The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-08-28
MEDAL OF HONOR
FROM NAPOLEON
Calumet Man Veteran of Maximil-
ian's Mexican Campaign

While Calumet, with it's cosmopoli-
tan population, is following the for
tunes of the various countries em-
broiled in the European war with min
gled feelings of love and hatred, il in
interesting to note that heroes of
other wars are numerous here. The
survivors OF the civil war and the
spanish American war are numerous
and IL is the privilege OF the present
generation to recall with loving re-
gard their deeds OF valour. Not so
much is known OF the survivors OF
wars with which this country has not
been so intimately connected.
one of these, Joseph Plautz, aged "A
years is one OF 500 that survive to tell
the tale, out OF the 5000 valiant war
| riors who followed the brave Maxi
milan i'm his conquest of Mexico dur
ing the years 1926, when our own
United states was torn asunder with
internal strife. In token OF his BRAY
cry and his noble service for the Max |
imilian cause, he bears a silver medal
OF honor presented To him by Napo- |
leon III.
veterinary surgeon, graduated |
from an Austrian school i'm 1859, Mr. |
Plautz received the rank of lieuten-
ant in the army of that country, by |
virtue of his skill in surgery.
In 1853 Benito Juarcz became pres
ident of Mexico but his claims were
contested by General Miramon, the
head of the roactonary or clerical
party and the country was plunged in
to period of civil war. During this
period, the Cortes passed an act sus-
pending all payments to foreigners for
two years, an act which brought Eng
fish, French and Spanish ships to the
Mexican gulf for the purpose of en-
forcing satisfaction. Believing that I
Mexico would welcome the French
with open arms. in April, 1862, Napo- s
leon III declared war on Mexico and {
sent out an expedition of 5000 men UNI 5
der Macmillan to conquer that coun-
try. one OF these men was Lieut. I
Joseph Plautz, now in Calumet. Plautz :
With a few others was taken prisoner
and held in captivity in Mexico City i
or a period OF three months. Later [
he was released and sent back to his
native land. He was one of only 800 h
rom the army of 5000 who set out on /
he expedition to return to his native
and. The decoration with n silver Il
medal Of honor by Napoleon was in q
ecognition of valor he had shown on
he field of battle. t.
Macmillan, with the French support .
ucceeded in becoming emperor of
Mexico, but encountered continual
ostility from the Mexican people and e
nally was overthrow. He was exc II
uted in 1867
Plautz continued to make his home is
n Austria for twenty years after this3 y
'ar, teaching school for year and o'
gliding other public positions. In
$50 he came to America. and having e'
o further desire TO follow his pro- o.
,ssion of veterinary surgeon. he took
position as teamster and later as NJ
ammer at the old Copper Falls mine M
e has made the conner country his 81
Dme almost continuously from that
me. lie
Although Mr. Plautz is an old man, u
2 is by no means feeble and in re-
Illing the epochs of more than half VI
injury ago, the old warlike feeling vi
mes over him. His one memento
the war is a small scar on the
rist, received after his sabre had o
rded off a lance thrust the lance not II
lving been turned aside sufficiently
prevent grazing his arm. vi
ri