Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-03
THE VILLAGE OF CARLOTA
A Mexican Town Where Senator Harris
Was Once Alcalde.
Some Interesting "Reminiscences of
the End of the COnfederacy-Gen.
Shelby's Oner to Macmillan.


land, which had been confiscated by Juarez
before Louis Napoleon established Maxi
milan as Emperor of Mexico.
Senator Harris, who was General Harris
at that time. was rot particularly fond of
Mexico, but when it was all over with the
confederacy he had called his men together
and told them so. He advised them to so
home. work their farms and be good citi-
zens. telling them that if they did so they
would have no trouble. At the same time
he added that he himself was going to
Mexico and would not object to the COM
pany of such of them cared to go with
him.
He had reason to believe that Parson
Brownlow would take good deal of pleas
ure in seeing him hanged, and as he did
not care to be hanged he became alcalde
of Carlota, as the village on the American
concession was named, in honor of the
beautiful and Inflated empress.
The land lay not far from Cordova, on the
Mexican Imperial railway, directly between
Vera Cruz and the City of Mexico. Among
its leading citizens were Gen. Sterling Price.
Col. Jas. II. X. Cundiff, Maj. John NJ Ed
wards, Gen. j. o. Shelby and others almost
as well known in Missouri before AMI since
that time. Ex-Gov. Thomas G. Reynolds of
Missouri was another American colonist,
but II does not appear that he planted either
sugar, coffee or cotton at Carlota. He WAS
one OF MaXimilians advisers, as were Com
well-known confederates, who had left the
United States believing that they would be
prescribed and imprisoned if they remained.
The Missouri Thousand.
A considerable number of American colo
nists in the neighborhood of Carlota had
been members of the Missouri thousand,
who followed Shelby to take service under
Macmillan. When Maximilian declined to
enlist them Shelby disbanded them, and
some settled the American concession
while others made their way TO the PACING
coast IN search of the adventures which, we
are told, never fail to come to the adventur-
GUS.
When Shelby's thousand first rode into
Mexico they had not fully maze III their
minds whether they would join Juarez or
Macmillan. Their sympa tines were with
MACMILLAN, but when JuareZ made over
lures to them they put it 10 a vote and
voted for MaXimilian. A great many vi
them thought then that self government
was no longer an experiment but u com
plete Iallure. and some of them were much
nearer being imperialists then than the sur
VlVors might be willing to confess now.
AT any rate, Gen. Shelby was pleased with
the vote in favor OF MaXlmillan and he was
disappointed when Macmillan rejected his
services.
When Shelby arrived IN Mexico Maxi
milan mad been reigning over a year."
writes MAJ Edwards, VINO was Sheloys
adJutant and confidential friend. The
french held all the country that was worth
holding-certainly all the cities The larger
towns, the mining districts and the sea-
ports. Besides the French troops, the en-
peror had in his service corps OF Mexican
lmperalists and a small body of Austrian
and Belgian auXiharies. The Aexlcans
were capable of infinite augmentation, but
they were unreliable and ready at any
time TO desert the liberals. The others
were slowly wasting away, worn out by
sickness and severe attrition. The treas
ula of
indigenous growth,stlll fiourIshed luxuriant-
ly outside of every town and city. The
French could not root it out, although
they shot everything they could get their
hands on that looked a little wild or
startled. No utter for trial. The order
from an ofhcer was as good as decree
from Bazaine. Thousands were thus offered
Up in the interest of good order-many
OF them innocent-all shot without trial.
This displeased the employer greatly.
His heart was really with his MeXicans
ard he sorrowed over a fusillade whole
week through. AT times he demonstrated
with Bazaine. but the imperturbable mar
shall listened patiently and signed The death
warrants as fast as they were presented.
with soldiers quickness and power of
analysis, Shelby saw all of these things
and treasured them up against the day of
his interview with Macmillan. This was
speedily arranged by Commodore Maury
and Gen. Magruder. Macmillan met him
without ceremony and with great sincerity
and frankness. Marshal Bazane was pres
emit Count de Noue. the son-in-law of Gen.
Harvey, and chief of Bazaine's civil staff.
was the interpreter. The emperor, though
he understood English. preferred to con-
verse in French and to hold all his inter-
course with the Americans in that Ian
guage.
Gen. SheIby's Plans.
Shelby laid his plans before him at once
These were to take immediate service in
his empire. recruit corps of 1900 Ameri-
cans. supersede as far possible the ma
tive troops in his army, consolidate the
government against the time of the with
drawal Of the French soldiers, encourage
immigration in every possible manner, de-
velop the resources of the country, and.
until the people became reconcied to the
change, hold it with a strong and we'll
organized army.
Every proposition was faithfully rendered
to the emperor, who merely bowed and in
clined his head forward as If he would hear
more.
Shelby continued in his straightforward
manner: It's only a question of time, your
majesty, before the French soldiers are
withdrawn"
Marshal Bazaine smiled a little sarcasti-
cally, but said nothing.
why do you think SOP" asked the en-
peror.
Because the war between the states is
at an end, and Mr.. Seward will insist upon
the enforcement of the Monroe doctrine
France does not desire a conflict with the
United States. 1t would neither be popular
nor profitable. 1 left behind me a million
men in arms. not one of whom has yet been
discharged from the service. The nation is
sore over this occupation. and the presence
of the French Is perpetual menace /
hope your majesty will pardon me, but in
order to speak the truth it is necessary to
speak plainly"
Go on" said the emperor, greatly in
terested.
'rhe matter of which / have spoken to
you is perfectly feasible. l have authority
for saying that the American government
would not be averse to the enlistment of
as many soldiers in your army as might
wish to take service, and the number need
only be limited by the exigencies of the en-
pire. Thrown your own resources, you
would have no difficulty, 1 think in estab-
fishing most friendly relations with the
United States. In order to put yourself in
a position to do this, and in order to sus-
tain yourself long enough to establish your
occupation of Mexico and make your gov
ernrIent a strong one, l think it absolutely
necessary that you should have a corps of
foreign soldiers devoted to you personally
and reliable in any emergency"
On being appealed to. Commodore Maury
and Gen. Magruder sustained this view of
the case, and Shelby continued:
Il have under my command at present
about one thousand tried and experienced
troops. All of them have seen much actual
and severe Service and all of them are anN-
lous to enlist In the support of the empire
With your permission and authorized in
your name to increase my forces l could
make good all my promises in a few