| Summary: | From 1862 to 1864 a foot regiment and an artillery battery of the French Navy Troops (circa 1500 men) were engaged at land during the begining of the Second French Intervention in Mexico. They were used as a combat force, from the port of Veracruz to the central city of Puebla, on the road to Mexico City. They took part in the two battles of Puebla (may 1862 and march-may 1863) where they fought gallantly. Their main mission, however, was to protect the convoys, to be a garrison among the Mexican people and to pursue the guerrillas who were hostile to the French presence. From August 1863, the infantry was sent to the northern port of Tampico, in order to secure this strategic point, rich from its custom duties. They stayed here until March 1864, when they came back to France because of their exhaustion due to tropical diseases. To maintain them in good order, the ministry sent 864 reinforcements during the length of their presence.
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