Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/86

66 none of them accepted, he would like an interview with Ortega, at such a place as the latter might designate. To all which Ortega verbally instructed his aid to say to Forey that his proposals all involved French intervention in Mexico's affairs, and would not be entertained. He refused to hold any conference.

In the lines defended by La Llave, Berriozábal, Porfirio Diaz, and Auza, subterranean galleries were made to blow up the buildings occupied by the French. The mines were completed, but there was no powder to charge them with. Toward the end of April there was nothing that could be utilized for food but the horses, mules, and dogs, and of these there were none by the 10th of May.

On the morning of the 8th of May there was heard in Puebla a brisk firing from the direction of San Lorenzo. Comonfort had not even hinted to Ortega a movement by way of San Lorenzo. The uncertainty of the garrison continued the whole of that day and the greater part of the next; it was only late in the afternoon of the 9th that news of the disaster experienced by Comonfort the previous day reached the city. Forey himself wrote Ortega that his army had defeated Comonfort's at San Lorenzo. It was indeed too true that the army of the centre, in attempting to introduce a train into Puebla, had been routed by Bazaine and Marquez, and had afterward retreated to Tlascala. Ortega, while yet in time, and before this terrible disaster befell the army, had thought of abandoning the city, but he was kept back by the hope of relief; and after the San Lorenzo defeat, he endeavored to effect that purpose but failed.