page_title: Third Battle of Puebla
section_title: The battle
hierarchical_section_title: Third Battle of Puebla / The battle
caption_attribution_description: Español: 2 de abril de 1867. Entrada del general Porfirio Díaz a Puebla
context_page_description: The Battle of 2 de Abril was fought on April 2, 1867, in and around the city of Puebla, Puebla. It was one of the major military actions in the Franco-Mexican War between elements of the Mexican Army of the Republic commanded by General Porfirio Díaz and troops in the service of the Mexican Empire composed of Mexican imperialist soldiers.
  The campaign of Puebla includes the siege of Puebla, the battle of April 2, and the capture of the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. The battle, also known as the Third Battle of Puebla, was the end of a siege on the city of Puebla which started on March 9 of the same year. Despite its being one of the major campaigns in the war of intervention, the number of casualties was low due to the decision of Porfirio Díaz not to execute all the prisoners but instead release most of them under a signed promise that they would not take up arms again against the republic.
  The capture of Puebla was a huge defeat for the imperialists and was decisive in the victory of the Republic.
context_section_description: On April 1, Díaz and his staff decided to attack Puebla. Díaz divided his army into 17 columns of assault; three columns would feign an attack on the convent of Carmen, with the intention of diverting imperialist forces from the place by which he intended to enter the city.
  Following the plan, the attack began at 2:45 a.m. April 2. Major Carlos Pacheco commanded the column of assault that captured one of the entrances to the city. Pacheco was severely injured and lost an arm and a leg, but survived. The attack ended at 6 a.m.
  Besides the city, the Republican army captured plenty of artillery and bullets. In accordance with military law, Díaz ordered the execution of Febronio Quijano, Mariano Trujeque, and 20 other commanders and officers taken prisoner.
  On April 4, the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe surrendered. Unlike at Puebla, Díaz forgave all the officers taken prisoner in the hills of Loreto and Guadalupe. He declared later:"The executions (at Puebla) caused me a painful impression, and since then I decided to stop them..." The decision of Díaz caused him great problems with Benito Juárez, with whom he had an acrimonious relationship despite his victories for the Republican cause.
caption: April 2, 1867. Entrance of Porfirio Díaz to Puebla., oil on canvas by Francisco de Paula Mendoza, 1902.
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