Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/191

 stiffness which had crept into official relations in consequence of the attitude of the French cabinet—proves that our army was still holding the most dangerous positions, which were avoided by the Mexican troops. Our French ports, which witnessed the return of the marine-infantry, can testify how their sons had been swept away by their stay in the Terres Chaudes, and especially at Tampico. The French contre-guerillas were, in their turn, sadly tried there, both by pestilence and by the fire of the enemy.

Yet Tampico fell into the power of the Liberals only through the treason of the Mexican soldiers, who caused a portion of our men to be slaughtered in the fort of Iturbide. The valorous defence by Captain Langlais can never be forgotten, who, in defiance of famine and la vomito, held out for weeks with only two hundred men of the contre-guerilla against two thousand Liberals under Pavon; when he surrendered the fort of Casa-Mata, he marched his troops out freely in front of the enemy, with their arms loaded and their flag proudly flying.

With respect to Monterey, which was left to the safe keeping of the Belgian Legion, Maximilian's letter, which we quote here, shows sufficiently what kind of support was to be expected from the cabinet of Brussels and the Belgian corps, which had recently mutinied. The unhappy prince did not derive any more benefit from the help of the foreigners whom he had been so unwise as to call in for the defence of his throne.

Chapultepec, August 30, 1866. My dear Marshal,—The state of excitement which exists in the Belgian regiment is proved by the last telegraphic dispatch from the officers; it is produced by external causes—viz.,the reorganisation which it is necessary it should undergo,