While the American North and South were fighting it out on the issue of slavery, America’s neighbor to the south was busy with a war of its own. British, French and Spanish troops, took advantage of American distraction to violate the Monroe Doctrine and land troops in Mexico to recover the loans made to the country. At least that was the plan; but the French decided to press on to conquer Mexico. With the best-trained troops in the world, and a much weaker Mexican army before them, they expected the campaign to be a cakewalk. They did know yet know about General Ignacio Zaragoza.

On this day, May 5, in 1862 French troops met and were defeated by Zargoza’s line of defense, entrenched in two forts guarding a narrow passage. French Major General Charles de Lorencez launched a series of attacks, backed by artillery, but was repulsed, with heavy casualties, each time. He was reading for yet another try when rain started falling, making the ground impassable for heavy artillery. Lorencez admitted defeat and turned back.

The underdog victory is still celebrated today in the Mexican town of Puebla as Cinco de Mayo.  It took on a much broader significance in the U.S., turning into something closer to a Mexican heritage day, with traditional Mexican music, cuisine and culture of various forms on display.