New-York tribune., 1870-01-03
MEXICO.

WAS CAPTURED AND DIED-LA CRUZ AND
THE CERRODE LAS CAMPANAS-hLniNi1o %
CENCKs OF THE SIEGE AND EXECUTION 40
RELATED ON THE SPOT By EYE-WirNEsSLs'
QUERETARo, Mexico, Nov. Ill have spent
all day riding round to visit the scenes OF tho last acs IN
the bloody farce the Empire Of Mexico and
story of tho same from the lips of men who witnessed
them and were familiar with every detail To begin then
Queretaro is situated the northeastern edge OF "uo
plain around which the northeast, north ana west
runs range of low hills commanding the city, In April
and the early part of May 1861 the position OF the con
tending armies was about as follows: Gen. EscoDeuo
the Commanderin Chief Of the Republican forces hau
his headquarters the nights east OF the city, ana heu
undi.urbed possession Of the northeast and southeast
and debated with the Imperalss the possession OF te
lower part Of the city nearest his headquarters inc
perialIsts held the w6s south vest aud southeast ana
the main portion OF the city, while Gen corona oi 'io
south. and Regules and tho American Legion on the
west, hemmed them in and prevented their escape W
ward the Pacific.
HOW QUEgETARo AND MACMILLAN fElL'
Tho story of the siege OF Queretaro and the deeds OF
daring on both sides is toeraby familiar TO the
reading public MaXimian sent out Miramon Win 'no
flower OF hisI.army TO attack and II possible cap'uo
uarez at Zacatecas He captured the city, Juarez Darey
escaping next day attacked and routed oy ESco
bedo and on the next day. after having reeated thV
miles and united his forces those of Castillo, was again
'<'S''NNN'
army being killed dispersed, and himself escaping
wounded and with but handful OF men remaining oh
the l4th Of April Corona made daring ana desperate
attack upon the stronghold Of La Cruz, and scaling the
high walls Of the cemetery on the northeast sde occuPe"
position under the very walls OF the convent lor al
bour but was driven out at last by the besegcd after
handtohand conflict Later in the siege Corona while
resting his forces in the plain I'm the Of the Casa
Blanca was surprised the early morning by the forces
under Miramon, who marched under the cover OF the
night from the Casa Blanca TO the Alameda, and
suddenly hankng his position, routed hlm
and compelled him to retreat to the hills few hundred
yards in the rear This, however gained him no per-
manent advantage and he was in turn hanked by Esco
bedo and compelled to retreat within the nrenchments
Tho sortle made with view Of escaping to Morea had
been made by Maximans forces previous to this sur
prise OF Corona and had failed. Now for the final
catastrophe The story have heard today from one OF
the officers OF the courtmartia hich condemned Maxi
mlan Miramon, and Mejia ito death, and from other
parties who were eyewituesses, some Of whom evidently
sympathzed with the Imperialists
On the night Of the 14h OF May 1861, the lmpenasts
we're defeated at all points exhausted and dlspirited
They had lived on mule-meat and beanbread for weeks
and that gone. Maxmiian, despalrng at last
of assistance from abroad that all lost aud at
II p he sent Lopez who was then the officer OF tho
day." to the headquarters Of Gen. Escobcdo
with instructions 10 say to him that he pro-
to Sierra Gordo 10 TampicO or Tuxpan, and
embark for Europe leaving the place to surrender at
once If his life guaranteed him. Escobedo re-
peed the proposition with contempt, telling Lopez that
he had strict orders TO refuse all terms to Macmillan as
an outlaw and volator OF the laws OF and that he
would carry the city by assault at thenext attempt
Lopez returned to Macmillan, told him of his utter
want Of success and then returned to the advanced post
occupied by him lust below La Cruz the northwestern
side and the outskirts OF Querearo. Escobedo reason
ing that the proposition could only come from man In
the last extremity, at called council Of and
the general assault which had been previously ordered
for the following day at m was directed to be made
Immediately. The Republican troops reached the out
post held by Lopez front OF Ia Cruz at m, and
soon as Lopez saw them he told his that further
sstance hopeless Some say that he said that the
Republicans were deserers who came to join the mper-
aists but this Is denied by Lopez and his friends At
any rate he directly to the headquarters OF Maxi
milan at La Cruz, told him all lost, and urged him to
fly to Las Campanas and escaped lie could MaximaD,
who appeared to have competeyoshs senses ran down
from his the second story of the convent to tile
basement and demanded his horses, but told that
the Republicans already had possession Of the stables
He then ran out tho north. but caught by
the shoulder by an officer who pushed him back, telling
him that he was running directly into the jaws OF death
lie then ran on foot through Queretaro in south
westerly direction toward the CerrO dc las Campanas
his through the CITY ne was SccH ~
some Of the soldiers OF the regiment OF Col Rincon OF
,he Repubican forces who had already made their way
10 the heart the city. They cried out 10 stay him, but
Col Rincon either because he did not recognize him. or
because his father had been under great obligations to
Saxlman replied mo; he Is only private citlzeD'
and countryman Of ours; let him 30" lie then ran on
TO Las Campanas uninterrupted and, demanding horses.
was told that it useless all the country IN front
was already occupied by Gen. Regulcs Thus cut OFF aud
at all points he took white flag in his hand
and started down the slope Of 100 feet toward the
city, and before Reaching the bottom met Col. Geo
NJ Green the accomplished officer In command Of the
American Legion OF Honor from san Francisco, whom he
Shots had by this time been fired at Maxi
milan repeatedly by the advancing Republicans and he
was I'm pitiable conditions exhausted, dsheartened,
and with his great weak lips trembling SO that he could
hardly command his speech he asked Col Green not to
let him fall into the hands OF Gen EscobedO, OF whom
he stood in mortal terror, but TO poin. out
Gen. Corona ana allow him TO surrender to
self; the Emperor of Austria has sent com
mission to ask the American Government to inercede Tor
your lfe!" To which MaXlmllian replied: Ana my
brother has done tbsi" apparently greatly relieved by
the information. BY this ume-a bad passed IN few
secOnds-Gen Corona had reached tue spot, ana gong
straight up to him. Macmillan said: 81 am MaXlmi
ian, Emperor of Mexico" drawing hs sword and pre-
sentng ~; am the Emperor no longer, Dut Me1ean
citizen, and your prisoner! :" corona replied, NO,
aximan you are not now hPeToI ana 20 raeSr hefer
hs sword, refusing himself 10 accept IT, or make any
of surrender referring
Fscobedo his superior in command. Lopez ordered
the Ausrans and others IN his command 10 dsan ana
the work complete
now MAMMALIAN DIED.
From Las Campanas Maxlmilian with Nramon.
Mejia Prince salmsaln and others were taken back to
the city and imprisoned for six seven days In the old
Convent OF Thereste. From thence he with Mranon and
ella went the old monastery OF Los Capunohos and
there they remained under guard while the courtmartal
decided their case, unt'l the l9th OF June ~ days
after their capture when they went out to die. Maxi
milan persisted until the last hour IN the belief that the
barefooted aud ragged kepubcans OF hs1eo w9nd NOT
shoot prince Of the house OF Hapsburg loTaine
and one OF the Lords Amounted" But they did,
In company with Senior Duefas rode out TO see the
spot where the three met their death. On the north
eastern slope OF the low rocky hillside facing the CITY,
rude barrier OF adobes had been thrown up 10
stop the bullets, aud here the carriage stopped.
IN IsCnnlln- nnllnn of the hand.