Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-03
GRANT AND MEXICO.
Horace POrter's Recollections of General
WaIIace's Mexican Mission.

SRRN ANU mENlSOs
Horace POrter's RecolIections of General
WaIiace's Mexican Mission.
Genera! wWallace's secret mission
to the Rio Grande was one of the most
interesting episodes of our civil war;"
was the remark of General Horace Por-
ter, who served on General Grants
staff and acted as his military secretary
while he occupied the Presidential
chair. General Wallace's letter as
published by the World is correct so
far as the military phase is concerned.
Late in 1864 General Grant saw that
the movement of Napoleon III. to es-
tablish an empire in Mexico was not
only fragrant violation of the Monroe
doctrine, but also a real menace to the
United States As commanding Gen
eral of ali the Federal armies he looked
upon the landing of Macmillan as an
effort on the part of the French to an
noy our Government. He saw that the
success OF Bazaine would afford the
Confoderates a wide door for the adj
mission of arms and wa material.
Taking this view. General Grant
had frequent conversations with Presi-
dent Lincoln and Secretary Stanton,
whom he convinced that the Confeder-
ates were in possession of a large part
of the border line between Texas and
Mexico, so that should the patriot
forces under Juarez be overwhelmed
by the French levies on their way to
support MaXimilian the Confederate
Government would be able to avoid our
blockade along the Southern Atlantic
coast and replenish their stores of war
material by way of Vera Cruz. General
Grant thought it very possible that
Napoleon would finally recognize the
COnfederacy.
General Wallace was in command Of
the Middle Military Division. with head
quarters at Baltimore. The command
ing General knew him to be an intelli-
gent officer who, having served during
the war with Mexico, was familiar with
the country. Wallace was summoned,
therefore, to City Point and given his
instructions. have always understood
that General Wallace performed his
task to General Grants entire satisfac-
ton, for he ascertained the precise con-
ditions of the Mexican patriotic forces,
as well as the actual strength OF Maxi
milan. This action of General Grant
was entirely proper, for he was in &C
tive command Of all our troops, and as
a strategist it behooved him to have an
eye on Mexico as possible source Of
danger in prolonging the civil war.
This action was approved by President
Lincoln and his Secretary of War.
That was very critical period of
the war. Though General Grant was
aware that the Confederacy was on its
last legs because of the success of our
armies in the field and the rigor of the
blockade of all Southern sea-ports, he
saw the real attitude of France. and
feared that Napoleon's success in Mex
leo might give the Confederates fresh
hope. That was why he sent General
Wallace down there, and his subsequent
action closed this Mexican back-door
forever to the Confederates-
ut is not generally known that after
the surrender of the Confederate armies
under Lee and Johnston, General Grant
assembled 30, 600 veteran troops from
the Western armies on the Rio Grande,
placing them under command of Gen
eral Sheridan. These were retained in
service long after the great bulk of the
volunteer forces had been mustered
out, and it was their presence on the
border line under so distinguished a
General which led to the final with
drawal of Bazaine and the bulk of the
French troops.
That withdrawal was the beginning
of the end, for Macmillan, after a
desultory campaign or two. was at
length surrounded by Juarez armies,
made a prisoner and executed. also
know that had the Mexicans continued !
unsuccessful, General Grant intended |
to urge the United States Government |
to organize an army for the purpose of
driving Macmillan from the soil OF |
Mexico.
The details concerning bonds and |
purchase of arms for Mexico, as given |
in General Wallace's letter, are very
as they afford a hitherto |
sacred page of our history"
General Sheridan in his Memoirs
gives the details of his instructions
from General Grant relative to occupy
ing the Texan frontier which would
seem to corroborate what is stated
Y. World.
THE SCHENCK FAMILY,