Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-08-14
SHERIDAN AVID THE FRENCH
OCCUPATION OF Mexico
Continued from page four.)

scheme-the name by which ii was
known-secured a few innocents
from other districts, yet this set
back led ultimately TO failure.
Among the Liberal leaders along
the Rio Grande during this period
there sprang up many factional diff
f~erences from various courses, some
personal, others political, and ONE,
j regret to say, from downright
moral obliquity-as, for example,
those between Cortina and Canales
who, though generally hostile to
the Imperialists, were freebootcrs
enough to take a shy at each other
frequently, and now and then even
to join forces against Escobedo, un-
less we prevented them by coaxing
or threats. A general who could
unite thees several factions was
therefore greatly needed, and on my
return tp New Orleans | so tele-
graphed General Grant, and he.
thinking General Caravajal (then in
Washington seeking aid for the re-
public would answer the purpose.
persuaded him to report to me in
New Orleans. C~aravajal promptly
appeared. but he did not impress me
very favorably. He was old and
cranky; yet, as he seemed anxious to
do his best, | sent him over TO
Brownsville, with credentials, au-
thorizing him to cross into Mexico.
and followed him myself by the next
boat. When | arrived in Browns
vile. matters in Matamoros had al
Mejia, feeling keenly the moral sup
port we were giving the Liberals,
and hard pressed by the harassing
attacks Of Cortina and Canales, had
abandoned the place, and Caravajal,
because of his credentials from our
side, was in command, much to the
dissatisfaction of both hose chiefs
whose differences it was intended
should be reconciled.
THE day after ! got to Browns
VILE | visited Matamoors, and had
a long interview with Caravajal.
The outcome of this meeting was,
on my part, a stronger conviction
than ever that he was unsuitable,
and | feared that either Canales or
Cortina would get possession Of he
city. Caravajal made too many pro
LESSONS of what he would do-in
short, bra gged O much-but "a
there was no help for the situation,
made the best of it by trying TO
smooth down the rufIled feathers Of
Canales and Cortina. In my inter-
view with C%aravajal | recommended
Major Young as a confidential man,
whom he could rely on "a a go
between for communicating with
our people at Brownsville. and whom
he could trus' to keep him informed
Of the affairs Of his W country as
well. A day or two afterwards | re-
crossed the gulf to New Orleans, and
then. being called from my head
quarter. to the interior of Texas. a
fortnigF' passed before | heard any
thing from Brownsville. In the
meanwhile Major Young had come
to Now Orleans, and organized there
a band of men to act as bodyguard
for C%aravajal, the old wretch hav-
ing induced him to accept the propo-
sition by representing that 1t had
my concurrence. lat once con-
demned the whole business. but
Young, having been furnished with
even thousand dollars to recruit
the men and buy their arms, had al
ready secured both. and was so deep
ly involved in the transaction. ne
said. that he could not withdraw
without dishonor. and with tears in
his eyes he %besOught me 10 help
him. He told me he had or cred
upon the adventure in the firm he
lief that | would countcnance IL;
that the men and their equipment
were on his hands; that he must
make god his word at all hazards;
and that while | need not approve,
yet | must go far enough TO consent
to the departure of the men, and to
loan him the money necessary 70
provision his party and hire a
schooner 10 carry them TO BraZos
II was hard indeed 10 resist the ar
peals of this man. who had served
me so long and so well. and the re-
suit OF his pleading was that I gave
him permission 10 sail. and also
loaned him the sum asked for; but
| have never ceased to regret ny
consent. for misfortune fell uror
the enterprise almost from its in.
ception.