In Mexico, liberal General Ortega crushes conservative president Miramón and his forces at Silao

Mexico's liberals had been gaining military strength in the past months and had forced conservative president Miguel Miramón to retreat with his forces towards Querétaro in the center of the country.  At Silao in the state of Guanajuato, liberal General Gonzáles Ortega surrounded Miramón and defeated him in a three hour battle.  Miramón's army broke up and in December, 1860 he resigned as president and fled to Europe. (By John Osborne)