1364

MAXIMILIAN ACCEPTS MEXICAN CROWN

was appointed in his place. Among important Congressional measures was that submitting a constitutional amendment prohibiting slavery. The establishment of the "Freedmen's Bureau" was intended to aid the negro in his new rôle of citizen. It became the subject of a great deal of corruption.

At the suggestion of the French commanders in Mexico the provisional government there declared for an Empire, and offered the crown to Archduke Maximilian of Austria. Long before, overtures to that effect had been made to Maximilian by Napoleon III. Thus the French Emperor meant to compensate Austria for the loss of her Venetian provinces and hoped to cement a secret alliance with Austria against Prussia. The Archduke signed an agreement with Napoleon, by the terms of which he was to receive the support of the French troops in Mexico until his government could be definitely organized, after which 5,000 men of the French Foreign Legion, with their allied contingents of Austrians and Belgians, were to remain in the country for six years. In return for this Maximilian agreed to pay the costs of the French expedition to Mexico, amounting to 270,000,000 francs, in annual instalments of 25,000,000 francs, to pay to each remaining soldier a pension of 1,000 francs a year, and to indemnify those French subjects whose interests had been injured in Mexico. A banker was found for him in London, who advanced 201,500,000 francs for the enterprise. Of this sum, Maximilian turned over 64,000,000 francs to France in first payment of his debt, and 12,000,000 francs for the indemnities of the French subjects. A large part of the remaining sum went to the financiers of Paris and London who negotiated the loan.

On April 4 the United States Congress at Washington passed a unanimous resolution against recognition of a monarchy in Mexico by the North American Republic. The attitude of the United States was emphasized on May 3 by

A TOTTERING THRONE

1864

the departure of Minister Corwin from the City of Mexico on the approach of the new sovereign.

On May 28 Maximilian and his wife Carlotta landed at San Juan d'Ulloa. Their hostile reception by the populace was the first disappointment. After the first festivities of the coronation and inauguration of imperial rule at the City of Mexico, Maximilian soon found himself in an awkward position. His already insufficient supply was exhausted by the greedy demands of Bazaine and the court satellites. The French troops, which had dwindled to 26,000 men, were found totally inadequate against the increasing depredations of Mexican guerrillas The Austrian and Belgian auxiliary troops, numbering 8,000 in all, were restive under Bazaine's authority, and were more of a hindrance than a help.

One of the earliest acts of Maximilian was to despatch to Washington a special envoy, Arroyo, to obtain recognition from the United States Government. Señor Arroyo could not even obtain an audience with the President, or with Secretary of State Seward. At the same time Juarez's emissary, Romero, made the most of his opportunities at Washington.

Maximilian's only hope of financial support lay in the proposed sequestration of Church lands. He did not dare to resort to this measure without obtaining the consent of the Pope. His overtures were doomed to bitter disappointment Toward the close of this first year in Mexico the Papal Nuncio, Meglia, arrived with a personal letter from the Pope, Pius IX, so far from sanctioning the spoliation of the Church lands, expressed his dissatisfaction with Maximil ian's concessions to the Liberals in Mexico, and put forth demands for the restoration of the holy orders, the absolute transfer of public education to the clergy, and the exclusion of any other religion but that of the Catholic Church in Mex ico. The non-fulfilment of these plans deprived Maximilian of the powerful support of the clergy in Mexico.

EVENTS OF 1865

Storman Marches North to Aid Grant-Charleston Surrenders-Johnston Succeeds Beauregard-He Fails in Attack on Slocum at Bentonville, N. C.-He Faces Sherman at Goldsboro, N. C.--Wilson and Stoneman Destroy Confederate Arsenals and Supplies-Canby, Sheridan, and Thomas (Union) Destroy Railroads and FactoriesSheridan Captures Early's Command Near Staunton, Va.-Confederates Capture Fort Steadman, where Federalists Hold Them under Fire-Sheridan Routs Pickett at Five Forks Grant Carries Lee's Works at Petersburg-Cut Off on South from Railroad to Danville, Lee Retreats West to Lynchburg-Sheridan Captures Ewell's Corps and Lee's Supplies-Lee is Surrounded at Appomattox-He Surrenders-Richmond, Evacuated by Confederates, is Entered by Federals-It is Visited by Lincoln-Abolition Amendments to Constitution are Ratified by the States-Lincoln's Plan of Organization of State Governments in the South on Theory that States had Never Left the Union is Begun in Tennessee and Louisiana-Death of Cobden, the English Free-Trader--Kuehne Discovers Composition of Blood-John Wilkes Booth, an Actor, Assassinates President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, Washington-Secretary Seward is Wounded by Would-Be Assassin-Andrew Johnson Succeeds to Presidency-Surrender of Cities, Arsenals, etc., Throughout the South-Confederates Win Last Battle of the War at Palo Pinto, Tex-Surrenders of Jeff Thompson, Johnston, and Kirby SmithJefferson Davis is Captured, Indicted for Treason, and Released on Bond of Horace Greeley and Others-General Statistics of the War Congress, by Taxing Notes of State Banks, Strengthens National Bank System-Many Confederates Go to Support of Maximilian, Causing Federal Government to Give Open Aid to Juarez-Maximilian Outlaws Juarists and Executes Two of Their GeneralsAustria and Prussia Contend Over Interests in Schleswig-Holstein -Peace is Temporarily Secured by Treaty of Gastein-Bismarck Plots against Austria-Death of Troyon, the Painter-Palmerston, English Premier, Dies, and Russell Succeeds Him.

