So the defence continued a few days longer with the little powder on hand, till the 16th, when there was nothing left; ammunition and food, all had been consumed.[1] Not a line or sign had been received from Comonfort. In view of the situation, a council of war was held, which resolved that the general-in-chief should endeavor to obtain from the French a capitulation, with the privilege of marching out of the city. This was not acceded to by Forey.[2] At a council of war it was decided, and at one o'clock in the morning of the 17th of May the order was issued, to destroy all the armament; after which the white flag for surrender without conditions should be hoisted, the officers being left free to act as they pleased.[3] The money in the military chest was to be distributed among the rank and file. The plan was carried out on the 17th, Forey being apprised that the general, field, and company officers awaited his pleasure, as his prisoners, at the palace.[4] Ortega and the officers all ranks refused to sign paroles as required of them by the French commander.[5] According to the his-
- ↑ The rations served out to the garrison on the 15th and 16th of May consisted of a decoction of orange-leaves.
- ↑ He agreed to grant everything but that Ortega's troops should remain in condition to continue the war against France, as that would be but a change of position. The chief of staff said that no doubt his commander would allow the garrison all the honors and guarantees, but if they destroyed their arms before surrendering, as had been hinted, all prisoners falling into his hands would be transported to Martinique. Forey seemed to disapprove of the remark, and energetically said: 'I transport to Martinique robbers, banditti, but not brave officers, such as those forming the garrison of Puebla.' Ortega, Parte Gen., 190-2.
- ↑ Forey claimed, on the 20th of May, that the surrender had been forced by his fire of the 16th on the Totimehuacan, which had done great damage to the works, and exposed their weakness on the east side. His words to the bearer of a flag of truce were, that if the garrison waited for a general assault he would, under the laws of war, put it to the sword. Lefêvre, Doc. Maximiliano, 276.
- ↑ A little before 3 a. m., and before the message was forwarded by the hands of released French prisoners, Ortega received a note from Gen. Yañez, dated at the bridge of Texmelucan, May 14th, at 6:30 P. M., saying that Comonfort had gone to Mexico; that the disaster of San Lorenzo had not been so great as Forey represented it to Ortega; but the troops of the central army certainly were too much demoralized to be led into battle. An hour later the artillery was blown up.
- ↑ Ortega, Parte Gen., 203-4, 210-13; Diaz., Datos Biog., MS., 192; Diaz, Porf., Biog., 48-50.
