The Portland daily press., 1863-05-18
The Siege of Pnebla.

| 1t is almost as difficult to get trustworthy
accounts OF what is going on before Puebla. as
II Is to discover the condition of affairs on the
Rappahannock The French. who have some
what more frequent communication with the
outer world, have lost credit by their reiterat-
ed boasts of successes which, if they were ev-
er gained, seem to have proved fruitless;
the Mexicans are somewhat more trustworthy
but they, too. or their friends, have on sew
eral occasions sent out exaggerated reports,
which have shaken public confidence in them.
Puebla de los Angeles 1.-THE City of Angels /,
winch has been for so many weeks the object
OF French attack, is the capital of a Mexican
state OF the same name. 1t lies seventy-six
miles east southeast from the city of Mexico,
and had at the last census seventy-five thous-
and inhabitants. 1t is situated on declivity: /:
Is regularly built and well paved and contains
great number Of religious ediflces many of
which have great store of gold and silver.
The cathedral, which has been the aim of the
French, forms one side of the great public
square, and is rich in ornaments OF the pre-
eions metals, and in paintings and statuary
In Puebla were manufactured sword blades.
glass, earthernware, soap and coarse wooden
CLOTH 1t is the second city in importance in
the Mexican Confederation.
This is the limit of the French advance six
teen months after the unobstructed landing at
Vera Cruz. Americans remember with pride
two months and three days after landing near
Vera Cruz; and that in the interval our troops
besleged San Juan D'Uloa, fought at Cerro
Gordo, and captured the town and castle of
Perote. No such obstacles have interfered
with the French advance
The bombardment of Puebla was begun a.
bout the 3D. Of March; and ever since we have
been bothered with conflicting accounts Of
success and rep ulse on either side. No doubt
the coptnSf has haa TO- hufS far th.
Mexicans have shown admirable valor and per-
severance. In fact, the defense of Pueba has
been such as to cause the French writers in
vera Cruz TO call the place "the modern Sara
gossa." The French gained possession at the
beginning of the siege OF tortress-St. Xavier
which, however, they had to knock into
heap OF ruins before it was abandoned by the
Mexicans, who saved the cannon and material
In 1t. This fort commands part of the city,
according to all accounts, and from its Site
which they have secured, the French cannon
ade the place. But they have been repulsed,
and, according to their own confession, with
great loss, in every attempt to push into the
city. The Mexicans claim that they have driv-
en- them back with the bayonet and it appears
that on the 22d of April, which is the date of
the most recent intelligence, the prospects of
Forey and his Zouaves were unpromising
They had not yet completely invested the
place provisions and ammunition were coming
in constantly; and though they kept up a con-
tinuous bombardment, the Mexicans repaired
all breaches as fast as made, and were ready,
not only TO resist every assault, but even to
assume, in various ways. the offensive,
As the whole civilized world, France ex-
cepted, is of opinion that the French have no
business in Mexico, and abhors the war Ma
poleon has begun there as unrighteous and un-
necessary, the bravery and endurance of the
Mexicans are likely to win them esteem. and
to receive applause everywhere.-[N. Y. Post,
l4th inst.