Guns, grit and glory

Michael Hogan

France invaded Mexico in 1861 on the pretext of collecting past-due debts. Their armies overran the country as Napoleon III imposed a new emperor, Austrian nobleman Maximilian, upon Mexico. The United States, busy with its Civil War, couldn’t provide much help. But following the surrender of the Confederacy in 1865, ex-Union soldiers, including members of the US colored troops, volunteered to help Mexico fight the invaders.