Le « Troupes de la marine et des colonies » e l’intervento francese in Messico

From 1862 to 1864 a foot regiment and an artillery battery of the
French Navy Troops (circa 1500 men) were engaged at land during the beginning
of the Second French Intervention in Mexico. They were used as a combat force,
from the port of Veracruz to the central city of Puebla, on the road to Mexico
City. They took part in the two battles of Puebla (may 1862 and march-may 1863)
where they fought gallantly. Their main mission, however, was to protect the
convoys, to be a garrison among the Mexican people and to pursue the guerrillas
who were hostile to the French presence. From August 1863, the infantry was sent
to the northern port of Tampico, in order to secure this strategic point, rich from its
custom duties. They stayed here until March 1864, when they came back to France
because of their exhaustion due to tropical diseases. To maintain them in good
order, the ministry sent 864 reinforcements during the length of their presence.