The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-04 00:00:00

THE FRENCH IN MEXICO.

(From the Aew Orleans Era, April 14).
By way of Matamoras, we have received news from the
City of Mexico to the 27th March, conveying intelligence
of a grand battle between the French forces, advancing on
Puebla, and the Mexicans, defending that place. We
translate from an extra of the National Guard, of Mata-
moras, of April 6, as follows:
By letters from San Luis de Potosi, dated the 26th, we
learn that the inNaders commenced their advance upon our
works and made a general attack; that they were repulsed
to beyond Choluca; that the victory of this day was com-
plete ; that the enemy has been rendered unable to continue
his operations; that we have sent 4,000 men to occupy
Orizaba.
This news is confirmed by private letters from Monterey,
which add that the French lost in the battle of the 27th 60
pieces of artillery, and 8,000 men. The person who writes
is worthy of all confidence. We have obtained a complete
triumph. What will they say to this who have considered
our country to be weak and cowardly? That they will
make the best soldiers in the world ! They eclipsed the
star of Liberty. Look out, Napoleon the Third I Look
out for your throne I Franee, awake I
People of Matamoras, congratulate your country with
me once more; congratulate the Army of the East; con-
gratulate your victorious brothers
Heroic City of Matamoras, April 6, 1863.
JOAQUIM DE BARANDA.
The Extra also publishes in full the official report by
telegraph from General Ortega to General Comonfort,
which has just been published in Mexico by order of the
Secretary of War, giving some details of the battle. It is
as follows :

The enemy has just suffered a terrible defeat at the hands
of the valiant army which I have the honour to command.
During the day by his bombs and hot shot he succeeded
in destroying part of the Fortress of Hidalgo, or rather
San Javier, and, between 8 and 9 o'clock at night, ho sent
forth from his parallels several columns of attack, and as-
saulted this fortress, which columns were routed and de-
stroyed in less than one hour by our valiant soldiers; in
order to obtain this triumph I did not have to call into
action a single one of the seven strong brigades of infantry
which I had in reserve.
e
In the morning I will give you some details of that th this im-
portant feat of arms, limiting myself to-day
and Sixth of Guana,
jualo, assisted by the right
by their worthy chiefs, Second
and outside of
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ank,
dssault was resisted by the gallant battalions, mtnanded
commanded by
the left flank by
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the gallant citizen M
The attacking line was
Generals, Florencio Antillon, and his second in command,
Francisco Lainadrid, and assisted by the no less valiant

Gen. Alatorrei
Theh who
commanded the fortress which was attacked
t and honourable youth, 13. Smith, to whom
was
th: valiant
ivarn
entrusted its defence a few hours before the attack, and
i: the moment that I foresaw the attack would be made.
In the fire of the bombardment sustained during the day,
i
and during the brilliant action of the night, the most cape..
cial and honorable mention is due to the artillery,
At about, six o'clock in the evening, I foresaw the attack,
and ordered that four batteries of the general reserve, three
tse'ng at Zacatecas and one of Vera Cruz, should be so situ-
ated as to be able to mnarch promptly to the open field, and
envelop the two flanks of the enem y. This order was so
well executed by Gens. Paz ad Garcia, at the same
time the fire of small arms openen d, the enemy was involved
in the fire of our artillery, which supported also the fort-
resses commanded by General Gillard 1, and Colonel Auza.
The two batteries of Zacatecas, which had taken
their
position to the right of the fortification, were placedwere in
charge of the gallant General Negrete, whose desires satisfactorily fulfilled by the chief, his son, Joaquin
Santelices. In this, as
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ocalities,hianehdwienr-e

struction and valour displayed by the Quartertermaster-
General, J. M. G. Mendora, and Commanding-General of
Artillery, T. Paz, have been of great service to me.
Will you be pleased to make known these facts to the
President of the Republic, and felicitate his Excellency in
the name of the army of the East upo this signal triumph

of our arms. - -
The enemy caused much suffering to the innocent fami-

~.-L --

lies of the city by their bombardment, their destructive
shells reaching to the centre of any place.
I have to congratulate you upon the happy circumstance
that our total loss in killed and wounded during the entire
action was 60 men.
Thus u.ueh for the letter of Gen. Ortega, I return mediately to the camp.
(Signed)

COMONFORT.