Rolle, Andrew. The Lost Cause: The Confederate Exodus to Mexico. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1992.
Today we often hear a lot about Mexican immigration to the United States. However, we rarely hear much about American immigration to Mexico. Well, in 1865 at the end of the US Civil War several thousand southerners chose to cross the border into Mexico rather than face the humiliation of surrendering to the northern states.
The primary focus of this book is the journey of General Joseph Shelby who led the largest group of ex-Confederate soldiers into Mexico. They went there under the invitation of Emperor Maxmilian who hoped to use them in his struggle with Benito Juarez over control of Mexico. These immigrants established small colonies near Vera Cruz. There they attempted to set up a profitable farming community. However, they did not succeed. After Maximilian was executed in 1867 these immigrants lost their protector. Juarez’s supporters viewed them as foreign invaders, and attacked their settlements. Some of them died in the conflict, but the majority of them returned to the US or fled to other countries. Today nothing remains of the towns they established. If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating story then I highly recommend this book to you.
Click here to check for availability.
Contributed by Joshua Wallace, Reference Librarian at the Pecan Campus.
