Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/76

 CHAPTER V.

T the beginning of the year 1865, the French commander had abundantly performed the task which the Emperor of Mexico (since his landing, May 29, 1864) had entrusted to his zeal and activity. The country was pacified, and peace was now reappearing. The national army had been reorganised on the basis of the schemes which each of our military chiefs, following his own special views, had elaborated and proposed. The whole territory had been divided into nine military departments, each with its constituted and regular staff. All the confirmatory documents were placed in the imperial hands. Besides, a list of the political and administrative employés, conscientiously framed by our heads of columns, permitted an effective control to be exercised over all the individuals who were called on to take a part in the various branches of the services. On January 26, the emperor signed the military code of laws, and two months after, now that things had been set in train by the French officers, he released our head-quarters staff from its duties by a letter couched in the following cordial terms:—

Mexico, March 26, 1865.

My dear marshal,—On July 7 of last year, I entrusted to your distinguished and able management the task of