It's the morning of May 5, 1862 in the town of Puebla in central Mexico.

An army general named Ignacio Zaragoza strides along the ramparts of a stone fortress.

Ignacio peers over the parapet into the valley below,

where a force of almost 6,000 French soldiers marched toward the fortress walls, their bayonets gleaming.

As Ignacio turns to survey his own battalion, a force of only 2,000 men, a look of concern

creeps across his face. He's outnumbered by close to three to one. He knows defeat is all

but certain. But he also knows his men are courageous patriots who will stop at nothing to defend

Mexico from the invading French army, who are readying their cannons. The deafening blast shatters

the morning tranquility. The air fills with smoke and debris as artillery shells rain down on the Mexican defenses.

The sound of explosions and shrapnel and agonized screams reverberate around the fortress balls.

Amidst the chaos, Ignacio orders his men to return fire.

But there are simply too many French soldiers.

Before long, the invaders are at the fortress gates.

Ignacio tries to rally his men, but morale is beginning to waver.

But just when Ignacio himself is beginning to lose hope,

a thunder clap echoes through the valley.

A split second later, the heavens open,

and torrential rain begins pouring from the sky.

Within minutes, the steep incline toward the fortress has turned into a muddy bog, and the

French attackers cannot find purchase in the slippery wet earth.

The Mexican gunners take advantage of the moment, firing into the French lines and inflicting a heavy toll. Soon, a bugle sounds,

as the commander of the French army orders an urgent retreat. Ignacio seizes his opportunity.

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