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254 Mendez, who had hitherto made the communication between San Luis Potosí and the gulf so difficult, fell during a successful raid on the magazines of Tantoyuquita, near Tampico. A Mexican garrison having replaced the French at Tula, Aureliano Rivera managed to capture it early in May; and in conjunction with Armenta and other leaders, several entries were made into the Rio Verde and Jalpan districts, which encouraged Huasteca to cast off the yoke once more. These movements tended to isolate Tampico; and after a close siege of two months, during which desertion and fever greatly reduced the garrison, the French surrendered the port to General Pavon, by honorable capitulation. This was followed a month later by the surrender of Tuxpan; so that Vera Cruz remained the only gulf port in imperial, or rather French, hands.

The resolution to leave Matamoros to its fate rendered the occupation of Monterey of little value; but the emperor regarded it as the key to the north-eastern provinces, and in order to please him, the French deferred their departure till another garrison could be found. Discontented with their lot, and aware of the growing odds against them, Belgians as well as Mexicans refused to stay; and on the 25th of July the