Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/210

190 thousands to convey siege material and supplies, and to throw up works round the city, which from the middle of January was so closely invested that a reënforcement under Félix Diaz failed to gain entrance. The besieging force now numbered fully 7,000 men with twenty-six large pieces of artillery.

On the 4th of February, 1865, firing began in earnest, and an assault was ordered for the 9th. Diaz, who had remained comparatively inactive, owing to a panic which had seized his men on account of the prestige and strength of the French troops, found that this fear had led to wholesale desertion, and would render effective resistance vain. To save useless bloodshed, he accordingly listened to the final summons and surrendered unconditionally. Most of the men were set free or incorporated with the imperial troops, the rest being sent with Diaz and other officers to Puebla. On his return, Bazaine learned that Tehuantepec had also been added to the empire. Thus ended an important but also enormously costly expedition.