Complicity
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2013
At the close of the Civil War Grant wanted to militarily expel the French from Mexico. He sent Sheridan with 50,000 troops to Texas. He wanted to provoke an incident to start war.
In contrast, Secretary of State Seward rightfully reasoned he could get the French out w/0 war. He prompted President Johnson to outlaw the export of weapons. Grant instructed Sheridan to ignore the prohibition. Sheridan supplied at least 30,000 rifles to the Juaristas. Grant, Sheridan, and Schofield schemed to get armed U. S. troops on the right bank of the Rio Grande.
Fortunately Seward outfoxed them. The French army was gone by 1867.
Interestingly, I learned nothing about this in either the two "highly recommended" Grant bios I have. Wonder why?
Even Grant apologist William Hardy admits the topic "remains understudied"...indeed.
====================
Sources:
Hanna, Alfred and Kathryn, Napoleon III and Mexico
Smith, Gene, Maximilian and Carlotta
Haslip, Joan The Crown of Mexico
In contrast, Secretary of State Seward rightfully reasoned he could get the French out w/0 war. He prompted President Johnson to outlaw the export of weapons. Grant instructed Sheridan to ignore the prohibition. Sheridan supplied at least 30,000 rifles to the Juaristas. Grant, Sheridan, and Schofield schemed to get armed U. S. troops on the right bank of the Rio Grande.
Fortunately Seward outfoxed them. The French army was gone by 1867.
Interestingly, I learned nothing about this in either the two "highly recommended" Grant bios I have. Wonder why?
Even Grant apologist William Hardy admits the topic "remains understudied"...indeed.
====================
Sources:
Hanna, Alfred and Kathryn, Napoleon III and Mexico
Smith, Gene, Maximilian and Carlotta
Haslip, Joan The Crown of Mexico