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BACKGROUND

William Marshall Anderson was born June 24, 1807 in Louisville, Kentucky. An adventurous scholar and trained lawyer, Anderson was always restless and so he traveled on many expeditions throught North America and Mexico. For example, at age twenty-five he journeyed with the fur trader William Sublette on an expedition of the Rocky Mountains. Later, he was a surveyor for the state of Virginia and managed two farms in Ohio. Anderson died January 7, 1881.

Originally from the southern United States, Anderson was unsure of the South's decision to secede from the Union. On one hand, he disagreed with President Lincoln and his policies, yet on the other hand he supported the Union. When the Civil War began to come to a close, Anderson joined some Confederate friends in Mexico who had fled the United States. His brother, however, was General Robert Anderson, and had played a key role in the defense of Fort Sumter against the Confederate army.

Anderson's Diary

"This is intended for the eyes of my family and particular friends, to be read in confidence...."

While in Mexico, Anderson kept a journal of all that he saw and experienced. It is obvious from the beginning that he had a great respect for nature in that there are detailed descriptions of the Mexican landscape throughout his journal. He described everything from the appearance of the water, the mountains, forests, rocky cliffs, and even the fog with such detail that it makes the reader imagine that they are there experiencing the beauty with him.
Anderson also focused a lot on the culture and peoples of Mexico---from indiginous Indians, to Negroes, to mestizos---Anderson had something to say about all of them. Of the culture, Anderson was impressed and in awe of the marketplace. He explained how the natives squatted down on the "smooth rubble stones" of the street with their goods for sale spread out in front of them on a mat. There were "...crowds of bipeds, male and female, walking, talking, squalling; over them, before them, behind them, and around them."

Little was written about the food and lodging that he found in Mexico, although he did mention some key information. The foods and drinks Anderson mentioned in his account consisted mainly of fruits, vegetables, and alcohol. For example, he found bananas, pineapples, apricots, oranges, and melons, to name a few, and also tried the drinks abscinthe and cognac during his visit. Of the hotels in Mexico, there were few compliments about them, as he described the tight arrangements at the inns in which he stayed.

Cognac Napoleon

Overall, however, Anderson was fully impressed with what he saw in Mexico. Despite minor setbacks---like his train breaking down at one point during his journey, or the small and somewhat uncomfortable inns---he found its people, culture, history, and landscape enchanting.

"Taking all things into consideration, I consider Mexico the marvel of man's patience, perseverance, and power."

What's Going On?
A man named Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph was on the throne in Mexico in 1865 when Anderson set out on his journey. Maximilian, an Austrian archduke and member of the royal Hapsburg family back in Europe, had accepted the throne of Mexico in 1864 after being denied a share of the imperial govenment (in Europe) by his brother. This offer of the throne came after some Mexican conservatives, displeased with their current ruler Benito Juárez, negotiated with Napoleon III of France to form a Mexican Empire. (Napoleon III accepted this invitation at forming another empire because at the time, Mexico owed France $15 million on which Juárez had suspended payments.) However, Maximilian had accepted this position after being falsely told that the Mexican people sincerely adored him and had elected him tobe their ruler. Even Anderson was incorrect in his evaluation of the Mexican peoples' views towards their own emperor:

"...But I said something about a 'good government.' I see no reason
why there should not be. Every body says Maximilian is a good
man and honest ruler."

In reality, most Mexicans were displeased with their ruler, instead favoring their previous leader, Juárez. Those conservatives who had once asked Maximilian to come over and revise Juárez's liberal policies were disappointed that he would not undo some of the land reforms set up by the Juárez government. Maximilian turned out to be more liberal than was expected, however, he also alienated the liberal population of Mexico by his decree ordering the execution of all followers of Juárez. Furthermore, Maximilian lost his army when Napoleon III withdrew his troops from Mexico due to certain affairs in France and the closing of the U.S. Civil War. (The United States, angry at France's violation of the Monroe Doctrine, had been unable to take action due to its own civil war.) Maximilian's power was greatly decreased after the loss of his army, so Juárez's army was able to move back into Mexico City. Maximilian and a few of his supporters fled to Queretaro, where he finally surrendered. Despite the protests of several royal figures back in Europe, Maximilian was executed just outside of Queretaro on June 19, 1867. (Anderson, however, was not present during the execution; he only stayed in Mexico until 1866.)

Maximilian

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Sources

Anderson, William Marshall. An American in Maximilian's Mexico 1865-1866. Ed. Ramon Eduardo Ruiz. San Marino: The Huntington Library, 1959.

Biography of Maximilian (Learning Network)

Mexico Connect: Maximilian and Carlota

Denton County History: Emperor Maximilian's Gold

Images from:

William Marshall Anderson

Confederate Flag

Related sites:

Descriptions of Mountain Men

Recollections

 

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