Pax Mexicana: Nappy in Texas

The escape of Napoleon in January of 1819 is considered one of the watershed moments in world history. At the time, sympathy for Napoleon was widespread. The once great Emperor of France, now locked away to the cold and barren isle of Saint Helena, was reported to love gardening and softened the hearts of the British people. Many politicians supported Napoleon, his largest sympathizer being Thomas Cochrane. Although Cochrane had once been a politician in the British House of Commons, he now held the position of Vice Admiral of the Chilean Navy. Cochrane, who supported freeing the former Emperor and using him to liberate South America, was busy fighting a war and couldn't risk the manpower and was forced to bury his plans. That was until he was contacted in mid December by 400 Le Grande Armee veterans who had been living in Texas. They offered their services to the Chilean Army in return for a vessel with good sailors to help them save Napoleon.

So in the dead of night, epitomized by Lord Byron's poem, "The Liberation at Longwood", the Chilean Tall Ship stole away from its port in the south of Patagonia. When they reached Saint Helena they saw no sign of a British patrol. The entire liberation took less then 3 hours and no was killed. Napoleon was stolen away to Chile, who then boarded several ships going towards Puerto de San Benito.
 
Given Britain's naval dominance, it would be a very good idea for Napoleon to stick to land, lest the British catch him at sea somewhere else.
 
The same napoleon who lost haiti by trying to reimpose slavery there?

From the link:

May 4, 1799

“But General, the slaves are an inferior race! Surely you can see that their enslavement is as beneficial to themselves as to us?” Jefferson stood before the General, who had taken up residence in the governor’s mansion in Williamsburg during the campaign.

Bonaparte shrugged. “If you make a man a slave, you take half his work away. Surely you, with your knowledge of the Greeks, know that. How can we, a nation of free men, keep a people in bondage?” Bonaparte continued writing orders while he listened to Jefferson’s pleas.

“But more importantly, the South is a hotbed of traitors to the Republic. They supported George III, and now they oppose the January Constitution. The slaves will be slaves until 1820, and all children born after 1801 shall be free. Moreover, any slaves who were owned by loyalists are to be given land out west; let them soak up bullets in Ohio from the Indians.”

Jefferson stared. “You’re using them, and this proclamation of emancipation.”

As he smoked a cigar, Napoleon nodded. “I like that. The Emancipation Proclamation. But in any case, you’re wrong. Again, I might add. It solves the loyalist problem down south, by weakening enemies of the regime. It also opens up markets in Santo Domingo. We can now control the commerce of that island without the cost of conquering it. Genius, isn’t it?”

”But yes, it will solidify the Consulate’s power.”
 
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