ALS signed “W. T. Sherman,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.75 x 9.75, November 7, 1866. Letter to General Stewart Van Vliet, an old friend and former classmate at West Point, concerning his own involvement in the Maximilian Affair in Mexico. In part: “When at Havannah a few days ago, I bought for you a thousand real Segars…[General Daniel] Butterfield asked to send him some…All I know of their quality is they are of Real Havannas, bought at the very factory of Partagas & Co…At Vera Cruz we found the French in possession, but they invited us very politely up to the city which I could not accept because of our Diplomatic character, but if I can get rid of the Diplomatic part I would [illegible] right in to Mexico and find out in five minutes what new [illegible] is attempting. In our hunting for the Govr. of Mexico in the person of its President Juarez of whom we thus far have no authentic knowledge. Mr. Campbell now hopes to hear of him up about Monterey & Saltillo in which case I will attend him to the Court, but I have no inclination to go as far as Chihuahua alone on a cursed old Mexican mule, the only legitimate way to reach that far off region…Since my arrival here I find the Liberals have begun to fight among themselves for the Custom house…The French really intend to go and Maximilian will follow. Even these traits among the Liberals so disgust the world & the Mexican People that the Reactionary Party (which begs Maximilian to stay in the Cause of Order) get strength enough to maintain him in authority. Of course, keep these things to yourself. I have nothing to do here and only came to avoid a worse complication." In very good condition, with several partial separations along intersecting folds, partially separated hinge, a couple minor areas of paper loss, and scattered toning.
As the Civil War finally came to a close in 1865, the US shifted its attention to the Franco-Mexican War taking place just south of its borders, already well underway. In response to President Juarez’s suspension of foreign interest payments, Napoleon III had invaded the country in 1862, quickly establishing the Second Mexican Empire and enthroning Austria’s Maximilian in 1864. Unable to intervene during it’s own bloody war, America now set up a naval blockade to prevent French reinforcements from landing and assembled 50,000 troops under General Philip Sheridan to force the French to withdraw. Choosing Franco-American relations over his Mexican ambitions, Napoleon finally announced their retreat beginning in May of 1866. Having seen enough bloodshed to last an eternity, the recently promoted Lieutenant General Sherman travelled to Mexico to survey the progress being made there, but remained detached from the fighting. An interesting letter from a crucial time in Mexican-American relations, written from the wise perspective of a Civil War hero. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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