The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-03-23
WHEN SHERIDAN J / I
!. went II | TO TEXAS /: X ! |
Fifty Thousand American Troops
j Massed on Border.
L: . is ... -. ~. -. "..'. /.
PARALLEL TO PRESENT MOVE.

PARALLEL TO PRESENT MOVE.
Mere Show Of Force Then Forced Re-
treat of Macmillan and FinaIlv
Forced His DownfalI-sheridan Hur-
ried South Without Waiting For
Grand Review-Grant's Significant
Instructions.
The mobilization of thousands Of
United States troops in Texas is not
a novelty in the history Of the war
department. While it is said that the
troops are in Texas merely for maneu-
vers, such was not the case when Cen
eral Phil Sheridan was sent into that
state in 1866 with $1,000 veteran
troops.
This move followed the occupation
OF Mexico by the French and the plac-
Ing Of Macmillan on the throne bv
Napoleon. When the American civil
war was at its height the emperor of
the French sent troops to Mexico to
establish a throne there, believing the
government Of the United States too
much occupied with war to ATTEMPT
to enforce the Monroe doctrine. The
occupation of Mexico by the French
army was the most radical infraction
OF that doctrine ever attempted.
Not until after the battle of Gettys-
burg and the fall Of Vicksburg did
Secretary Seward deem it wise to no.
tify the French that the proceedings
in Mexico were distasteful to the Unit
ed States government, and not until
after the war did Mr.. Seward find the
time ripe to demand of Napoleon that
the French armies be withdrawn from
Mexico. =
Even before the grand review in
Washington, prior to the disbandment
Of the armies Of the Union, in which
he longed to march, General Sheridan
was ordered to the Texas frontier to
put down the rebellion in that quar-
ter and also to enforce the demand
of the United States government that
Macmillan and his European allies
evacuate Mexico.
Sheridan Sent to Texas.
The day after Sheridan arrived In
Washington from Petersburg he re-
ceived orders transferring him to a
new command. The order directed him
to restore Texas and that part of Lou
isiana held by the enemy to the Union
Sheridan promptly called on General
Grant to learn If his orders were to be
considered So pressing as to preclude
his remaining in Washington until after
the grand review. General Grant told
him that it was absolutely necessary
to go at once to force the surrender of
the Confederates under Kirby Smith
At that interview General Grant also
told Sheridan that there was an addi-
tonal motive in sending him to the
new command, 4 motive not explained
In the written instructions.
Sheridan left Washington without
participating in the grand review.
When he arrived at his station he de-
cided to cross the state with two col
umns Of cavalry, sending one to- San
Antonio under Major General Wesley
Merritt and the other to Houston I'M
der Major General George A. Custer
In the latter part Of June, 1865, Gen.
eral Sheridan went to Brownsville him.
self to impress the imperiaNsts with
the idea that the United States meant
business. He also sent General Steele
to make demonstrations all along the
lower Rio Grande.
Macmillan. Wi*hdraws-
These demands, backed as they were
by such show Of force-a force star
thing not only numerically, but because
of its composition of veterans of one
of the stubbornest wars in history
were the cause of decentralization
among the imperial troops, and meas
ures looking to the abandonment of
northern Mexico we're quickly adopted
by those In authority.
In the latter part of September, 1865,
Sheridan became impatient of the slow
work at Washington and decided to
make another hostile demonstration.
This time he selected the upper Rio
Grande for the scene of action.
Escorted by a cavalry regiment,
Sheridan then went to Fort Duncan,
on the Rio Grande; opposite Piedras
Negras. He then deliberately opened
communication With President Juarez
This gave rise to the te>zef that Sheri-
dan was only awaiting the arrival Of
the United States troops, then under
maching orders at San Antonio, to
cross the Rio Grande and attack Maxi
milian's troops.
The imperialists were So much
alarmed by these reports and the open
military demonstrations that they
withdrew the French and Austrian
soldiers from Matamoras, abandoning
the whole OF Mexico as far down as
Monterey.
Shortly afterward the French with
drew their troops from Mexico, and in
1867 Macmillan was captured and ex-
A~I