Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/62

46 hoist the imperial flag, was decimated by many most ungracious dismissals. The colonel of gendarmerie, La Peña, of Tulancingo, who had rendered both valuable and dangerous services, was slighted, and also the chiefs Galvez and Arguyes. The foremost generals were gradually set aside and overwhelmed with discredit; the dismissal even of the faithful Mejia himself was contemplated, he who subsequently remained the only true friend in misfortune. The army, the préfectures, and the gardes rurales, were recruited with treacherous men, who secretly plotted treason, and neutralised the efforts of our troops from the very commencement of operations.

General Bazaine, however, keeping strictly to his military duties, had lost no time, and had in no way relaxed the measures which were favourable to the new régime, for the success of which he had been ten months preparing. Persevering in the labours begun by Marshal Forey, who, on the arrival of our regiments at Mexico, had directed the re-establishment of the arsenal and of the cannon foundry at Chapultepec, he took the greatest care in fortifying the capital and its approaches; he had also extended these same defensive measures to the capitals of the states of the interior, which had been occupied by our forces and the Mexican troops. On his arrival in the first city of the republic, he found the artillery service completely disorganised; the working stock was dilapidated, and not in working order; the magazines had been given up to plunder, the arsenal was without a tool, the machinery partly taken to pieces, and partly given up to certain individuals in settlement of their claims against the government. The implements of the foundry had disappeared, and the percussion-cap manufactory was not in a condition to make any.