That is true.. In fact that Britain wanted the North to lose, but they choose wisely to but out.
Britian and France sided with the Southerners because they needed the cotton for their textile mills.
As the war progressed and Lincoln’s Proclaimation...they placed their chips on the North.
But the French....took over Mexico while the United States was embroiled in the Civil War.
http://latin-american-customs-holidays.suite101.com/article.cfm/cinco_de_mayo
After the Civil War we sent Union troops to help the Mexicians to oust Maximilian.
Ohhhh....we had a interferring moment.