Mexican President Benito Juarez to General Santiago Tapia, 1863, ALS

0.5" x 8.5". Spanish language, dated May 19, 1863. Request from President Benito Juarez urging Tapia to redeploy troops under the latter's command in order to defend Mexico City. Written the day the French Army succeeded in occupying the strategic City of Puebla, the loss of Puebla left Mexico City vulnerable to attack. Even with the addition of Tapia's troops, Juarez would leave Mexico City with an army of 12,000 men on May 31. This allowed the French to take control of the city and invite Hapsburg Royal Maximilian to be Emperor of Mexico. $1,000 - $2,000