The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-02-28
HE INVADED nExICO.
A Stirring Episode in the Career of
Col. l. d. Davis, of EIkton.

A Stirring Episode in the Career Of
Col. l. D. Davis, of EIkton.
Col. I. D. Davis, now cashier Of
the Second National Bank of Elk
ton, Md, has the distinction Of
having commanded the only United
States troops which crossed into
Mexico to drive out the French who
were upholding the Emperor Maxi
MILAN. Colonel Davis says: "In
the fall of 1866 I commanded the
post of GAINESVILLE, at the mouth Of
the Rio Grand river, in the State
of Texas, being a part of the army
under General Sheridan, stationed
along the Mexican border pending
negotiations for the evacuation OF
Mexico by the French.
"The troops occupied that line
from June, 1865, until January,
1866, with no indication on the
part of the Mexican, Macmillan,
that the demands of the United
States would be complied with.
The maintenance of this force, about
10000 men, was great expense to
the government and the object to
be attained seemed as far off as at
the beginning of the negotiations.
All were heartily tired of this in
activity and anxious to strike a
blow for the liberation of Mexico
and the vindication of the Monroe
doctrine.
"With the knowledge of this
feeling on the part of all the officers
from General Sheridan down, [
resolved to take the initial step to-
ward bringing matters to decisive
focus. had no official orders for
what | did, but it was done with
the full knowledge of General
Weitzel, the corp commander.
"On the night of January 4, 1866,
crossed the Rio Grand river in an
English schooner, with 125 men,
composed of volunteers from my
own troops and some eX-Confede-
rates of Kirby Smiths command.
I surprised and captured the forts
at Bagdad, with 200 Austrian in
fantry and four pieces of artillery,
and confined the prisoners in the
warehouses in the town. At day
light on the morning of the 9TH the
French gunboat Antonio arrived
from up the river and opened fire
on us, but 1 engaged her with my
captured cannon, disabled her and
drove her off.
."Three French men of-war were
off shore in the gulf and daylight
showed that they had steam up and
ports open ready for action. After
the Antonio retreated these three
ships all opened on me with shell,
but their gunnery was bad and
they did me no harm.
HSeeing this they attempted to
land force in small boats, but we
drove them back and held the
town. Next day, the 9th, General
Escabedo, the liberal officer of the
republican party of Mexico, arrived
and turned the town over to him,
recrossed the river and reported to
General Weitzel. Within month
from that time our government re-
ceived notice that the French troops
would be withdrawn, and [ claim
that it was the direct effect of my
invasion that brought this prompt
result.
"In this engagement Federal and
Confederate troops fought side by
side, they met force double their
own number, composed of the
flower of European soldiers, and
not only defeated them, but
captured and disarmed them.
"The audacity of the enterprise
and the prompt evacuation of
Mexico by the French afterward
shows that the slow process of
diplomatic negotiation is not suited
to all cases, and if our government
would at once begin to establish a
military camp along the Canadian
border it would work quicker on
John Bull than any commission Mr..
Cleveland could appoint. "-Balti-
more Sun.