506 



MEXICO. 



year, though daily expected to depart for the 

 capital. At that time it was reported that, as 

 the situation of affairs did not permit the assem- 

 bling of a national congress, in accordance with 

 the announcement of the emperor at Orizaba, 

 he would convoke a meeting of the notables. 

 While at Atlasco Maximilian was visited by 

 General Castelnau, the special envoy dispatched 

 to Mexico by Napoleon, and the French minis- 

 ter at the capital. At this interview, it is said, 

 the emperor was offered the alternative of ab- 

 dicating, or of satisfying the demands of France 

 for the payment of the expenses incurred by 

 the intervention. Maximilian, on the same 

 authority, declined to accept either alternative, 

 announcing that he was determined to maintain 

 his position. 



The reorganization of the Imperial army, 

 rendered necessary by the approaching depart- 

 ure of the expeditionary corps, naturally oc- 

 cupied much of the emperor's attention, and he 

 went through the idle ceremony of dividing the 

 country into three great military districts, to 

 be occupied by as many corps cParmee, com- 

 manded respectively by Miramon, Marqucz, and 

 Mejia. During this time Marshal Bazaine was 

 concentrating his troops on the line between 

 Mexico and Vera Cruz, with a view of embark- 

 ing them at the latter place in the spring. In 

 a circular, issued in the latter half of Decem- 

 ber, he announced that it was the intention 

 of the French Government to have returned 

 to France, not only the Foreign Legion, 

 but all soldiers of French nationality who 

 were formerly authorized to enrol themselves 

 into the service of the Mexican Government, 

 and who were actually serving in the general 

 army corps of the Mexican army. But any 

 of these soldiers desiring to remain in the ser- 

 vice of Mexico, were authorized to do so, and 

 to adhere to the corps to which they belonged. 

 Another order stated that in future all the Aus- 

 trian, Belgian and Mexican troops would be 

 turned over to General Marquez, to be disposed 

 of by him as he should deem proper, as general- 

 in-chief of the forces operating in the east. This 

 was promptly done, and Marquez proceeded 

 forthwith to organize his forces for active ope- 

 rations. All the materials of war, which were 

 in the possession of the French, appertaining to 

 the Imperial Government, were also turned 

 over to the Mexican Imperial Government. 

 Long before the arrival of the emperor at the 

 capital his three generals, who were all able 

 men, and knew the difficult task assigned to 

 them, had started for their posts. Miramon 

 marched toward Queretaro, Mejia toward San 

 Luis Potosi, and Marquez planted himself at 

 Toluca, forty miles west of the capital, to 

 stay the advancing army of Republicans under 

 Riva Palacios. Here we may close the narra- 

 tive of the military events of the year 1866, 

 which, opening with the Republic in so crushed 

 and mutilated a condition as to be scarcely 

 recognizable, closed upon her triumphant in 

 every quarter, and controlling five-sixths of the 



country. It is no exaggeration to say that, oc 

 January 1, 1867, the whole of Mexico, with the 

 exception of the cities of Mexico, Puebla, Que- 

 retaro, and Vera Cruz; was practically in the 

 hands of the Republicans. 



The advance of the country in material pros- 

 perity and internal improvements in a year so 

 pregnant with disorder was necessarily slight. 

 Five railroads are announced to be in progress, 

 but on only one of them that between Mexico 

 and Vera Cruz has work been prosecuted witli 

 any degree of vigor. On April 26th the corner- 

 stone of an iron bridge, spanning the ravine of 

 Metlac, near Orizaba, and which is destined to 

 be one of the most remarkable structures of its 

 class in the world, was laid ; and on August 

 1st sixteen miles of the road east from Mexico 

 were formally opened to travel. Disastrous floods, 

 and a want of funds and promised government 

 subsidies, subsequently almost suspended work 

 on this line, which is only finished in detached 

 parts. The various schemes for promoting 

 emigration to Mexico seem likewise to have 

 failed. In December the colony of American 

 Confederate exiles, near Cordova, after suffer- 

 ing various privations and guerilla attacks, was 

 reported to have been practically broken up ; 

 and an enterprise for importing Asiatic coolies, 

 authorized by Maximilian in December, 1865, 

 seems never to have been even commenced. 



The mission of Mr. Campbell to Mexico, al- 

 luded to heretofore, may be very briefly re- 

 lated. This minister was sent, accompanied by 

 Lieutenant-General Sherman, in order, to use 

 the language of Mr. Seward, " to confer with 

 President Juarez on subjects which are deeply 

 interesting to the United States, and of vital 

 importance to Mexico." He was authorized to 

 tender the moral support and sympathy of 'the 

 United States to Juarez, under the belief that 

 Maximilian would soon retire, and that Juarez 

 would require such support and sympathy in 

 bringing order out of chaos; also to offer the 

 military forces of the United States to Juarez, if 

 necessary, to aid him in the "restoration of 

 law," provided they were offered and accepted 

 in such a manner as not to interfere " with the 

 jurisdiction of Mexico," or violate " the laws of 

 neutrality." The two plenipotentiaries left New 

 York in the steam frigate Susquehanna, on No- 

 vember llth, and on the 2Yth arrived off Vera 

 Cruz, whence, however, they sailed in a few days 

 without having disembarked. On leaving Vera 

 Cruz the Susquehanna at once proceeded to 

 Tampico,. where accredited emissaries of Juarez 

 awaited the ambassadors of the United States. 

 After a brief consultation they went to Mata- 

 moras, where another short council was held 

 with the confederate agents of Juarez, the re- 

 sult of which was that a definite and joint plan 

 of action was determined on between the Uni- 

 ted States and the Republic of Mexico. General 

 Sherman soon after returned to the United 

 States, while Mr. Campbell prepared to depart 

 with Escobedo's forces toward the seat of the 

 Mexican Republic, and confer with Juare/ T 



