, Zaragoza and the others?- Asked Danny who was very interested in the history.
-Well, Lorencez was destitute from his rank and place by Napoleon III, for been defeated by a "no dangerous" enemy, unfortunately, Zaragoza died from typhoid 5 months later and he was buried with his wife, whom died a few weeks before the battle, from pneumonia…-
-He wasn't very lucky- Dash exclaimed.
-No he wasn't, but he died being a hero. Porfirio Diaz kept fighting the French, along other Generals, because the French tried to invade Mexico again the next year with a 35,000 men army, until the French were finally expelled in 1867. Porfirio lived long enough to become Mexico's president, for 30 years…-
-More like a dictatorship- Samuel said.
-Yes, more like it, he lived long enough to become a villain. Ironically, he spent his last days in Paris, France- Mr. Atkins said sighing, and continued- Napoleon III could never perform his plans of expand his empire to the American Continent and neither reach the USA to help the confederated army. As you can see, if Napoleon III could have performed his plans, Mexico's history, and our own history, would have been very different-.
-That's interesting, very interesting, so, both Mexico and USA histories are linked right?- Danny assured.
Mr. Atkins answered-Yes, indeed it's interesting, and yes, of course our both countries histories are linked, in more than one way, and that won't change, ever, as long as we are neighbors, our histories will be linked, we like it or not, until one, or both countries disappear.-
RRRRRRRIIIIIINNNNNGGGGG!
-Well, that's all for today, have a good day kids, there's no homework today.-Mr. Atkins dismissed the class.
-I still think that is pretty similar to the Lord of the rings- Nathan expressed as he was leaving the classroom.
-That was very interesting- Daniela exclaimed.
-Yes, indeed it was- Danny answered, as he was heading to his next class.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE 2: THIS CHAPTER WAS ALREADY DEVELOPED IN THE "STORYBOARD" OF MY HEAD, BEFORE ALL THE DONALD TRUMP´S NONSENSE (WELL IT'S NONSENSE TO ME), AND DOESN'T WANT, OR TRY TO INSULT THE AMERICANS IN ANY WAY AT ALL. BUT IF EVEN THEN YOU FEEL INSULTED IN SOME WAY I APOLOGIZE TO YOU RIGHT NOW. SEE YOU NEXT CHAPTER. I WON'T DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS (in this fic) AGAIN, SO DON'T WORRY.