The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-03-24
WHEN SHERIDAN
WENT TO TEXAS
Fifty Thousand American Troop,
MaSSed on Border.
PARALLEL TO PRESENT move

Mere Show of Force Then Forced Re
Forced His DownfaII-Sherida Hur
ried South Without Waiting 70
Grand Review-Grant's Significan
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 mancD
verS, such was not the case when GcI
eral Phil Sheridan was sent into thai
state in 1866 with $4,000 veteran
troops
This move followed the OccupatiO
Of Mexico by the French and the plac
ing of Macmillan on the throne b,
Napoleon. When the American civ
war was at its height the emperor q
the French sent troops to Mexico T.
establish throne there, believing In
government of the United States 10
much occupied with war to attemll
10 enforce the Monroe doctrine III
occupation of Mexico by the French
army was the most radical infractioi
Of that doctrine ever attempted.
Not until after the battle of Gettya
burg and the fall of Vicksburg id
Secretary Seward deem it wise to nr
tify the French that the proceedir"
IN Mexico were distasteful to the I'm
ed States government, and not unit
after the war did Mr. Seward find t.
time ripe to demand of Napoleon thu
the French armies be withdrawn from
Mexico.
Even before the grand review l..
Washington, prior to the disbandmcu'
Of the armies of the Union, in whicl
he longed to march, General Sheridan
was ordered to the Texas frontier +"
put down the rebellion in that qu"r
ter and also to enforce the demHn8
of the United States government thnt
Macmillan and his European allies
evacuate Mexico
Sheridan Sent to Texas.
The day after Sheridan arrived IN
Washington from Petersburg he re
eeived orders transferring him to Il
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
tional motive in sending him to the
new command, motive not eXplained
In the written instructions.
Sheridan left Washington without
participating in the grand review.
When he arrived at his station he de.
eided 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 un-
der Major General George A. Custer.
In the latter part of June, 1865, Gen
eral Sheridan went to Brownsville him,
self to impress the imperialists with
the idea that the United States meant
business. He also sent General Steele
" Dluhc ull dlOuS Nil'
lower Rio Grande.
Macmillan Withdraws.
These demands, backed as they were
BY such a show of force-a force star.
tling not only numerically, but because
Of it's composition of veterans of one
Of the stubbornest wars in history
were the cause of decentralization
among the imperial troops, and meas.
Sres looking to the abandonment of
northern Mexico were quickly adopted
by those in authority.
In the latter part of September, 1860
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
Bheridan then went to Fort Duncan
Ell the Rio Grande. opposite Piedras
Hegras He then deliberately opened
communication with President JuareZ
This gave rise to the belief that Sheri
dan was only awaiting the arrival OF
the United States troops, then under
maching orders at San Antonio, tC
cross the Rio Grande and attack Maxi,
milian's troops.
The imperialists were so muct
alarmed by these reports and the oper
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 il
1867 Macmillan was captured and ex
ecuted.
Snciatv wnnoan Wrastlers