The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-06-03
TO RESCUE NAPOLEON
A Bold Plan That Was Matufed
In This Country.
IT WAS A DARING SCHEME
Tho Enterprise Was Known to the Es-
lie of St. Helena, but Just as the
Preparations Were About Complete
the Fallen Emperor Died.

lie of ST. Helena, but Just as the
the Fallen Emperor Died.
Even in the last phase" our eoun-
try sustained a certain association
with the captive of st. Helena, says II
writer In the Magazine of History.
The English felt that any danger Of
rescue would originate upon the west
ern shore of the Atlantic
Admiral Cockburn occupied the
ncighborlng island of Ascension, ayow
eddy to prevent 1t falling into the hands
of Yankee raiders. The feeling In the
United States against England was ut
that time quite bitter Napoeon's
landing at st. Helena followed the bat
tie of New Orleans only about seven
months, and the downfall of the revo-
lutlonary monarch aroused deep sym
pathy throughout the country.
But the actual grounds for believing
in the existence of Il rescue party and
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 dlstin-
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
10 accompany him 10 st. Helena. He
was condemned 10 death by the reac-
tlonary 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 Lallemand,
were under capital sentence for their
conduct toward the Bourbons during
the hundred days.
The Eallemands proceeded ostensibly
TO unite a number of these veterans
into Il military colony which they
called the Field of Asylum.
Our government granted them 100,-
900 acres on the banks of the Tombig-
bee. but as their own project required
their establishment near the sea they
sold the lands and with the proceeds
settled ON the Trinity river, In Texas
about fifteen miles from its 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 NNIII.'s court martial
But the best known OF all this de-
iitte, who had begun life MS Bor-
deaux blacksmith, had killed his love
rival In duel, had become noted
corsair. the terror of the Antillean
seas, had been the effective ally of
General Jackson in repulsing the Brit
ish at New Orleans and at the time of
the French settlement of old guards
men In his vicinity was established at
Galveston.
This narrative does not require II de-
tailed statement of the affairs of the
400 grenadiers, of the attacks of the
Mexicans on their camp, of their final
removal to New Orleans.
All the circumstances indicate that 1t
was not the intention of the Lalle.
mands to found an agricultural colony.
but TO unite about 1000 old soldiers
for the deliyerance of the great prs.
oner
The location of their camp was most
favorable for the scheme. being near
the sea In an unsettled country where
their movements would not be watched
and. above all, being in proximity to
Laiitte. who commanded the required
ships. Besides these desirable vessels.
one model of swiftness. was con.
structed nj Charleston and equipped
FOR its purpose In the most complete
manner
An intrepid captain named Boissierc.
who nayigated for pleasure. had nc.
copied It's command, and this was the
snip destined TO carry away Napoleon
Bonaparte, while LATTE would land
the gnardsmen and engage the atten.
ton of the English cruisers.
The enterprise was known TO the
eaptives. as shown by Bertrand's dis
closures. But when the preparations
We're about complete the news arrived
of the emperor's death.