Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-01

Of northern Mexico we're quickly adopted
I by those in authority.
This policy would probably have resulted
in the speedy evacuation OF the entire
country by Mcmillan, had not the United
/ States government weakened.
His aggressive policy, General Sheridan
always thought, as he later set forth in
his memoirs. would have brought about
and the speedy evacuation Of the entire
the collapse Of the Macmillan government.
country by the French. had Sheridan re-
oeived permission to cross the Rio Grande
into Mexico.
For such a move, in his opinion, there
was ample excuse, large bodies Of Confed-
crates having crossed over with munitions
Of war, including cannon.
Second Hostile Demonstration.
But Seward was not anxious to under
take any such invasion OF a neighboring
country in time Of peace and he was con-
tent when a few pieces OF the contraband
artillery were returned with the apologies
Of the Imperial government.
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. Merits cavalry and the
Fourth corps were still at San Antonio.
Sheridan went to that place and reviewed
the troops. Because Of his presence at
San Antonio, the parade of the troops,
and their open preparation for a campaign,
the natives thought that the Americans
we're going to invade Mexico
Escorted by a cavalry regiment, sheri-
dan went to Fort Duncan on the Rio
Grande. opposite Piedras Negras He
then deliberately opened communal cation
with President Juarez. This gave rise to
the belief that Sheridan was only awaiting
the arrival Of United Slaves troops, then
under marching orders at San Antonio, to
cross the Rio Grande and attack Maximil-
ian'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 Mata-
moras, abandoning the whole OF Mexico as
far down as Monterrey.
Just when the American general thought
that these demonstrations would cause the
final withdrawal of the foreigners from
Mexico, he was again called off by the
United States government, as a result of
the representations of the French minister
at Washington. The latter wrote to SEQ
rotary Seward that the United States gov
eminent was not preserving the strictest
neutrality. Sheridan was then officially
notified to preserve absolute neutrality.
II was often extremely difficult for sher-
idan-so he wrote in his memoirs-to re-
strain officers and men from crossing the
Rio Grande with hostile purposes.
Raid of FiIIbusters.
fihbustering band, in January, 1885,
crossed into Mexico from Texas and sacked
Bagdag, carrying off the garrison This
band, wholly without connection with the
United States troops, formed the nucleus
of the force which took Bagdag. and were
reinforced by few negro soldiers.
In the course of the saoklng of the town
French vessels were fired upon by the In
vaders, and the United States regulars
went across the line to stop them.
| The fact that an act like the seizure of
Bagdad could be perpetrated that a force
from the American side of the river could
commit so fragrant violation of neutrality,
showed an extraordinary state OF discipline
Sheridan rebuked the disorderly movement
on the Mexican town, and the United States
government fastened to make amends by
removing the commandant at the American
army post in Texas, and also Furnishing
the participants in the attack.
1t was that part of Texas that led Sheri-
dan to say that II he owned both places
he would rent Texas and live in hell
At that time Texas was overrun with
desperadoes and outlaws and It was impos
sible to prevent soldiers and union men
along the border from showing open SYM
patty with the liberal cause in Mexico.
Sheridan admitted that in the course Of
the winter and spring of 1866 the American
army covertly supplied arms and ammuni-
ton to the liberals In Mexico, sending as
many as $1,000 muskets from the armory
at Baton Rogue alone.
Fate of the Emperor.
BY midsummer President Juarez, having
organized a fair-sized army, was in pos
session OF the whole line of the Rio Grande,
and, in fact, of nearly the whole of Mexico
! down to San Luis Potosi Within two years
Imperialism had received its deathblow
in Mexico. Sheridan said that he doubted
whether such results could have been
achieved without the presence of our
American army on the Rio Grande.
From the autumn of 1866 until February.
1867 the French troops by degrees evacu-
ated Mexico. The significant movement OF
United States troops to the Mexican from
tier led Napoleon to withdraw his support
OF Macmillan.
After the withdrawal OF the French from
Mexico, Macmillan, though deserted, de-
termined to hold out until the last, and,
with the aid OF disloyal Mexicans, stuck
10 his cause until the spring. He was taken
prisoner at Queretaro, tried, and executed
on May IA. 1861. Secretary Seward tried
hard TO save him,
Sheridan took the secretarys plea for
mercy TO General EscobedO at Queretaro
but the representations Of the United
States were without avail. They were re-
fused probably because little mercy had
been shown 10 certain liberal leaders who
had fallen into Maximilian's hands.-New
York Post.