John W. Betterley Diary

Collection

Identifier: MSS-4299

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Latin America Collection

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Scope and Contents

This diary by John W. Betterley, a US Marine serving on board the USS Michigan, describes the United States' invasion of the port and city of Veracruz, Mexico, in 1914 amid US President Woodrow Wilson's opposition to Mexican general Victoriano Huerta's regime during the ongoing Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). The diary's initial pages contain verse and song lyrics. The account of the invasion begins on April 21, 1914, as Betterly relates how the Michigan sailed out of Philadelphia on April 15 to the port of Veracruz. He describes how his ship arrived at Veracruz on April 22 as wounded and dead men were being brought aboard neighboring US ships and relates events on the ground as US forces entered the city. Betterley's account then tells of life in a Marine camp and outpost on land in late April and his return on May 1 to the ship in Veracruz harbor, where he stays until the diary ends on June 12. The final pages are mostly blank but contain some notes and a sketch, along with an address for Master James Betterley, 35 Myrtle Ave., Albany, N.Y., dated July 30, 1914. A note on the front inside cover bears the date March 29, 1914. The front and back covers contain sketches of animals and people's faces.

Dates

Creation: 1914

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections. For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

The United States' 1914 occupation of Veracruz, Mexico, took place amid the ongoing Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). The invasion was launched after the "Tampico Affair" of April 9, 1914, when nine unarmed US sailors were arrested in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, while loading their boat with fuel in an area where (unknown to them) they were forbidden to land. At the time, the president of Mexico was General Victoriano Huerta, who had risen to authority in 1913 after a coup; US President Woodrow Wilson did not recognize Huerta's regime. Mexican authorities apologized for the incident, but relations between the two countries deteriorated. Huerta did not provide the formal salute to the US flag that Wilson demanded. When Wilson's deadline for the salute had passed, he sent US Navy ships to occupy the port of Veracruz. The invasion of the city of Veracruz began on April 21, 1914, and intensified on April 22. Mexican troops resisted. Overall, nineteen US servicemen and at least two hundred Mexicans, mostly civilians, died as a result of the fighting, with many more wounded on both sides (see https://www.historynet.com/with-no-thought-of-aggression.htm). The United States occupied the city until November 23, 1914, when the last US forces withdrew. The city then was under the control of Venustiano Carranza and his Constutionalist Party, who had US support.

Extent

0.6 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This diary by John W. Betterley, a US Marine serving on board the USS Michigan, describes the United States' invasion and occupation of Veracruz, Mexico, in 1914.