Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/80

60, who had reached Mexico about the middle of October, was to aid him. Juarez seemed resolved to defend his country at all hazards. Congress, however, just as the people were ready to sustain him, and when the foreign invading army was already 15,000 strong, deprived him of the ample powers he had to make war. But it soon receded from that position and issued a manifesto accepting war with France, and granting the executive the fullest powers for six months, or till one day after its reassembling. Comonfort, who had been restored to the rank of general of division, was placed in command of the army of the centre, together with that of the federal district, which was under martial law. Congress closed its session about the middle of December.

The French had allies not only in Marquez and others acting with him, but in the reactionary forces of the interior which constantly distracted the government. The rebels of Colima, 2,000 strong, attacked Guadalajara and were repulsed. The region of Tepic, as usual, was in a disturbed state. On the 10th of January, 1863, a French squadron bombarded Acapulco about eight hours, doing much damage. The next two days it fired on the fortifications, three of which were silenced. In the evening of the 12th the squadron sailed out of port.

The French generals Bazaine and Douay went up the mesa or tierras altas in January, this being the first French movement toward Puebla. On the 3d of February Taboada's brigade, of which the legion