Valley of Mexico with a Plan of the Mexican Defenses and Line of US Army Operations

While Union and Confederacy fought from 1861 to 1865, the supporters of Benito Juarez, known as Juaristas, fought the French and Austrian imperialists from 1862 to 1867. The Rio Grande Valley became important in these struggles for several reasons. The U.S. blockade of Confederate ports limited the South’s ability to ship cotton and consequently limited the South's ability to import cannon, medical supplies, and other needed war materials. To circumvent the U.S. Navy, Confederates utilized the small Mexican port of Bagdad, a place the Union could not attack without risking a war with France. Bagdad soon emerged as the Confederacy’s major remaining port. To end this trade, Union landed forces at Brazos de Santiago, marched inland to Brownsville, and subsequently headed northwest along the north bank of the river. The Confederates responded by moving the crossing points westward and later drove Union forces back to Brazos de Santiago.
Type: Engraving
Dimensions: 5 x 9"
Notes & Literature: Extracted from Personal Memoirs of U S Grant.
Condition Report Few edge tears. Text on verso. Toning. Good.
Subject References: 105F