by Andy Porras
What we need is a Cinco de Mayo for Dummies. Many of us confuse May 5 with Sept. 16, Mexican Independence Day. Even less is known of the incredible Cinco de Mayo connection between the Battle of Puebla, fought between Mexico and France, and the salvation of United States, not Mexican, independence.
Mention the date to today’s young Latinos and you’re bound to get the same answer: party-time!
But it’s not their fault. Not when there is next to nothing in school curricula that even hints of a President Lincoln-Mexican President Benito Juárez connection during the Civil War.
May 5, 1862, is when the Battle of Puebla shook the Americas. The victory of a ragtag Mexican Army against an elite French military machine was just the start of the story. Or shall we say stories.
Newly shared research reveals that the original (non Native American) Texas settlers, los tejanos, were involved and it seems few, have taken notice. Can you imaginehow this story will rattle the current Texas Textbook Committee? Oh, to be a fly on their plush meeting room wall!
Check the date. The U.S. Civil War was raging. The country seemed headed onto a path of self-destruction. While the North counted on vast industrial resources, the Southern rebs’ quest for secession tempered them with a fierce, almost barbaric, fighting spirit.
President Lincoln could ill afford a nation divided. Benito Juárez’s troops were thought to be no match for the Euro-warriors who had not tasted defeat in more half a century and were said to be “the premier army in the world.” Both leaders were desperate for a military miracle.
Some historians claim the desire of Napoleon Bonepart’s nephew, Napoleon III, to occupy Mexico was fueled by his intense dislike for the United States and the Monroe Doctrine, which stated the United States would oppose any European intrusion in the Americas. A French stronghold in Mexico would thwart the growing U.S. strength.
Noted writers, among them fellow tejano José Antonio Burciaga and John Shepler, point out that Napoleon III banked on thefact the United States, in the midst of its own civil war, wouldn’t interfere in Mexico.
“Under orders of their emperor, French troops arrived in Mexico with a dual purpose: to help the Confederacy win the war and to conquer Mexico.” wrote Donald Miles in his book, “Cinco de Mayo — What Is EverybodyCelebrating?”
Thus with state-ofthe-art equipment andthe French Foreign Legion at his disposal, Napoleon III planned a traditional military assault on Puebla and then on to Mexico City. Once the capital fell into French hands, the rest of the country would surrender.
Then they would march north and keep their promise to the Rebels. It was quite a plan, except they didn’t count on Texas-born, Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza’s non- traditional battle skills and his passionate pleas to the Mexican soldiers, mostly Zapotec Indians.
Nor did they have any inkling, writes Texas historian Dr. Andrés Tijerina that General Zaragoza would recruit Captain Porfirio Zamora from Palito Blanco in south Texas and in turn he would recruit 500 tejanos. Together as a cavalry unit they would join the Mexican army in repelling the French invasion.
The tejanos, although still Mexican sat heart, were U.S. citizens. “On the morning of May 5, 1862, French General Lorenz led 4,000 French forces toward Puebla, believing he would be welcomed and the local clergy would shower his troops with magnolia blooms,” writes Shepler, “Instead, waiting for him was General Zaragoza with a much smaller force of 2,000 troops along with Puebla citizens who brought their own farm tools as weapons.”
The Texas general’s guerrilla tactics included stampeding cattle into the French occupied areas near Puebla. Then the screaming, machete-wielding Zapotecs sliding down muddy hillsides baffled the brightly dressed French Dragoons.
The numero-uno army in the world was no match for the inspired natives, who were growing weary of foreign warriors traversing across their lands.
What a scene! Darkskinned natives swinging their machetes as they utilized the slippery slopes to surprise Mexico’s latest invaders. Cows trampling neatly organized French rifl e racks. Tejanos helping their brothers once more. Where’s Hispanic Hollywood when you need it?
Benito Juárez’s people had risen to the task. Napoleon’s plans to help the South were crushed. On April 18, 1865, the Civil War ended with the surrender of the Confederate army. By then, 617,000 Union and Confederate soldiers had died in the war.
In gratitude for their aid, Washington’s leaders invited the Juárez family to Washington after the war. Maybe someday both countries will get their historical facts straight and celebrate Cinco together. Just as their forefathers did. Hispanic Link.Andy Porras, of Houston, Texas, is a contributing columnist with Hispanic Link News Service. Email: califasap@yahoo.com)
