The Newark journal., 1906-05-04
GRANT AND MEXICO.
Gen. Horace Porter's Recollections of Gen. Lew Wallace's Mex
 jean Mission.

Gen. Lew Wallaee's secret mission to the Rio Grande was one of the most interesting episodes of our civil war, was the remark Of Gen. Hor- ace Porter, who served on Gen. Grants staff and acted as his military secretary while he occupied the l.ssi- dential chair. Gen Wallace I-e- ter, as published by the World, l= e4-- rect so far as the military pLs-e is concerned. Late in 1854 Gen. Grant saw that the movement of Ma poleon III. to establish an empire in Mexico was not only a fragrant viola ton of the Monroe doctrine, but also a real menace to the United States. As commanding general of all the fed- eral armies he looked upon the iand- ing of MaXimilian as an effort on the part of the French to annoy our gov ernment He saw that the success of Bazaine would afford the confederates wider door for the admission of arms and war munitions.
 Taking this view, Gen Grant had frequent conversations with President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton whom he convinced that the confederates were in possession of large part of the bor- der line between Texas and Mexico, so that should the patriot forces under JuareZ be overwhelmed by the French levies on their way to support Maxi milan, 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 Gen. Grant thought it very possible that Napoleon would finally recognize the conted- eracy.
 Gen. Wallace was in command Of the middle military division, with head quarters at Baltimore The command ing general knew him to be an intell- 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 Gen. Wallace performed his task to Gen. Grants entire satisfaction, for he ascertained the precise conditions of the Mexican patriotic forces. as well as the actual strength of MaXimilian. This action of Gen. Grant was entirely prop CT, for he was in active command of all our troops and as a strategist it be- hooved him to have an eye on Mexico as Q possible source of danger in pro- longing the civil war This action was approved by President Lincoln and his secretary of war
 That was a. very critical period of the war. Though Gen. Grant was aware that the confederacy was on it's last legs because of the success of our armies in the field and the rigor Of the blockade of all southern seaports. he saw the real attitude of France, and feared that Napoleon's success in Mexico might give the confederates fresh hope. That was why he sent Gen. Wallace down there, and his subsequent action closed this Mexican baekdoor for ever to the confe6erates.
 It is not generally known that after the surrender of the confederate arm ies under Lee and Johnston, Gen. Gcant assembled 50,000 veteran troops from the western armies on the Rio Grande, placing them under command of Gen. Sheridan. These were retained in service long after the great bulk of the volunteer forces had been mustered
 
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