New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1911-07-26
WHEN SHERIDAN
Went TO TEXAS
Fifty Thousand American Troops
Massed On Border.
PARALLEL 10 PRESENT MOVE,

PMhl6l III mtStuI Uvt
Msrs Show Of Force Then Forced Re
trsat Of Macmillan and Finail
Forced His Downfall Sheridan Aur
risd South Without Waiting "a
Grand asvisw-orant's sisniAean
Instructions.
The mobilization of thousands o
United States troops in Texas is no
novelty In the history Of the wa
department. While It is said that tn,
troops are In Texas merely for maneu
vers, such was not the case when Gen
eral Phil Sheridan was sent into thai
state in 1865 with $4,000 veteran
troops
This move followed the occupation
Of Mexico by the French and the plac
ing of Macmillan on the throne by
Napoleon. When the American civil
war was at its height the emperor OF
the French sent troops to Mexico to
esta blish 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the French armies be withdrawn from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 disarmament
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
and his European allies
evacuate Mexico.
Sheridan Sent to Texas.
The day after Sheridan arrived In
from Petersburg he re-
.eived orders transferring him to
lew command. The order directed him
o restore Texas and that part Of Lou
siana held by the enemy to the Union.
Sheridan promptly called on General
srant to learn if his orders were to be
onsidered so pressing as to preclude
lis remaining in Washington until after
be grand review. General Grant told
i'm that it was absolutely necessary
D 60 at once to force the surrender of
be Confederates under Kirby Smith
It that interview General Grant also
old Sheridan that there was an addi-
lonal motive in sending him to the |
ew command, 4 motive not explained
q the written instructions.
Sheridan left Washington without
in the grand review.
When he arrived at his station he de-
ided to cross the state with two col
INNS of cavalry, sending one to San
lutonio under Major General Wesley
lerritt and the other to Houston un-
er Major General George A. Custer.
In the latter part Of June. 1865, Gen
raj Sheridan went to Brownsville him
elf to impress the imperialists with
be idea that the United States meant |
usiness. He also sent General Steele |
. make demonstrations all along the
over Rio Grande.
Macmillan Withdraws.
These demands, backed as they were
Y such show Of force-a force star J
ing not only numerically, but because
its composition Of veterans Of one
the stubbornest wars in history
7ere the cause Of decentralization
mong the imperial troops, and meas
res looking to the abandonment Of |
orthern Mexico were quickly adopted
y those in authority
In the latter part of September, 1865,
heridan becameimpatient Of the slow
7ork at Washington and decided to
lake another hostile demonstration.
his time he selected the upper Rio
Irande for the scene of action.
Escorted by cavalry regiment.
heridan then went to Fort Duncan,
q the Rio Grande, opposite Piedras
Iegras. He then deliberately opened
with President Juarez
his gave rise to the belief that Sheri-
an was only awaiting the arrival of
ne United States troops, then under
,aching orders at San Antonio. to
ross the Rio Grande and attack Maxi
,ilian's troops.
The imperialists were so much
larmed by these reports and the open
Military demonstrations that they
withdrew the French and Austrian
oldiers from Matamoras, abandoning
ne whole of Mexico as far down as
[onterey.
Shortly afterward the French with
rev their troops from Mexico, and in
967 Macmillan was captured and ex-