Battle of San Pedro

Battle of San Pedro
Part of the French intervention in Mexico
The escort of General Cortès, commanded by Frigate captain Gazielle, attacked by the forces of Colonel Rosales near San Pedro.
Date 22 December 1864 Location San Pedro, Mexico Result Mexican Republican victory
Belligerents
French Empire Mexican Empire	Mexican Republicans
Commanders and leaders
Domingo Cortés Jorge Carmona Véran † Joseph-Léon Gazielle Marquiset Bel Kassem Ben Mohammed Saint-Julien	Antonio Rosales Joaquín Sánchez Román Jorge García Granados Francisco Miranda Lucas Mora Fernando Ramírez †
Units involved
2nd regiment of the tirailleurs algériens	Sinaloa Brigade Jalisco cavalry
Strength
68 French 400 Mexicans 40 marines	400
Casualties and losses
French:11 dead 42 injured 40 POWs (including Gazielle) 5 MIA Mexicans:92 POWs	40 dead

The Battle of San Pedro was fought between the French and Mexican imperial forces and the Mexican Republicans during the French Intervention in Mexico on 22 December 1864. The liberals achieved a decisive victory over the invading forces and captured the majority of the survivors.

After Emperor Maximilian appointed Domingo Cortés as his commander for the military affairs of Sinaloa in 1864, the Mexican general was still unable to take his office in the capital of Culiacan, as the road to the city was controlled by Jesús Rosales Flores and his republican brigade. The French garrison at Mazatlán could not provide him a military escort. Reinforcement from Acapulco allowed Gustave-Joseph Munier to organize a security detachment for the general's trip. The captain of the steamship Lucifer, Joseph-Léon Gazielle, was ordered to conduct this mission and was given 64 men of the tirailleurs algériens led by Captain Véran, an additional 40 marines from the warships Lucifer and Pallas, and the battalion of Jorge Carmona, which was trained and stationed in Mazatlan. They were set to sail on 18 December on the ship Lucifer and debarked in Altata the next evening. They needed to march 80 kilometres (50 mi) inland to reach Culiacan. Badly equipped and with only two small howitzers, the following day this small contingent advanced 30 kilometres (19 mi) and reached Bachimela. On 21 December 1864, they reached Navolato, where the rear guard was harassed by a cavalry ambush. The horsemen were pushed back and retreated to San Pedro.

The following day the French force pursued the Republicans through the Humaya River. When they arrived at San Pedro the rear guard commanded by Marquiset was attacked again by the Liberal cavalry. The French again repulsed them and were about to enter San Pedro. The troops of Rosales had already fortified themselves in the front houses of the village. To his left Rosales installed two pieces of artillery and had a half battalion put in reserve with four more artillery pieces. The cavalry was hiding behind the city hedges awaiting orders. The French launched an ill-considered and unprepared frontal assault on the left batteries, which resulted in heavy losses. Despite suffering heavy casualties they finally seized the cannons and thought they had the battle in hand. The Republican counterattack struck the Carmona's Mexican Imperialist division, whose men were mainly new recruits. After a short fusillade, the attacking soldiers started to flee and even defected to the Liberals. Some took up arms against the 100 men of the French column, which was significantly outnumbered.

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