Battle of Cerro del Borrego

After the failed assault on Puebla, French troops withdrew toward Orizaba. On 13 June 1862, a French detachment under General Lorencez attempted to secure the position of Cerro del Borrego, a strategic hill overlooking the Orizaba valley. However, Mexican troops led by Zaragoza laid an ambush, attacking the summit quickly before the French had time to entrench properly.

Lorencez's withdrawal after Puebla left French troops weakened and demoralized. The general sought to establish a defensive line at Orizaba to secure the retreat. Cerro del Borrego was an essential position for controlling the approaches. However, poor terrain reconnaissance and underestimation of Mexican movements exposed the French to a rapid, well-coordinated attack.

The Mexicans launched a dawn lightning attack, taking advantage of the fact that the French had not yet consolidated their positions. They used skirmishers to pin the enemy from the north while the main infantry flanked from the west. The surprise was total. Caught in crossfire, French soldiers attempted a disorganized retreat. The absence of reinforcements and Lorencez's overconfidence worsened the situation. The hill was taken in less than an hour.

The French defeat at Cerro del Borrego confirmed the failure of the first phase of the expedition. It further tarnished Lorencez's reputation, and he would soon be recalled to France. On the Mexican side, this victory boosted republican morale and confirmed Zaragoza's tactical effectiveness shortly before his death. The French army, demoralized, temporarily suspended major offensive operations while awaiting new reinforcements.