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very difficult to restrain officers and men from crossing the Rio
Grande with hostile purpose。 Within the knowledge of my troops；
there had gone on formerly the transfer of organized bodies of ex…
Confederates to Mexico； in aid of the Imperialists； and at this
period it was known that there was in preparation an immigration
scheme having in view the colonizing； at Cordova and one or two other
places； of all the discontented elements of the defunct Confederacy
Generals Price； Magruder； Maury； and other high personages being
promoters of the enterprise； which Maximilian took to readily。 He
saw in it the possibilities of a staunch support to his throne； and
therefore not only sanctioned the project； but encouraged it with
large grants of land； inspirited the promoters with titles of
nobility； and； in addition； instituted a system of peonage； expecting
that the silver hook thus baited would be largely swallowed by the
Southern people。
The announcement of the scheme was followed by the appointment of
commissioners in each of the Southern States to send out emigrants；
but before any were deluded into starting； I made to General Grant a
report of what was going on； with the recommendation that measures be
taken； through our State Department； looking to the suppression of
the colony； but； as usual； nothing could be effected through that
channel； so； as an alternative； I published； in April； 1866； by
authority of General Grant； an order prohibiting the embarkation from
ports in Louisiana and Texas； for ports in Mexico； of any person
without a permit from my headquarters。 This dampened the ardor of
everybody in the Gulf States who had planned to go to Mexico； and
although the projectors of the Cordova Colonization Schemethe name
by which it was knownsecured 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 differences from various causes； some
personal； others political； and some； I regret to say； from downright
moral obliquityas； for example； those between Cortinas and Canales…
…who； though generally hostile to the Imperialists； were freebooters
enough to take a shy at each other frequently； and now and then even
to join forces against Escobedo； unless we prevented them by coaxing
or threats。 A general who could unite these several factions was
therefore greatly needed； and on my return to New Orleans I so
telegraphed General Grant； and he； thinking General Caravajal （then
in Washington seeking aid for the Republic） would answer the purpose；
persuaded him to report to me in New Orleans。 Caravajal promptly
appeared； but he did not impress me very favorably。 He was old and
cranky； yet； as he seemed anxious to do his best； I sent him over to
Brownsville； with credentials； authorizing him to cross into Mexico；
and followed him myself by the next boat。 When I arrived in
Brownsville； matters in Matamoras had already reached a crisis。
General Mejia； feeling keenly the moral support we were giving the
Liberals； and hard pressed by the harassing attacks of Cortinas and
Canales； had abandoned the place； and Caravajal； because of his
credentials from our side； was in command； much to the
dissatisfaction of both those chiefs whose differences it was
intended he should reconcile。
The； day after I got to Brownsville I visited Matamoras； 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
I feared that either Canales or Cortinas would get possession of the
city。 Caravajal made too many professions of what he would doin
short； bragged too muchbut as there was no help for the situation；
I made the best of it by trying to smooth down the ruffled feathers
of Canales and Cortinas。 In my interview with Caravajal I
recommended Major Young as a confidential man； whom he could rely
upon as a 〃go…between 〃 for communicating with our people at
Brownsville； and whom he could trust to keep him informed of the
affairs of his own country as well。
A day or two afterward I recrossed the Gulf to New Orleans； and then；
being called from my headquarters to the interior of Texas； a
fortnight passed before I heard anything from Brownsville。 In the
meanwhile Major Young had come to New Orleans； and organized there a
band of men to act as a body…guard for Caravajal； the old wretch
having induced him to accept the proposition by representing that it
had my concurrence。 I at once condemned the whole business； but
Young； having been furnished with seven thousand dollars to recruit
the men and buy their arms； had already secured both； and was so
deeply involved in the transaction； he said； that he could not
withdraw without dishonor； and with tears in his eyes he besought me
to help him。 He told me he had entered upon the adventure in the
firm belief that I would countenance it； that the men and their
equipment were on his hands； that he must make good his word at all
hazards； and that while I need not approve； yet I must go far enough
to consent to the departure of the men； and to loan him the money
necessary to provision his party and hire a schooner to carry them to
Brazos。 It was hard in deed to resist the appeals of this man； who
had served me so long and so well； and the result of his pleading was
that I gave him permission to sail； and also loaned him the sum asked
for； but I have never ceased to regret my consent； for misfortune
fell upon the enterprise almost from its inception。
By the time the party got across the Gulf and over to Brownsville；
Caravajal had been deposed by Canales； and the latter would not
accept their services。 This left Young with about fifty men to whom
he was accountable； and as he had no money to procure them
subsistence； they were in a bad fix。 The only thing left to do was
to tender their services to General Escobedo； and with this in view
the party set out to reach the General's camp； marching up the Rio
Grande on the American side； intending to cross near Ringgold Bar
racks。 In advance of them； however； had spread far and wide the
tidings of who they were； what they proposed to do； and where they
were going； and before they could cross into Mexico they were
attacked by a party of ex…Confederates and renegade Mexican
rancheros。 Being on American soil； Young forbade his men to return
the fire； and bent all his efforts to getting them over the river；
but in this attempt they were broken up； and became completely
demoralized。 A number of the men were drowned while swimming the
river； Young himself was shot and killed； a few were captured； and
those who escapedabout twenty in allfinally joined Escobedo； but
in such a plight as to be of little use。 With this distressing
affair came to an end pretty much all open participation of American
sympathizers with the Liberal cause； but the moral support afforded
by the presence of our forces continued； and this was frequently
supplemented with material aid in the shape of munitions of war；
which we liberally supplied； though constrained to do so by the most
secret methods。
The term of office of Juarez as President of the Mexican Republic
expired in December； 1865； but to meet existing exigencies he had
continued himself in office by proclamation； a course rendered
necessary by the fact that no elections could be held on account of
the Imperial occupation of most of the country。 The official who； by
the Mexican Constitution； is designated for the succession in such an
emergency； is the President of the Supreme Court； and the person then
eligible under this provision was General Ortega； but in the interest
of the Imperialists he had absented himself from Mexico； hence the
patriotic course of Juarez in continuing himself at the head of
affairs was a necessity of the situation。 This action of the
President gave the Imperialists little concern at first； but with the
revival of the Liberal cause they availed themselves of every means
to divide its supporters； and Ortega； who had been lying low in the
United States； now came forward to claim the Presidency。 Though
ridiculously late for such a step； his first act was to issue a
manifesto protesting against the assumption of the executive
authority by Juarez。 The protest had little effect； however； and his
next proceeding was to come to New Orleans； get into correspondence
with other disaffected Mexicans； and thus perfect his plans。 When he
thought his intrigue ripe enough for action； he sailed for Brazos；
intending to cross the Rio Grande and assert his claims with arms。
While he was scheming in New Orleans； however； I had learned what he
was up to； and in advance of his departure had sent instructions to
have him arrested on American soil。 Colonel Sedgwick； commanding at
Brownsville； was now temporary