The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 42, July 1938 - April, 1939 Page: 5
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Southwestern Historical Quarterly and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Texas State Historical Association.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Th e Origin of General Mina's Invasion of Mexico
to meet some of the revolutionists at the home of Lord Holland
where he dined frequently during his stay in London. Holland
arranged for an interview between Scott, Mina, and Mier. Mina
was especially interested in learning about what kind of reception
he might expect in America should he touch at one of the ports
on his way to Mexico. Scott assured the guerrilla general that
if the United States was at war, he would be able to buy arms
and other equipment in that country. Upon reporting the inter-
view to Monroe, Scott stated that Mina and his companions
would "constitute an important acquisition to the patriots. . . .14
Father Mier asserted that Mina was introduced to the American
general "as a person worthy of all his confidence and that of
the United States to effect the liberation of Mexico. .. ."15
General Scott would have earned the gratitude of historians had
he left a record of his relations with Mina; but in spite of this
omission, we are justified in assuming that Scott assured his
revolutionary friends of a warm welcome in the United States.
This assumption also helps to explain how Mina attracted so many
young American army officers to his standard, and why the Ameri-
can government failed to take measures to prevent his departure
from the United States.
Mina believed that an attack on Mexico would strike at a source
of Ferdinand's revenue and deprive the aristocracy of many offices
to sell. Liberal principles, once established in the New World,
would spread until the centers of despotism were overthrown.16
Encouraged by General Scott and London merchants, he made
preparations for the expedition. He obtained the Caledonia, loaded
it with supplies, and sailed for the United States with fifty com-
panions,7 leaving from Liverpool on May 15, 1816.18
14Elliott, op. cit., p. 207.
IsMier to Srcs. P. and A., Baltimore, September 15, 1816, in Hernandez,
Documentos, VI, 916-17.
16Mina, "Boletin," AGI PC, leg. 1900; Robinson, Memoirs, I, 89.
17Mier's Declaration, November 13, 1817, in Hernandez, Documentos, VI,
816. The Galedonia was built in the United States in 1800 for the slave
trade (Mier to Frasquito , Norfolk, July 1, 1816, ibid., VI, 902).
Onis reported that Mina contracted with "one Shvart [Stewart] for the
purchase, equipping and arming of a frigate and placing on board a cargo
of arms and munitions." The cost of the frigate was $120,000, which Mina
agreed to pay four days after his arrival in the United States (Onis to
Apodaca, Philadelphia, July 23, 1816, AGI PC, leg. 1898). This sum
undoubtedly represented the cost of the cargo as well. Stewart accom-
panied Mina as the supercargo (ibid.). It should be noted that Mier
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 42, July 1938 - April, 1939, periodical, 1939; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101107/m1/13/?rotate=270: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.