, 1889-09-19
SECRET HISTORY.
How the United States Helped
Mexico Drive Out Max
imilian..
The Special Mission of General
Lew Wallace to Brazos
Santiago.
tIow Wallace in New York world,l


imilian in Mexico is now for the first
time made public. 1t was a state secret,
shared by Lincoln, Stanton, Grant and
General Low Wallace, but carefully hid
den from Seward. The story is now told
by General Lew Wallace in letter sent
to President Diaz, under date of August
10, 1889. Tho main purpose of General
Wallace In writing Is to explain how he
became Instrumental in involving Cen
eral Herman Sturm in the affairs of
Mexico at the time referred to. After
promising that the statement can be ver-
itled by Seniors Romeo and Mariscal as
well as by state archives, General Lew
Wallace proceeds as follows:
"ln 1854 General U. s. Grant foresaw
the collapse of the Southern Conied-
eracy, and thought it not impossible
that the adherents of the Lost Cause
might in large bodies, and with their
arms, cross the Rio Grande river to join
the impcrialists of Mexico. In that
event he saw a possible necessity for the
government, of which he was the ablest
and most successful soldier, following
them. He also ioresaw the enormous of
such movement, since, besides an in
definite continuance of the war in which
we were then engaged, il would certainly
lead to hostilitics with France.
General Grant was more than
sagacious soldier he was Just and
generous statesman, especially scrupu-
lous where the pride of IL friendly power
was concerned, as will be seen in the
course he decided to take. He was then
at City Point, where he was conducting
the operations against the confederate
capital while L., rs major general com
manding the middle department and
Eighth army corps, was at my head
quarters ut Baltimore, He sent me ~
note to come and SEQ him. After repeated
interviews lac gave me an order IN writ
ing, which was ut liberty TO make pub
lie, directing me to go to Bra2os Santiago,
an island near the north of the Rio
Grande, and inspect the federal post ON
the American side OF the river. The
suggestion that Bra2os Santiago was
our only post-the rest from the mouth
of the river to Brownsville, aud thence
northward,, being IN possession of the
enemy-will of itself confirm the state.
ment that the public order was but a
cover for something of greater import
anCe.
"lour oXcellency's memory will serve
me when recall that my government
was the only one In all the world which
then continued to recognize the repub-
nc ol Mexico as n government, and
Penito Juasez as its president. With
equal clearness you will also remember
that my government was, owing to the
exhaustive struggle engaging it, bound
for the time TO tile policy Of neutrality
in your struggle. Mr., Seward, the sec
retnry of state, had contented himself
with protests to Napoleon, and was OBJ
posed to any positive step which might
serve the emperor as an excuse for rccog-
nizing the conlederacy, of which Mr..
Davis was chief. For that reason the
objects oi my mission to the Rio Grandc
were without MIR. Stewards knowledge.
In fact, of the persons constituting the
administration, they were known
only to Mr.. Lincoln and Mr..
stanton. In un interview with presi.
dent Lincoln on the subje I, lie ud-
monished me not to mention the matter
to Mr.. Seward. Mr.. Lincoln and MIR.
Stanton accepted General Grants view
of the failing condition of the conieCcr.
was come, III our own interests as well
us these of Mexico, to help President
JuareZ at least privately"
General Wallace then tells how he was
| instructed by General Grant to put him
self in communication with the nearest
trustworthy representative of the liberal
government in Mexico, aud ascertain
what the authorities would be willing to
do II the confcderates crossed tho Rio
Grandc in armed body to unite with
Maximilian. If Juare2 was willing to
arrest them, then General Wallace was
to inquire what assistance they needed.
Iftt was arms and material, Juarez was
to be assisted TO get them. Such was
the extent of General Wallace's in
structions, but he lad no doubt that had
the emergency arisen our government
would have openly allied itself with that
of Juure2. General Wallace went TO Bra
Rio Grande held by the conicdcratcs,
while. MaNimilian's force patrolcd the
right bank, and contrived to open COM
munication with General Jose NJ. j. Car
vajal who was in the mountains drilling
IA small force armed only with bows and
arrows. Finding ,hpt Carvaial had au-
thority 10 act, General Wallace induced
him to come to Washington. The letter
then proceeds:
Nobody, except General Grant, Sec
rctary stanton and President Lincoln,
knew of his arrival or how he came, and
they only knew it through my official
| reports. suffer me now to show your
excellency how General Sturm came to
be connected with the business. Under
| full persuasion that General Carvajal's $
authority was ample to justify him i'm
attempting, assisted by Minister Ro-
nero, to place loan in my country
from the proceeds of which the two to-
gethcr could supply the needs of Prcsi-
dent Juarcz; persuaded also that this
was the best course to be taken to pre-
vent the coniederatcs joining Maxi
milan particularly after General Grant
had approved my action, returned to
my command at Baltimore. About q
month afterward received note from
General Carvajal, informing me of his
inability to do something, and claiming
my help as promised advised prcsi,
dent Lincoln and General Grant, and OBJ
tanned their permission to go to his as
| sistance.
''In New York It soon became appa-
rent that other assistance was required
and suggested the employment Of Gen
eral Hermann Sturm, then chief Of ord
nance for Governor Oliver r. Morton of
Indiana. knew him to be an honora-
bic man and expert in arms and muni-
tions of war, full of experience in their
purchase, and especially favored with a
| general acquaintance with the business
men of New York, outside of which it
was hopeless attempting anything. His
military rank was that Of brigadier gem
eral. But what was of especial intiu-
ence, knew him to he possessed of
money In his own right, and that he
could command more from members of
his family and friends. ] say this was
influential, for General Carvajal did not
have means sufficient to pay his hotel
bills. | was doing that for him.
At tine same time Minister ROM
ero was In no sense responsible
for General Carvajars condition. He