San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-11

as chief
When the reform party triumpbed,
President Jusrez appointed him min
lister of war, but no did not hold this
Office very long, as he wanted to be at
the front; he resigned, joined the
army to oppose the French who were
then marching on the capital.
AS he was q great organizer, he
soon had considerable army of raw
recruits. He put himself at their
head marched toward the French and
ON the 4th OF March of May he arrived
in front OF Pueblo, which was occu.
pied by the enemy. On the.morning of
the 5th he attacked them, defeated
and routed the whole French army.
After the battle he sent the following
dispatch to the President.
"The French army have beaten;
the zouaves ran away. The army are
brave, but they havea general who is
DEFICIENT,
After the French were defeated and
driven out of the city, the mayor call
ed meeting of the city council, and
by an unanimous vote they named
the city, Puebla ZaragoEa, In honor of
the young colonel.
After the battle of Puebla he was
promoted, and since then he has been
called General Ignacio Zaragoza.
While organizing this army he
took no care of himself, worked day
and night, contracted cold, which
soon put stop to his military aspira-
tons. On the Sth Of September, 1862,
he laid down his arms, passed over
Jordan, and joined the great army be-
yond, under the leadership of Hidal-
go and those who took part in the ex-
pulsion of the Spaniards from Mexico.
Although he was only 33 years old,
he was recognized as being the great
est military man in Spanish America.
Soon after his death the Mexican
government voted 100000 to his
daughter, and $1,000 year during
her life time.
There is not o town or city in the
| republic but what have statues of
Zaragoza, and his name is inscribed
in letters of gold in the hall of con-
gress and state capitals. On many of
the statues the following tablet is
engraved:
HE is dead; but invincible, and in
history.
Not stain furnishes his glory"
The Hon. Hermengiedo Davila of
Monterey paid the following tribute
to his memory:
"He was modest to humility; brave
unto heroism; strict in the perform
ance of his duty, benevolent, humane,
generous to the conquered, faithful TO
the sacrifice, and the object of love of
his compatriots. His bright face has
now passed away; it was like the
holy standard. the hope of the peo-
pie. His death caused the anguish
of q nation, and he was the glory of
his country"
GENERAL BERNARDO REYES.
The subject of this sketch, is the
governor of the state of Nuevo Leon.
In August, 1850, he first saw the
light of day. He was born in the city
of Guadalupe, state of Durango. His
parents were the most distinguished
people in the state, and had in their
veins some of the best blood of the
mother country, Spain. During the
many wars and revolu tons that Mex
leo passed through in the last fifty
years, his father took an active part,
always on the side of law and order,
from whom he inherited the same
spirit, which has governed all his acts
from boyhood up.
AS soon as young Bernardo was
able to 60 to school his father sent
him to one of the public schools.
While at that school he displayed q
great aptitude for learning. His father
sent:him to high school, where he
soon distinguished himself in acquir.
ing q knowledge OF mathematics,
geography, history and engineering,
which he made good use of in after
years.
He was not yet Is years old when
the French invaded Mexico, and were
marching towards the capital. He
ran away from school for the purpose
of joining the Mexican army. While
crossing the Micnoacan mountains he
was captured by the imperial SYM
pathisers, and turned over to General
Regules, who, on account of his youth,
sent him home.
In 1866 he joine d the army at Jalisco
which was commanded by Gen. Leo
cadio Soils as Second Lieutenant
Soon after these troops were united
to those of General Trinidad y de la
Cardena and soon after their troop
engaged the French and young Reyes
took part in the battle of Calvillo, and
on the lth of October, 1866, he was
promoted to first lieutenant.
This subordinate position did not
satisfy the ambition of the runaway
boy; he wanted to 60 up higher or die
an honorable death on the field of
battle. He took part in the battle of
Queritaro, and while leading his men
he received a sabre cut on the fore
head. He also took part in that of
San Lorenzo, and was at the front at
the capture of the City of Mexico.