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5 DE MAYO AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR THE UNITED STATES
AN HISTORICAL DOCUMENT
ABOUT PATRICIO RAMOS ORTEGA
BICENTENNIAL FESTIVITIES OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF MEXICO 2010
MEXICAN MILITARY PAINTINGS IN THE 19TH CENTURY

BICENTENNIAL FESTIVITIES OF
THE INDEPENDENCE OF MEXICO 2010

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The Bicentennial of the Independence of Mexico was a group of festivities that took place in Mexico in 2010. These celebrated 200 years of the beginning of Independence and 100 years of the Revolution. The official days of the celebrations were  the 15th and 16th of September of the same year, although numerous previous events were carried out prior to those dates throughout Mexico. 

This is what the official site of the Mexican government stated:
“In 2010 Mexico will commemorate 200 years of the beginning of Independence and 100 years of the beginning of the Revolution. For this reason, the Organizing Commission of these celebrations has designed and will carry out a great number of events so that all Mexicans know their past and its reflection on their present. It is not simply a celebration to remember that date, but to revive the values and ideals that gave sustenance to Mexico as a nation. To contribute, and therefore,  give a sense of contemporaneity to our history and update its meaning. This is our objective ”.

In this same tone, The Organizing Committee of the Bicentennial, carried out  a meticulous study of the document / painting Battle of Cinco de Mayo by Patricio Ramos Ortega.  This study was published on the official website of the Bicentennial Commemoration. No other historical object had that privilege.

One must not forget that the festivities were related to the Independence and Revolution of Mexico, and not to the Battle of May 5. This being key to appreciate the importance they gave to this piece. 

