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This old school episode of History Daily originally aired on May 5th, 2022.

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

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

Ignacio appears 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 out numbered

by close to 3 to 1. 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 wall. 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

...