Battle of la Loma

Battle of la Loma
Part of the Second French intervention in Mexico
Date16 July 1865
Location
Tacámbaro, Michoacán, Mexico
Result Belgian victory
Belligerents
Mexican Republicans

Mexican Empire

Commanders and leaders
José María Arteaga Alfred Van der Smissen
Strength
3,000 Republicans 350 Belgians
730 Mexicans
Casualties and losses
300-400 killed or wounded
181 prisoners		 20 killed or wounded[1]

The Batalle of la Loma was a minor engagement of the Second French intervention in Mexico which took place on 16 July 1865 in the vicinity of Hacienda de la Loma in the current municipality of Tacámbaro, Michoacán.

The Battle

The battle occurred between members of the Mexican Republican army, led by General José María Arteaga, and the Belgian Legion, supporting French and Mexican Imperial troops, led by Lieutenant Colonel Alfred van der Smissen.[1].

Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred van der Smissen learned that General José María Arteaga, had reoccupied Tacámbaro with some 3,000 men. Van der Smissen left Santa Clara that same day with his Belgian-Mexican column of some 1,000 men. His army charged with bayonets at the enemy inexperienced infantry, which offered only weak resistance, broke ranks and fled, with the Imperial cavalry in pursuit.[2]

Despite the Belgian victory, the Mexican mission was highly expensive for Belgium because just half of 1,500 soldiers sent to Mexico returned to Europe at the end of the war.

References

  1. ^ a b Léon Timmerhans (1866). Voyage et opérations du corps belge au Mexique (in French). Liège: J.G. Carmanne. p. 164-173.
  2. ^ Albert Duchesne. Au service de Maximilien et de Charlotte. L'Expédition des volontaires belges au Mexique, 1864-1867 (in French). p. 443.

19°11′12″N 101°25′08″W / 19.1866°N 101.4188°W / 19.1866; -101.4188

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