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Horrible title, I know.

After the end of the Civil War, the US send a large number of troops to the Rio Grande to make clear that a continued French intervention wouldn't be tolerated. Since the war didn't go too well for them anyway, the French decided to withdraw from Mexico the following year. What would have happened if the French wouldn't withdraw?

Personally I think that any sizable US force (wikipedia speaks of 50.000 men led by general Sheridan) would quickly force the French on the defensive, yet the French force (about 30.000 men of varying quality) would be too big to force its retreat without a significant commitment. In the meanwhile the sizable French navy (300+ modern ships spread around the world) would probably start harassing American ships. I think the war would come down to a struggle to outlast the other. There is no way that France can ship enough men across the ocean to defeat the US in a landwar, but they can try to outlast the American willto fight a war shortly after the Civil War. I presume the Americans would quickly pick up on these efforts and would try to gain a quick victory.

Thoughts?
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