Juarez, Benito

Letter signed ("Benito Juarez"), in Spanish, 1 page (6 5/8 x 4 7/8 in.; 168 x 124 mm, sight), Mexico, 26 February 1863, to Ignacio Mendez Mora at Zaragoza, matted, glazed and framed with engraved portrait. Attached to the verso of the frame is Mendez Mora's letter provoking Juarez' response, not signed, 2 pages (8 7/8 x 6 3/8 in.; 225 x 162 mm), Zaragoza, 23 February 1863; formerly folded, small fold tear.



With:
Photographic portrait of Juarez, seated facing left, with right arm resting on a small table with two large books, oval (9 x 7 ¼ in.; 230 x 185 mm), mounted on board, signed on board ("Benito Juarez"); some spotting. Blue cloth folding-case, blindstamped title on spine.

Preparations for the Battle of Puebla (1863).

In the early part of 1863, Juarez was trying to handle multiple tasks: find money, deal with congress, suppress banditry, maintain regional support of the national government, and try to convince rival military forces to join the national effort. In February he went to Puebla to review the progress and provide moral support. General Ignacio Comonfort was bringing another force to the area, hoping to act as a mobile threat to a French advance. In his own letter, Lieutenant Colonel Ignacio Mendez Mora told Juarez of the French attack on Zaragoza and asks for reinforcements, assuring him that the enemy is weak in number and demoralized. Juarez responds by assuring him that his numbers will soon be augmented by the forces under Comonfort.