THE SIEGE OF QUERETARO.

The following is the Imperial side of the story : — The siege of Queretaro continued for sixty-eight days after Maximilian, by a most wretched display of generalship, permitted himself to be cooped up ia the city. An American correspondent who accompanied him from the capital, and was with him until the surrender, affords us au interesting inside view of tho city during the protracted siege, and narrates some fresh details of the capitulation. Though the Emperor's forces were set down at twelve thousand, his effective troops did not number more than six or seven thousand. Prince Salm-Salm, who served in the F«|ral Army of the Potomac, was his confidential friend and counsellor, and really his chief of staff, though General Coatille, a confirmed invalid, nominally held tho position. Though Maximilian was Commander-in-Chief, Miramon had the management of military plans. About the middle of March, Marquez, up to that time the Emperor's Chief of Staff, was despatched to the capital for reinforcements, and until the surrender the besieged looked anxiously and confidently for his return with twelve thousand reinforcements. Day after day Maximilian watched and longed in vain for his appearance. Courier after

courier was despatched in fruitless efforts t» break through the Liberal lines, with a big placard suspended upon his breast containing this inscription, " Fifth Courier for Marquez," A standing reward of 6000 dols. was offered to any one who should get through to Marquez and return with a reply. On the 11th of April, Prince Salm-Salm made an attack on the Liberal lines for the simple purpose of enabling iive messengers to get out. Each of them had been furnished with a despatch " rolled up in the smallest compass and inclosed in sealing wax, so that it could be swallowed if necessary." Two of them- contrived to make their exit. All this while, however, Marquez was contending with Diaz near the capital, and consequently wasnjniable to bring any relief. The women of the city carried food and drink to the soldiers in the trenches, and spent much of their time with them, at the peril of their lives. Many thus fell victims to their conjugal devotion. One was shoe through the breast by a bullet; which likewise killed the infant strapped to her breast. A second had her head taken off by a round shot. A third was killed by a bullet in the Plaza. Provisions were very scarce, the soldiers lived, to a great extent, upon horse and mule meat; but this was well nigh exhausted at the time of the surrender. Maximilian fared like the common soldiers. He was cheerful, hopeful, and brave to rashness, frequently exposing himself to showers of bullets while inspecting his lines. On one occasion his subordinates besought him to leave them and his army to themselves, and .seek safety in flight. He replied, " I do not deceive myself. I know if they catch me they will shoot me, but while I can I will not run away." On the 10th of April, being presented with an address from the citizens, he issued one in reply, in which he said, among other .things, " I am struggling cheerfully by your side. Let us continue to advance with determination on the road of our rights, and God will recompense our efforts." His whole conduct throughout shows him to be a high-toned, though misguided individual. Affairs becoming desperate, the Emperor determined, during the latter part of April, to assault the enemy's position, and, if possible, break through the cordon and escape. We have already received the Liberal accounts of the affair which occurred on the 27th of April. Miramon led the attack, and for a time was successful, completely doubling up a portion of Escobedo's lines. Twenty-one guns and six hundred prisoners were captured. The women followed up the victors, and gathered large amounts of booty of every description. But there weie not sufficient troops to carry out the programme to completion, and the beseiged were compelled to abandon all the ground gained and fall back to their old positions. The success, however, inspired their drooping hopes, and vanished all thoughts of surrender. On the first and third of May two other attacks were made upon the enemy's lines, during which the brave Colonel Rodriguez was killed. They, however, achieved 'nothing. About this time General Eamirez was arrested, together with his staff, for attempting to betray the city. Finally affairs became so desperate — food for both man and beast being nearly exhausted — that Maximilian determined upon making one last courageous effort to break through the Liberal lines with his cavalry and infantry and escape to the mountains, and thence to Vera Cruz. Mejia was entrusted with the charge of the movement which was set down for May 14, the day before the surrender took place. All the able-bodied citizens were armed in order to hold the city lines while the retreat was being effected. On the night of the 13th, however, six deserters came in, who reported that Ortega was beseiging San Luis, and that Juarez had sent word to Escobedo to raise the seige of Queretaro for the time being, i and go to his ' assistance. The report was believed, and led Maximilian to postpone the sortie. What followed is know to the reader. On the very next night (May 14\ Col. Lopez, one of the Emperor's confidential favorites, in command of La Cruz, betrayed that important position, which was the key to the city. The Liberals quietly occupied it during the cover of darkness, and completely surprised the | city upon the following morning. Miramou made a slight show of resistance, and was wounded in the head. No acts of atrocity were committed, and Mendez alone was shot, -in retaliation for his previous massacre of Liberal officers, for which he expected to suffer death if captured.