Editing Porfirio Díaz (section)

===Commander of the South===
[[File:Second_French_Intervention.png|thumb|300px|French controlled territories in 1864. Díaz at this time received command over all unoccupied southern Mexico]]
Porfirio Díaz was now not only the military but also the political commander over all unoccupied territories south of Veracruz.{{Sfn|Bancroft|1888|p=127}} As the French made encroachments, forces under the command of Díaz managed in the [[Battle of San Juan Bautista]] to back the capital of [[Tabasco]], in February 1864.{{Sfn|Bancroft|1888|p=127}} Díaz's hold was consolidated enough that he began making excursions into Veracruz, and [[Minatitlán, Veracruz|Minatitlán]] was taken by 28 March 1864.{{Sfn|Bancroft|1888|p=128}}

Meanwhile, French control over central Mexico was rapidly expanding, and by March 1864 President Juárez had fled to [[Monterrey]]. Even as the northern military situation was dire, Díaz still maintained a solid hold over [[Guerrero]], [[Oaxaca]], [[Tabasco]], and [[Chiapas]].{{Sfn|Bancroft|1888|p=131}} Meanwhile, Emperor Maximilian and his wife Charlotte, now Empress of Mexico finally arrived in Mexico City on 12 June 1864.

By December 1864, forces under Díaz had taken back the port of [[Acapulco]].{{Sfn|Bancroft|1888|pp=170}} The French still struggled to make any inroads south against the forces commanded by Díaz and his lieutenant, the elderly Liberal caudillo, and former president of Mexico, [[Juan Álvarez]].<ref name="FOOTNOTEBancroft1888170"/> By the end of the year, the French were making scouting expeditions and building roads to make further attempts south.<ref name="FOOTNOTEBancroft1888170"/>

Finally, in early 1865, a French expedition against Díaz's base of operations in Oaxaca City set out under General Courtois d’Hurbal by way of [[Santo Domingo Yanhuitlán|Yanhuitlan]]. Díaz evacuated Oaxaca City and began to build barricades while commanding 6000 troops for the defense of the city.{{Sfn|Bancroft|1888|p=188}} It was such an important republican stronghold, that Bazaine himself assumed command of the operation in person.{{Sfn|Bancroft|1888|p=189}}

By February 1865, the French had surrounded the city with siege materials and 7000 troops. An assault was scheduled for 9 February.{{Sfn|Bancroft|1888|p=190}} Due to mass desertions which left him outnumbered ten to one,{{Sfn|McAllen|2014|p=161}} Díaz chose not to fight, instead surrendering unconditionally.{{Sfn|Bancroft|1888|p=190}} Díaz and his officers were taken prisoner and sent to [[Puebla (city)|Puebla]].{{Sfn|Bancroft|1888|p=190}}