Mexicans died, Lincoln won the Civil War

[corbe]

Mexicans died, Lincoln won the Civil War

 By Raoul Lowery Contreras, opinion contributor - 05/05/17 06:20 PM EDT   

Few Americans are aware of Hispanics fighting for the United States before there was a United States. In 1779, 220 of Hispanics reached what is now St. Louis before 1200 Brits and Indian allies did -- defeated the enemy and chased them back to Canada.

That was followed by brilliant and strategic victories at Baton Rouge, Mobile Bay, the Bahamas and the Mother of all Battles at Pensacola where 1400 Mexicans, Cubans, Spanish and Puerto Rican soldiers defeated the largest British fortress on the Gulf of Mexico. General Bernardo Galvez took 45 ships with men to Yorktown where he placed them under the command of General George Washington.

In New Mexico 4000 Mexican Americans volunteered for Civil War Union forces. They were led by Colonel Miguel Pino. Texas Mexican Americans formed 12 companies of Union cavalry.

In California, state Senator Romualdo Pacheco was appointed by Governor Leland Stanford Brigadier General Commander of the Native American Cavalry making him the highest ranking Hispanic army officer of the Civil War outranked only by Admiral David Farragut, son of a Spanish admiral of the Revolutionary War.
 
These men lived, fought and died for the United States. That was to be expected, they were Americans.

Not to be expected was a great battle in which many Mexicans fought and died a thousand-plus miles south of Texas in a town called Puebla (Poo-eh-blah) that affected the Civil War.

In 1861 Lincoln’s army was fought to a draw by Southern forces that won 15 battles, the Union won 14, six were inconclusive and the war continued for four more years. In 1862 Union forces won 30 battles, the Confederacy won 42 and 20 were inconclusive. It was not a good year. But it was for Lincoln’s war, Lincoln gained much in Mexico in 1862.

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http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/immigration/332139-mexicans-died-lincoln-won-the-civil-war

[Cripplecreek]

During the American revolution the Spanish held the Fort at Niles Michigan for a short while.

Its known as the city of 4 flags because the French built it, the British took it, the Indians took it (they didn't have a flag) and we finally gained control of it after the revolution.

[catfish1957]

Sadly, a half to 3/4 of those under 30 would believe this if they read it.

[MOD8]

Moved to General

[Cripplecreek]

Sadly, a half to 3/4 of those under 30 would believe this if they read it.

I just love me some history. One of my favorite statues in Detroit is the Alpheus Starkey Williams statue. The horse was called "Plug Ugly". As a general Williams was nothing special and managed to get his butt kicked by Stonewall Jackson 3 times. His division come into possession of the Confederate "lost dispatch," Special Order 191 which helped McClellan defeat Lee at Antietam. Williams faced Jackson one more time at Antietam and took 25% casualties and was forced to withdraw.

One interesting story is that a shell detonated under Williams and Plug Ugly blowing both of them into the air but miraculously leaving both of them with only minor injuries.

[TomSea]

@MOD8  or whichever Mod is applicable, this would fit ideally in the history/archaeology area.