The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-02-16
The Threatened Iarasion Of England ia
lSO3y4-'5.

The alarm which the Government of Great
Britain seems to have taken, and to have dis
seminated widely through the country, re-
calls forcibly the events Of the period indicated
at the head of this article. That period was
one of the most memorable the world ever saw
The treaty of Amiens had just been broken on
and England. all powerful at sea, had thrown
dow the gauntlet to France, whose power -
equally great on land. To all appearances, 1t
was impossible that the latter could inlet
any injury upon the former, separated fromher
as she was, by an element on which her navy
rode in triumph, having swept all opposition
fro,s its bosom. In this condition of affairs,
the active mind of the first Consul prompted
him TO devise some means of carrying the
war into the heart of England, and planting
the banner of France upon the tower Of Lon
don. He Immediately ordered immense camps
to be constructed at several points on the coast.
Al that day, more than at present, the
difficulty of transporting 10000 men, even
for short distance at sea, was SO great, that
had the distance been greater. the strong prac-
teal mind of Napoleon would never have con-
ceived the idea. 1t had been a very serious
matter to carry even 10000 to Egypt, and
had England been as far off as Egypt, the plan
would not have been entertained. But the
proximity other shores seemed TO invite the ex-
pertinent. There was no necessity for the ships
of the line to carry an. expedition over so mar.
row tract of SEQ.
4 Small vessels were not only sufficient, for
the purpose, but were even better than those OF
q greater bulk. 1t had been ascertained that
there were frequent Gains ofseveral days du-
ration in the channel, and the fotlla, made to
go with oars and sails, were expected to take
advantage of this, TO work out ofthe harbors,
and throw the troops upon the coast OF Eng
land. Large fat-bottomed boats, with two
masts, carving four &c Founders, manned by
IS seamen, and numbering 500 in all, were des-
tined to transport 100 soldiers each. There
was second species of gun-boat destined to
carry infantry and artillery, which was armed
with only one gun. They carried the guns,
the horses, the ammunition and all the maieri-
ell Of the army, were 500 in number, and were
constructed in such way, that the soldiers
could land, and harness their artillery, ready
for action, in the space of three or four min
utes. For the comfort of the soldier, and the
keeping of the horses of the expedition, every
thing was provided with the most minute care.
There was yet third description of vessel,
larger than either of the other. This was
long, narrow boat, capable ofcarrying 60 men,
and besides sails, provided with 60 oars each.
These several species of boats carried, in ell,
between and 1000 guns Of heavy calibre.
1t was estimated that these boats would car
ny 100000 men, while it was expected that the
squadrons at Brest and in the Texel would
carry thirty or forty thousand more. This
enormous army was to land with 400 pieces of
cannon, and march directly for London
The port of Boulogne was indicated as the best
point of departure, but as Yeti was not con-
sidered large enough to accommodate such
an immense hotilla. The First Consul al
lowed no obstacle to stand between him and
the attainment Of his wishes. He ordered the
10000 men with which he designed to invade
England, to dig the basin from which they
were TO depart, and the work was done as ifby
magic. Work shops, building yards, maya
Zines, barracks, bake-houses, hospitals, every
thing necessary for the preservation of large
stores ofevery kind, for the reception of sea.
men, healthy, or sick, for feeding, clothing and
arming them-in one word, all that goes to the
constitution of all immense maritime establish
ment-spSung up, as it were, in a night. Yet
this was but small part of what was done ut
-
ny TO create magazines and hospitals, adequate
to the wants Of 10000 soldiers. All the
houses that it was possible to hire, were en-
gagged for offices, warehouses, hospitals, &c.
The farm houses in the neighborhood were
employed for the same purpose, and even these
proving insufficient, cottages were built for
ship wrighis, and sheds, for the horses, of
boards. Boulogne could only contain, after
all, about 1900 vessels, and as the expedition
was TO consist ofdoubie that number, the First
Consul selected two other points. One of
these was Montreuil, about five leagues from
Boulougne, on one side. aud Ambieteuse,
about the same distance on the other. Camps
were formed around all these stations, that of
Boulogne being the centre, and being held by
the corps of General Soult, while Gen. New
commanded the left, at Montreui, and General
LanHes the right, at Ambietense- The forces
in Holland, commanded by General Davout,
were destined to cooperate with those already
named.
These immense preparations were com.
mcnced in August, 1903, and were continued
tor nearly two years. During all that time the
exercises OF the troops, in embarking and dis
embarking, were so incessant, that there never
was a day when $50 or 200 boats were not
employed in this way. Every thing having
been, as he thought, prepared, Napoleon de-
termined to make the grand attempt in August.
1904, but at that time he found that he had
been mistaken, and that all would not be ready
before September, he determined to pass the
interval in giving grand entertainment, such
as had not been seen since the days of the