Besides French, Mexican Republican and Imperial troops, the line provides for the several European expeditionary forces which collaborated with the French to place the Emperor Maximilian on the "Throne of Mexico." Belgian, Austrian, even Sudanese fought in the tropical climate, alongside elements of the French Foreign Legion in famous actions all over Mexico.

Led by their duly elected President, Benito Juarez, the Mexican Republican resistance began as a traditional military campaign, starting with the signal victory of the First Battle of Puebla, May 5, 1862, which threw the French back upon Vera Cruz. Wounded pride, and a new resolve to reduce Mexico to a puppet state, energized Napoleon to send a larger force, and in the next year, the Republican field armies were broken and Mexico City occupied. Even as Maximilian took the throne, the Mexican people initiated what became an increasingly bitter guerilla war with skirmishes, ambushes, and atrocities all over the country.

With the conclusion of the American Civil War, a previously cautious US Government immediately dispatched four Corps of the Army of the Potomac to the Rio Grande under the command of Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan. Ready to cross the Rio Grande on President Johnson's orders, the North Americans turned over invaluable artillery, uniforms, weapons, and supplies of all kinds. Added to this were more war fighting supplies brought in by North American "filibusters" by sea, and soon the Republican Army, reinvigorated and well equipped, began the final drive to throw the invaders out.

Seeing the writing on the wall, Napoleon withdrew his military support from Maximilian, and left him with his own ill prepared (if brilliantly uniformed) Imperial Forces to continue the losing fight.

And after the last bugles blew at Queretaro, the Austrian Emperor of Mexico stood before a firing squad and the military reputation of France was in tatters. Only a few years later Napoleon himself retired in disgrace as France suffered an even greater defeat on its own soil.

Throughout the French Intervention in Mexico, battles were fought, deeds were done, and personalities clashed which if they were not history, would read like Pulp Fiction. And now, at the best value for price on the market, the miniatures you need to experience the action-- and drama--of that war are available again.

The Figures

Castings are now of high quality pewter and in size are compatible with other 25/28mm figures (notably Foundry).

Infantry are sold in bags of 1 Officer, 1 Color Bearer, appropriate flag, and 18 other ranks (OR's) for a unit of 20. Command figures may vary in pose/uniform from bag to bag.

Mexican Republican troops began the war with regular uniforms and wore shakos, but as they lost control of the country, their uniforms wore out and those who kept fighting increasingly wore whatever clothing they could find, including the ubiquitous sombrero. As aid began to arrive from the North Americans, kepi's became common, sometimes worn with a Havelock. Thus there was an element of "early," "middle," and "late" period looks for the war.

Juarista Infantry are also sold in bags of 20, but with a wide mix of weapons befitting their guerilla status. Each bag contains either three or four poses, and now include distinct Commander and color bearer figures with one of six authentic designs of Republican flags.

Cavalry are sold in bags of 12 horses and 1 mounted Officer and 11 OR's with separate weapons befitting their type.

Artillery is offered in bags as single guns with appropriate limber, 4 draft animals (oxen for Republican/Juarista's, and horses for all others), and 4 crew, the type of which are chosen at purchase.