This book examines the life of General Ignacio Zaragoza (1829-1862), the Tejano who commanded the army of Mexico at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, which resulted in the holiday of El Cinco de Mayo. Covering the rise of this annual, transnational celebration, this publication focuses on the effort to commemorate his nativity in La Bahia, Goliad County, Texas, and the creation of the Zaragoza Birthplace State Historic Site.