Under the orders of French Emperor Napoleon III, French troops arrive in Mexico in 1861 with a dual purpose: to help the Confederacy win the war against the United States and to conquer Mexico. As President Benito Juarez suspends payment of Mexico's foreign debts, the French drop their facade of debt negotiations and head for Puebla, where they are soundly defeated in their attempt to capture the city. The French withdraw from their stunning setback and spend the summer of 1862 nursing their wounds and awaiting reinforcements in Orizaba. This gives the Mexicans ample time to highly fortify...

Under the orders of French Emperor Napoleon III, French troops arrive in Mexico in 1861 with a dual purpose: to help the Confederacy win the war against the United States and to conquer Mexico. As President Benito Juarez suspends payment of Mexico's foreign debts, the French drop their facade of debt negotiations and head for Puebla, where they are soundly defeated in their attempt to capture the city. The French withdraw from their stunning setback and spend the summer of 1862 nursing their wounds and awaiting reinforcements in Orizaba. This gives the Mexicans ample time to highly fortify...