The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-29 00:00:00

THE DEFEAT OF lIIIRAMON.

The American papers by the present mail con firm-
the recent news of the defeat of Miramon and the-
occupation of the capital by the Constitutional
army. From the details of this affair it is satisfac-
' tory to observe that Miramon has apparently been
rendered an outcast by his felony at the British
Legation, since, when he attempted to make terms
of capitulation with his present conqueror, General
Ortega, the General informed him that he was will-
ing to grant immunity for political and military
crimes, but not for infractions of the rights of na-
tions. It is to be hoped that our Minister will cor-
dially support the new Government in this tone,
and will insist that no effort shall be spared to cap-
ture Miramon and bring him to the degrading
punishment to which he has rendered himself
liable. Subjoined are the particulars of the battle
and of the events by which it was succeeded :
The battle took place on the hills of San Miguel
Calculalpan on the 22d of December, and lasted two
hours—from 3 till 10 in the morning. It was very
bloody, and ended in the compete route of Mira-
mon and his army, leaving the greater part of the
latter, with all the artillery, &c., in the hands of •
General Gonzalez Ortega.
It is said that Miramon and the generals who
were able to follow him sought refuge in the capital,
and, being unable to collect any forces upon which.
they could depend for a defence of the place,
contemplated a capitulation, whereupon the Spanish
Ambassador and French Minister went out to meet
General Ortega for the purpose of obtaining gua-
rantees for Miramon and other chiefs of the reaction.
Ortega represented that he was willing to give
guarantees of immunity for political and military
crimes, but not for infractions of the rights of
nations, and that the principal chiefs of the reac-
tion would be considered as prisoners of war.
Miramon and his friends left the capital on the
night of the 23d or 24th with about 1,200 men and
some light artillery, a part of which force, it is said,
left him on the road, With him were Marquez,
Cobos, Negrete, Diaz, Casanova, the two Velez,
Perez Gomez, and some others equally compromised.
The latest accounts state that he had formed a
junction with Mejia, who had some 300 men at the
sierra of Queretaro.

Ortega entered Mexico city on the 24th without
firing a shot. The day, previously the corporation
had intrusted the command of the city to Berrioza-
bel, who had been set at liberty, together with
Degollado and the others. It is said there was not
the slightest disturbance. A decree had been pub-
lished condemning robbers to death. Ortega sent
an urgent message to President Juarez, confining
his appointments simply to such offices in the
Custom-house, &c , as were absolutely necessary.
One of the general's first acts was the dismissal of
such troops as were under Miramon's orders and
the substitution of some of his own. Perote had
surrendered, and the forces of Cobos in Oajaca had
been dispersed.
In Vera Cruz there had been great rejoicing, and •
employes had already set out for the capital. The
President was to leave, it was said, on the 2d, with
Messrs. Em paran 'and Fuente. He had published
a decree with the object of establishing the exercise
of Catholic and other modes of worship in the
country. •

The Trait d' Union of the 2d publishes a decree
of Ortega, announcing his peaceful sentiments and
his resolution not to seek to satisfy any feeling of
revenge.

The numbers on both sides in the the battle of
the 23d were—Miramonists, 8,000 men and 4()
pieces of artillery ; Liberals, 12,000 men and 80
pieces of artillery.
In a short review, published on the 21st, by the
Vera Cruz paper already mentioned, it is stated that
the Prussian Minister was disposed to recognise the
Federal Government; that Senor Barrio, an attache
of the diplomatic body, had waited on General
Gonzalez Ortega, but the result of his interview
had not transpired ; that as yet it was uncertain
what action would be taken by Senor Pacheco, the
Spanish Minister ; and lastly, that the French Mi-
nister had taken up his residence in the house for•
merly occupied by the ex-Minister Munoz de Ledo,
and which was rented for this purpose some days
previously.