The New York herald., 1863-05-16
HEROIC DEFENCE OF TEE CITY,
Persistent Courage of the
MeXlcanS.
General FOrey "Tried and Fougd
Wanting"
Immense Preparations for the Defence of the
City Of Mexico.
FRENCH AND MEXICAN ACCOUNTS,
&C.. &o.. &c,
Our Rio Prieto Correspondence.

Our Rio Prfeto Correspondence.
RIO PRiEu. AIoxico, Aprii 10, 1858
Confirmation of the Reos Concerning Check and eus.
of the French Before Puetia--Hs,oism of tie aerlcan
Aymy-TAs French Fairly Bea Back''-Eoyey a .'oor
Taciic1n-The Ultimate Fate Of Me C,ty--Uuey Incapa-
city of Forey, &c.
When last had an opportunity 10 write (On the Sd
ins) affairs cheering aspect tor rveneh
and every thing then bade fair for termination &C
siege OF Puebla ere this. Immediately following the
date OF last letter tho French attempted push fsr
ward from the positions they then occupied the
western part Of the city towards the grand plaza
which situated the caihedra but cautious
10 which they moved courage to the defenders and
a wTm defence made at every point The
French lost time their movements. and checked
In consequence when they did attempt W advance On
the 9Th they attempted to take barrack hold by tho
Mexcans, and fairly beaten back, and similar
result attended efforts to take by assault tho
body Of the convent OF San Augustin These
spread considerable CONSERVATION In the camp, and
rise 70 tho exaggerated rumors, which the Mexi
cans in the capital turned to good account The
result however cannot be doubtful The only effects Ut
the French reverses have been TO delay the fall or
Pucbia and TO place the French army in ridcac when
comparing its works with those Of the American
army in Mexico. This latter result is CALLING
formed TO know how ridiculous is their position,
and II is frequently remarked in the camp, How the
Yankees Will laugh at u.s." Gen. Forey's determination
from beginning o have defence has resulted in Gre
atng difficulties for him which he cannot now 30 easily
manage There is question but his troops, after
being kept idle long in tho trenches, became ishcart
ened and that tho Mexicans, interpreting the delay Of
Gen Forey be fear of them, have become exraordna
riy valiant and rcsolutely disposed to fight Tho
Co~c ln,a e,rna
upon point has operated disadvantageously to
tho French and given the Mexicans every chance TO
resistance with good result. They have con.
cenraed forces upon the lire attacked and been
successful in giving French much hard and ruitcss
work. This line Of operations is now being chang
ed by the works going forward to the south
Of the city against Carmen. The, French at frat
thrught to got along By making diversi
with small battery that direction Shut this plan has
Dow been changed and parallels and trenches are being
constructed in front OF Carmen which, It believed, can
be completed the next FIVE or six days. and the French
artillery brought close enough to destroy the enemy
works and silence their Are.
Opinions differ the duration Of the SIEGE Some IN
cline belief that the city will not fall until reduce
by famine, calamity which cannot now long be syted
0thefs imagine that after the taking d Carmen ~hc
Shouid be IN the next days, the city Will give
from tho pressure from two sides. For my own part
confess I have no opinion while aaairs are pushe
nm With 10 much sluegishuess, and whilst tn
direction remains in the handa Of General Forey
IJe haa fully demonstrated his utter incapaciy
carry forward the campaign with good results, and h
remain in charge OF operations viii require the rest
, vesr 10 reach Mexico and thu better part Of centur
IN hiring the country under thu control OF tho French arms
He has lost the respect OF his own Soldiers who DO no
d,,puso their want o confidence In him and their opnio
that General Bazaino had command things would 60
sneroptly Tho Gcneral-in Chief Of the French army
not altogether ignorant Of his position and Is reported
be at present very despondent state OF mind In th
mere focus French camp the greatest anarchy pre-
ya,s Not one OF the generals Is perfectly In harmon
with any other and all see the blundcrs o Gen. Forcy wit
moro or less satisfaction hoping for their advanc
mont The same OF dsorganzation prevails through
out the whole camp and there Is not branch OF u
army or its administration that is not affected and
there were not something meritorous iu the French
opne the fate Of the army In Mexico might be douou
But I am fully persuaded that II there were mode
losing that means would be adopted TO place the army
greater ridicuc than 1t Is at present.
The siege has now gone for over month and I
French claim to have pressed with great vig
still their loss up to date docs not roach seven hundr
men hors de- corsba. think this sna loss shows h'
feeble have been their efforts The Nexicans confess
loss OF some eight hundred The nre has been almost
petual the city, and It Is natod that they ha
against the French over nty thousand shot
shell and millions OF muske balls. The French have
been guilty OF great profisacy with their ammuni
They commenced the siege with some twenty thousa
rounds TOR their artillery, and have not discharged
half OF their original stock which has been rcpensh
by fresh supply OF some six thousand shots from
deposit at orizaba and is 10 few days, to be still
ther increased by ten thousana more from Vera Cr
General Laumier, who command tho artillery reeciv
A bad wound In the head. as cd you In my last fr'
which no has snco died. lie vas popular In the aru
and his death Is much regretted by his fellow officers
General Comonfort has his headquarters at San Mart
where be has some four thousand men ct present.
party OF his forces under Generals Rosns lanaa and p
bita we're caught other day near Atlixco, and sol
two hundred were killed. and wounded and large nu
Der made prisoners A few days previous this "a
succeeded In cutting on larec hock OF sheep on
road tor the French camp.
From Mexico we hear that active preparations be
made for tho defence Of that city, and shovd Gene
Forey lose another month in doing little or nothing ID
tbe French will have harder tyb at Mexico than u
now have with Puet1.
over six thousand rcintorccmcnts have landed In
coupty and one thousand of these have already arri'
IN the camp, and another fifteen hundred should hs
q dav or tomorrow These will make the frci
twenty Eve thousand strcng in front Cf Pueba, bcsi
the Mexican auxiaries, now numbering Ave u
sand all tod With this force General Forey could ees
despatch ton twelve thousand mcn to take Mexico.
In the meantime maintain the siege OF Pucbla with
present risor, AMI twelve thous nd easily 4
Mexico now than twenty .hois ,nd A month hence
Cor tho very reason that the ung Is easy to be don
have no hope 20 see General turey adopt this measr
which would somewhat repair the damage done to
glofy o. France IN the present ca npatsn.
ON the night OF the 18Th some eight hundred Mcx,
cavalry broke through tho French lines and m,is
wi hlnt any loss their part. Great blame "a put M
the officer IN command OF the post Tor bis O RE,
hutI "a 10 fhotr
tics IN M loose manner; TOR previous occa
another small psrty made on by the same route wi
was that adopted BY Carvaial in hts flight General
grcte who was reported dead. j. said TO have gon
quite alive with this ast party.
Deserters from the city every day becoming n
numerous. On the 10th hundred came ou. In a b,
ihclr ma ilY old ran,n