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Loreto and Guadalupe Hills Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
LORETO AND GUADALUPE HILLS. The hills of Loreto and Guadalupe dominate the northeastern section of the city of Puebla. These are located in the eastern part of the valley with the same name, and are located six kilometers from the mouth of the Amozoc canyon. The landscape is an extensive and flat terrain which is characterized by a series of deep ditches, especially on its north and northwest portions. The hill of Juan Jose is located on its west side.
Zouaves Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
ZOUAVES. The name Zouaves was the original name of a section of the French army which was composed of indigenous soldiers of Alegerian descent in the service of France. This section was formed during the French occupation of Algeria in 1830. Zouaves were people of arab descent, however, as the French occupied Algeria, the members of this section evolved from a combination of French and Algerians tribes to one composed solely by French. Their uniforms became very popular and were conserved with some modifications. They consisted of a wool shirt which was underneath a blue jacket decorated with false pockets of different colors which marked each according to their regimen to which they belonged. They wore very wide red pants, which were tied underneath the knee. Around the waist they carried a light blue cinture, Zouaves covered their heads with tubants which were later substituted with red caps, in the form of a fez used by Arabs and Turks.
Rementeria Hacienda Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
REMENTERIA HACIENDA. Two battalions of Zouaves initiated an attack, going around both left and right of the artillery until they reached Hacienda of Rementeria. Once there, they found themselves situated on the most accessible slope of the hill of Guadalupe. The Mexican marine battalion of Infantry moved to cover the wing of the Zouaves, and immediately opened fire. They were aided by the Mexican Walking Hunters Battalion.
Fort of Guadalupe Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
FORT OF GUADALUPE. A small fort rises in the entrenchment of an army obtaining better defense. This fact made it ideal for defense purposes. The fort of Gauadalupe, contained a Church with the same name within. The Fort was on top of a hill in the northern part of Puebla and was 100 meters higher in relation to the valley where it stood. In order to fortify the hills of Guadalupe and Loreto, General Ignacio Zaragoza, ordered soldiers in these hills to be alert and activate the fortifications of the square, which had been very neglected. For this, trenches were restored and some built as temples and convents were refurbished. Halfway up the western face, about a thousand meters from the fortress, was The Loreto, that contained within a church and convent.
Chinacos Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
CHINACOS. “Chinacos' ' their name was due to their impoverished outfit and equipment. They wore red and silver jackets. They usually fought in groups and they were part liberal army between 1857 and 1867. They were a kind of police unit that belonged to the Ministry of Interior and were under the supervision of the Inspector General. They were usually in charge of road safety and glambling in local fairs. They fought foreign occupation detached from the Federal Army.
Storm Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
STORM. General Lorencez counted on the Zouaves, as a reserve, however they were unsuccessful in their attack. Manny accounts sustain that the storm made the ground very muddy and slippery, and consequently stopped the French Army’s advance. A testimony of a member of the french army states, “a storm with hail unfolded which made the ground muddy very rapidly. Under the footsteps of our men who slipped at the bottom of the pit, barely getting to the esplanade in a very brief moment” The French retreated and surrendered. The losses counted as far as Mexicans: 83 dead (4 officials) and 232 injured (17 officials) As far as the French: 117 dead (17 officials) and 305 injured (20 officials)
The Mexican Army Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
THE MEXICAN ARMY. To organize the Mexican Army in order to fight the French, General Ignacion Zaragoza ordered General Miguel Negrete to occupy the hills of Loreto and Guadalupe with 1200 soldiers, armed them with heavy artillery. To do so he formed three columns of attack which were in charge of Commander Berriozabal, Diaz and Lamadrid, and cavalry under the command of General Antonio Alvarez. The Mexaican Army in charge of defense was formed of 5,434 soldiers.
French Artillery Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
FRENCH ARTILLERY. Mexican artillery, in the forts, opened fire against the french army. The french artillery, 200 meters away, fired back. This distance made their counter attack ineffective. After 45 minutes of open fire, the french decided to change their positioning, but their efforts were not effective due to their distance and the characteristics of the terrain. The fact that the terrain was low and deep made their advance ineffective.
Assault to The City Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
ASSAULT TO THE CITY. A Mexican engineer from Puebla gave valuable information to a French Army commander. The Corservative Commander Antonio Haro y Tamariz proposed to avoid the attack on the City. This proposal was denied and he then proposed an to attack the city from the south, due to the fact that the terrain was suitable to do so. He also exposed the inconveniences of attacking Loreto and Guadalupe. Finally they decided to go ahead with the proposal from the french to attack Guadalupe; because the fort was considered to be the most important point of defense and its fall would unchain a series of plunges in other Mexican Military positions.
5th of May
5TH OF MAY. At five o'clock in the morning on May 5th, mexican forces were ordered to march to take their respective positions in the battlefield. The artillery that was not able to depend on the forts was sent to the city. These forces were under the command of General Santiago Tapia. The combat, as to both defense and offense, on that same date in the city of Puebla, began at 10 a.m, when the french confronted the mexican army. General Ignacio Zaragoza, ordered the brigade of Berriozabal to reinforce the forts on their left side by using mounted soldiers.
The French Artillery. Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
THE FRENCH ARTILLERY. The French ran out of grenades. Consequently General Lorencez decided to go forward by dividing his troops in two columns. The french assault, of the two columns, did not happen simultaneously but rather in cussesion due to the condition of the terrain. Both of these encounter heavy resistance by Mexican Forces. Additionally the french invaders were attacked with fire coming out of the fortress.
French troops.Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
FRENCH TROOPS. French army commander, General Charles Ferdinand Latrille, divided his troops in two columns, One of these consisted of four thousand men which aimed to take possession of the Hill of Gapadalupe. The other column, of approximately one thousand men, was sent to harass the city. French troops consisted of around five thousand four hundred men.
Uniform of The Mexican Army Cinco de Mayo Patricio Ramos
UNIFORM OF THE MEXICAN ARMY. The uniform worn by the Mexican army was of one single color and model. The uniform of soldiers on foot consisted of a dark blue coat and pants with red details. Furthermore, they had conical black leather helmets decorated with red details, and metal shields that had the individual soldiers number. As far as the cavalry, they wore gray pants and gray jackets with green details, and helmets identical to the other foot soldiers but these had green decorative details and a white shield. A cape with hood served as a guard against rain and cold. All soldiers carried their personal belongings in an elastic bag. They also woar leather sandals, both to march and rest, a five meter long blanket, an aluminum canteen and a small bag for food.
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Interactive Exhibits. An idea.

The information shown above  together with the information on the section «Cinco de Mayo and its Importance for the United States» of this site can be jointly used to make an interactive film, such as the one shown at The American Revolution Museum  at Yorktown or The National World War II Museum in New Orleans (see video below).

The film would feature a prominent Mexican American figure narrating the following points:

  1. A Brief History of Cinco de Mayo. Using the 15 objects and explanations of the Battle shown above adding visual and sound effects. (Also see page on this site 5 de Mayo and its Importance for the United States, A Brief History of Cinco de Mayo) Click on icon bottom middle.
  2. 5 de Mayo and The US Civil War. How the battle impacted the Civil War. (Also see page on this site 5 de Mayo and its Importance for the United States, 5 de Mayo and The US Civil War). Click on icon bottom right. Adding visual and sound effects.  
  3. The Significance of Cinco de Mayo in the Latino Community Today. (Also see page on this site 5 de Mayo and its Importance for the United States, The Significance of Cinco de Mayo in the Latino Community Today) Click on icon bottom right. Adding visual and sound effects. 
Waving American Flag. Great use for USA and presidential elections related concepts.
5 de Mayo and its importance for the USA
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