The New York herald., 1876-12-14
LerdO's Army Routed and His Govern
ment 0verthrOwn.
: A DECISIVE BATTLE.
Programme Of the Victors-Financia
Support rendered.
DlAZ THE MAN OF THE HOUR.


Tho anticipated political change spoken OF in my last
as lkcy occur has been realized. aud tho govern
ment OF President LerLo de Teada no longer exists
The decisive struggle resulting in It's overthrow took
place the 10Th inst the line OF the Mexico and
Vera Cruz Railroad, and within sight Of the Hua-
nantla station, perhaps ll5 miles from this city.
The engagement commenced at ten A. NJ. General AL.
atorre Of the governmcn, sde making the attack with
infantry in front and artillery on either flank OF the
enemy. General Pornrio Daz commanded tho
iutionaIy troops In person, ana both brought into
action forces numerically equal far be Judged
variousy estimated at iron 200 TO 900 men each,
General Diaz hboring under the disadvantage oil an
Inferior position Tho struggle fierce and deter
mined, both sides maintaining their ground with
heroic valor until three O'Clock r. NJ. when.
from the feeble position occupied by General
Daz, his troops beginning to yield Al
this critical moment body OF mon
were advancing upon Alatorre's rear and as
that general had sent for reinforcement OF 5000
men, amid the smoke and din of battle. he could not
plainly distinguish the approaching column, but sup
posed, of course, they were the desired reinforce
mcnts which 10 decide the bloody contest What,
then. was his horror, when, instead, he received
shower OF bullets poured in from tho rear, with the
most disastrous effect, which, with the renewed lrng
in front, quickly turned the tide of battle, leaving
mandcr OF the Observation-Disclosures OF
The conflict The government troops suffered
\ total defeat with loss OF 200 killed
and wounded. all the arms, artillery. ammunition and
squpagcs The loss OF General Diaz by killed and
wounded were 1400; among the latter tho valiant
General Gonzalez, hero OF other battles, who WAS
wounded in tue stump OF one OF his arms, lost in
previous engagement and Turcio Montiel, ex.Gov-
ernor OF tho federal district
CAPITAL WITHOUT NEWS.
Meanw lille in the capital the people were feeding
upon rumors and suppositions. All communication
by wire aud rail having been cut OIL nothing definite
known until tho morning OF the 2oth, when Gen.
eral Allaorrc accompanied BY OF his officers
the political and military governors OF Pncba,
made their appearance, giving confirmation to
the report Of the disastrous OF the govern
ment forces In his report to Congress Oh
that day. General Aiatorre declared II useless to
continue the struggle. and that to do bus TO
spil bravo blood IN vain, and IL is rumored that he
refused positively to make any further military
efforts in behalf OF the government. The greatest
excitement prevailed throughout the city, ard
current that President Lerdo would hand in
his resignation during the day. This, how
ever, he did not do and toward night
II was generally understood that he would
attempt escape that night, accompanied
the Treasury hardly raised by forced Contributions
together with S23, 600 taken from tho Monte Pio'
government pawnshopl, was that night distributed
among Lerdo ani his fnvoritcs, anu later between
hours OF twelve and two O'clock, they lett the capital
by coach and diligence, escorted by guard OF 500
soldiers few miles outside the city 100 The escort
turned back; and again the same day, at Lerma
small town this side OF Sohnca and their hating
place for tho night apcther 200 deserted the Lerdisa
ranks, tho officer in command giving a the
fear he had OF the soldiers revolving killing the Presl-
Dental party and officers of the aud taking pos
session Of The silver II IS known that the party
passed sobnca safety the day following (2ls aud is
now somewhere in the State OF Michoacan or on it's
,oder having been abandoned by all the escort save
my
On Tuesday the citizens OF the capital awoke to the
Tact that there was no longer an existing government
una III the emergency Seror Protaso Taybs made
Governor al interim of the Federal district. and
suw,ns immediately the ollce, issued the following
proclamation The chief of the administration, in
the person of c,tizen Sebastian Lsrdo dc Lcjada has
abandoned This capital. Gnd by reason OF this
renee Francsco Loazi has been charged with the null
iary command oi this city. and the subscriber with
the office OF Governor of The Federal district.
In this character call upon tho Inhabitants OF the
city, that during these disturbed moments, and until
serve that peace order which corresponds 10 the
good scutm,nts OF which they have gwen proof
Win the iull understanding that tho military chief
vel the cdcrci Governor will reprcss win energy
PRoTAsIo TAYBE
Mrxlco Nov 81 1876
Early The same morning large crowd began TO
icn,be 10 the plaza OF Palace, bitter
mptccsons against the fleeing President, and show
m some disposition OF becoming dlsordery. With
so.c I;culty they were restrained from ringing the
raj ttpttS al no
,nccrs temporarily guard were able To keep
1own all demons'rations and goou order ut
ength prevailed. Amid the excitement, however.
'he guard on duty IN the palace. composed mostly of
,hc levy under the apprehension iha; they would DO
called upon To make defence, nrcd INTO the crowd la
'front.' and rushed rantcaiy out and down the street,
g.vng .'viyas' Tor General Diay, dsrvbng they
ran, ana scattering Their uniforms TO the right
aud lett. Tbs small "pronunciamento' added
not little to the excitement, " not
mcrrmcnt ol tho at the expense OF person
killed ond one wounded. IL was runored that Gen
liaz would make ms enfrce The Capitol the
iainc da,, and In The afternoon thousands OF people
tssembeu the principal streets OF san Frarenlo and
P:ateros, waiting In a heavy transform to give him
Welcome, but he did not come. ON tho following
any the scene was repeater again on the
third day, when amid the Joyous ringing OF the
Cathedral bells the loud aud prolonged 'vivas OF
the multitude, enerai Diaz, the hero Of to-day, en-
ereu the abandoned Capitol greatly 10 the satisfaction
OF the populace. IL Is said that from tack OF com
municauon the true situation of the city and
light OF the President was not made known TO him
until the day previous
Great alarm was experienced by tho inhabitants
1uring the three days oil abandonment by govern
mental authority, especially ms II was known that with
tie knowledge OF this condition OF affairs many out
laws and bandits, from tho surrounding mountains,
had entered and were prowling about the city. But
be II sad to the credit OF all violence
were committed, neither oil disorder OF any mngni-
tude. IL SAID by the fricnds OF GEN
eral Dlaz that he desired ovation,
and, corresponding 10 this declaration, his
entrance The capital was the unostenta-
tous manner, without his warriors, In his plain fold
dress and greatly 10 the dsappo ci the crowd
in waiting him, in close carriage. Entering
fha tut. bo lnrrly ululp m
balcony and cssayed to speak TO the thousands assem-
bled front, but the joyous ringing OF the Cathedral
bells close at nand and the continued huzzGs OF the
multitude reduced the effort = mere pantomimic
performances, which, novor heless tho people seemed
TO appreciate
General Diaz's earliest and rnrcmiting efforts have
been directed returning to something ike order
the governmental machinery, modestiy taking posses
only the Office OF the Secretary OF War he has
rcelu ~ l..nu ahxe fru q