The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-08-05
TO RESCUE NAPOLEON
A Bold Plan That Was Matured
, In This Country.
1T WAS A DARING SCHEME.

IT WAS A DARING SCHEME.
The Enterprise Was Known to the Ex-
iIs Of St. Helena, but Just as the
Preparations Were About Complete
the Fallen Emperor Died.
Even in the last phase our coun-
try sustained a certain association
with the captive Of st. Helena, says a
writer in the Magazine Of History.
The English felt that any danger Of
rescue would originate 0bon the west
ern shore Of the Atlantic.
Admiral Cockburn occupied the
neighboring island Of Ascension, avow-
eddy to prevent it falling into the hands
Of Yankee raiders. The feeling in the
United States against England was at
that time quite bitter. Napoleon's
landing at st. Helena followed the bat
tie Of New Orleans only about
months, and the downfall Of the
lutionary monarch aroused deep sym
pathy throughout the country.
But the actual grounds for believing
~ tAC CAAStSASC u ACSNuS p"ANJ oAN
rescue plans in the United States rest
upon the movements Of General Lalle-
mand and his associates. This officers
military record, from the revolutionary
days to Waterloo, had been distin-
guished by notable feats Of daring.
His devotion to the emperor was
loyal and persistent; he had followed
him until his embarkation from the
shores Of France and had tried in vain
to accompany him to st. Helena. He
was condemned to death by the reac-
tionary tribunals of 1916, but had sue
ceeded in escaping and joining his
brother at Philadelphia.
At this time our country was literal
~ swarming with French military ref
ugees, many Of whom, like Lalemand,
We're under capital sentence for their
conduct toward the Bourbons during
the hundred days.
The Lallemands proceeded ostensibly
to unite a number Of these veterans
into a military colony which they
called the Field of Asylum.
Our government granted them 1OO,-
900 acres on the banks Of the Tombig-
bee, but as their own project required
their establishment nea the sea they
sold the lands and with the proceeds
settled on the Trinity river, in Texas
about fifteen miles from it's mouth.
The second in command was Baron
Rigaud, whose kindly feelings toward
the ancient regime had been illustrated
by publicly stamping the cross Of St
Louis under his feet. Needless to say
he was also under sentence of death by
Louis XVIII.'s court martial.
But the best known Of all this de
voted band was the famous pirate La
ftte, who had begun life as a Dor
deaux blacksmith, had killed his low,
rival in a duel, had become a noted
corsair, the terror Of the Antilleal
seas, had been the effective ally o,
General Jackson in repulsing the Brit
ish at New Orleans and at the time O
the French settlement Of old guards
men in his vicinity was established a
Galveston.
This narrative does not require a de
tailed statement Of the affairs Of tn,
400 ~grenadiers, of the attacks Of tn,
MeX1cans on their camp, of their fina
removal to New Orleans.
All the circumstances indicate that i
was not the intention Of the Lalle
mands to found an agricultural colony
but to unite about 1000 old soldier
for the deliverance Of the great pris
oner.
The location Of their camp was mos
favorable for the scheme, being nea
the sea in an unsettled country wher
their movements would not be watche,
and, above all, being in proximity t
Lafitte, who commanded the require,
ships, Besides these desirable vessels
one, a model of swiftness, was cor
structed at Charleston and equippe
for its purpose in the most complet
manner
An intrepid captain named Boissiert
who navigated for pleasure, had az
centel its command, and this was til
ship destined to carry away NaDoleo.
Bonaparte, while Laitte would Ian
the guardsmen and engage the after
ton Of the English cruisers.
The enterprise was known to tn
captives, as shown by Bertrand's di.
closures, But when the preparation
were about complete the news arrive
of the emperor's death.
One on Ma.
T1,1,, MI