Ole,
In another thread, you mentioned the Mexican initiative towards the Confederacy and recognition. I thought I'd start this new thread to give it a little more visibility.
As the various states were seceding in the "Winter of Secession" and getting together to form the Confederacy in Montgomery, AL in February of 1861, Mexico was already in the middle of a war of their own. This was the bloody fratricidal Reform War of 1859-61.
Juarez (a full-blooded Indian) led the Liberals against the Conservatives. Early on, he was captured and hauled before a firing squad, but escaped. In early 1861, Juarez was hanging onto Mexico City by the skin of his teeth. By late in the year, the British, French and Spanish were landing an expedition at Veracruz to protect their nationals and try to collect debts; while the British and Spanish later withdrew, Napoleon III converted this into the attempt to create the Empire of Mexico with Maximillian on the throne.
As a result, in early 1861 Mexico didn't need any new enemies. I think the attempt to connect with this new Confederacy on their northern border was largely from self-preservation. Simply delaying trouble with the Confederates would have been a major advantage to Mexico.
In A Government of Their Own by Davis (about the formation of the Confederate government in early 1861), published a few years ago, I recall seeing a discussion of the attempt. Jefferson Davis avoided meeting with the emissary because he felt it might be embarassing if he was to lead an invasion of Mexico within the next year or two -- which gives you an indication of how he viewed the future.
Shortly after that, the Confederates did send a diplomat to Mexico. This was John T. Pickett, sent officially to negotiate a treaty of alliance in May 1861. Apparently that "treaty of alliance" was supposed to include Confederate annexation of large parts of northern Mexico and intrigues for the independence of Vera Cruz -- because that's what Pickett worked for. He was soon arrested by the Juarez government, thrown in jail for 30 days, and expelled from the country.
In addition, there were various schemes and plots that involved the separation from Mexico of the northern tier of mexico, attempts to subborn/bribe Mexican governors, and the actions of Confederate secret agents in Mexico throughout the Civil War -- all of which clearly envision Confederate acquisition of parts of Mexico, one way or another, stright across to the Pacific Ocean.
Regards,
Tim
In another thread, you mentioned the Mexican initiative towards the Confederacy and recognition. I thought I'd start this new thread to give it a little more visibility.
As the various states were seceding in the "Winter of Secession" and getting together to form the Confederacy in Montgomery, AL in February of 1861, Mexico was already in the middle of a war of their own. This was the bloody fratricidal Reform War of 1859-61.
Juarez (a full-blooded Indian) led the Liberals against the Conservatives. Early on, he was captured and hauled before a firing squad, but escaped. In early 1861, Juarez was hanging onto Mexico City by the skin of his teeth. By late in the year, the British, French and Spanish were landing an expedition at Veracruz to protect their nationals and try to collect debts; while the British and Spanish later withdrew, Napoleon III converted this into the attempt to create the Empire of Mexico with Maximillian on the throne.
As a result, in early 1861 Mexico didn't need any new enemies. I think the attempt to connect with this new Confederacy on their northern border was largely from self-preservation. Simply delaying trouble with the Confederates would have been a major advantage to Mexico.
In A Government of Their Own by Davis (about the formation of the Confederate government in early 1861), published a few years ago, I recall seeing a discussion of the attempt. Jefferson Davis avoided meeting with the emissary because he felt it might be embarassing if he was to lead an invasion of Mexico within the next year or two -- which gives you an indication of how he viewed the future.
Shortly after that, the Confederates did send a diplomat to Mexico. This was John T. Pickett, sent officially to negotiate a treaty of alliance in May 1861. Apparently that "treaty of alliance" was supposed to include Confederate annexation of large parts of northern Mexico and intrigues for the independence of Vera Cruz -- because that's what Pickett worked for. He was soon arrested by the Juarez government, thrown in jail for 30 days, and expelled from the country.
In addition, there were various schemes and plots that involved the separation from Mexico of the northern tier of mexico, attempts to subborn/bribe Mexican governors, and the actions of Confederate secret agents in Mexico throughout the Civil War -- all of which clearly envision Confederate acquisition of parts of Mexico, one way or another, stright across to the Pacific Ocean.
Regards,
Tim
Bringing the