HE early spring campaign of 1865 brought the final scenes of the North American Civil War. Sherman moved northward to assist Grant in the rear of the Confederate force, and made a remarkable march. Charleston, rendered untenable, surrendered on February 18 to Dahlgren and Gilmore, and was placed under martial law. On January 19 the Confederate Congress displaced Davis as Commander-in-Chief and appointed Lee, who assumed command on February 9. At Lee's request Hood was relieved of the command of his shattered army. Beauregard, enfeebled

UNION CAVALRY RAIDS

1865

by illness, was superseded by General Johnston, in the command of the Confederate force in North Carolina. General Lee, on the 2d of February, proposed a meeting to Grant to arrange terms of peace. President Lincoln ordered Grant to decline the proposal.

At Bentonville, North Carolina, on March 19-21, Slocum's division was unexpectedly attacked by Johnston, and the safety of the entire army was in peril; but the Confederates, after six desperate assaults, withdrew. Bragg was sent to oppose Schofield, and Johnston himself faced Sherman. Avoiding a general battle, however, Sherman hurried his march and reached Goldsboro, North Carolina. He there found Schofield, who had repulsed Bragg on the 9th of March. Here Sherman again encountered Johnston, who had been sent to oppose him with 30,000 men. The two armies rested inactive.

About the same time a cavalry expedition under General J. H. Wilson destroyed the important arsenal at Selma, Alabama, and dispersed Forrest's command. Stoneman cut off Lee's avenue of escape into the mountain regions of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. On March 22 Stoneman destroyed the Confederate depot of supplies at Lynchburg, Virginia, and from there he went, on April 9, to Galesburg, North Carolina, which he captured with all its magazines. Grant had ordered Canby, Sheridan, and Thomas to lay waste the railroads and military stores of the Confederacy. Canby moved from New Orleans against Mobile. Sheridan was ordered to push through to Lynchburg. He met Early between Staunton and Charlottesville on March 5, and captured almost his entire command. With over 10,000 cavalry, he tore up miles of railroad and destroyed mills and factories. Grant ordered a general advance to the left, to prevent the escape of Lee. In his well-fed army he had 111,000 foot and 13,000 cavalry, to Lee's half-starved force of 51,000 foot

1865

BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS

and 6,000 cavalry. Lee hoped to reach Danville, form a junction with Johnston, and take the chance of beating Sherman with Grant left behind. He determined on a night assault on Grant's right at Petersburg, and assigned half of his active army for that purpose. The point chosen was near Fort Steadman, and the attack was to be at night. But Grant had anticipated such an effort, and had issued orders to meet and counteract the attempt. The action was begun at dawn on March 25. Fort Steadman and three Union batteries were taken and a gap was made in the Union lines. Meade sent Parke to drive the enemy back. The Confederates were forced into Fort Steadman, where they were under concentrated Union fire.

On the 24th Grant had issued orders for the grand attack on Lee. Ord was moved to a position on the left. Weitzel remained at Bermuda Hundred; Parke confronted Petersburg, and Humphreys and Warren were to extend their lines. westward to Five Forks, so as to strike the South Side and Danville railroads. Sheridan arrived on March 25, and Sherman on the following day. Grant sent Sheridan either to move against Five Forks in Lee's rear, or to cut loose from the Army of the Potomac, get below Johnston, and cooperate with Sherman. On the 30th Sheridan found the Confederates in full force at Five Forks, and was forced back by PickGrant resolved to reenforce Sheridan with infantry, so that he might cut loose and turn Lee's right flank. Pickett did not wait to be caught between two Union columns but fell back.

The Battle of Five Forks, on April 1, marked the beginning of the end. Sheridan at daybreak passed the retreating Confederates. Leaving Warren to bring up his fifth corps, he repeated the tactics of his Valley campaign, cut off his antagonist from Lee's main force, by 4 P. м. had gained the Confederate lines, aided by Ayre's, Comfort's, and Griffin's