He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 350

(350) 1805, The Royal Navy Appears Off the Coast of New York

February 2nd, 1805, New York was very peaceful.

Until a ship appeared.

-Beeeep!

In the early 19th century, New York was the largest port in the New World.

Hundreds of ships, large and small, passed through every day.

Most were fishing boats, but there were also a significant number of merchant ships traveling within the New World, and the tariffs generated from this trade were responsible for the federal government’s tax revenue.

But the most important were the fewer ships: the transatlantic trading vessels.

Most of the goods the United States exported—cotton and agricultural products—went to England.

Because 80 percent of the cotton and half of the agricultural products were consumed in England.

In return, England had mainly been selling slaves.

But now that the supply of slaves had stopped, it was bound to cause a stir.

It had been a month since the slave trade was officially banned.

That’s why David Gelston, the customs director of the Port of New York, was still relaxed.

Gelston looked at the ship visible on the distant horizon through his telescope and turned to the deputy customs director.

“I think I see an unauthorized ship over there, Mr. Thompson.”

“I’ll have to go out and collect the tariffs, Mr. Gelston.”

“You know, especially if it’s a foreign ship, we have to charge double the tariff. Lately, British ships in particular are a matter of concern in New York.”

The deputy customs director, Jonathan Thompson, shrugged and walked out of customs.

“Of course, Mr. Gelston.”

In fact, although they were called customs director and deputy customs director, the United States was not yet a bureaucratic society.

They were all powerful merchants, and they volunteered for management positions in customs for the sake of their interests.

Later, in the original history, the person who served as customs director embezzled as much as $1.2 million.

That’s roughly equivalent to about $40 million in modern prices.

Conversely, the reason Thompson was willingly going out for [enforcement] now was to receive kickbacks.

Thompson’s customs patrol boat crossed New York Harbor towards the horizon.

It was barely visible at the edge, so it was hard to see what kind of ship it was.

“Send a signal to stop! What country’s ship is it?”

“It’s the Union Jack [British flag]. It’s a British ship.”

“It’s quite large. Could it be a ship trying to resume the suspended slave trade?”

The captain of the customs patrol boat, Samuel Swartwout, tilted his head.

“Oh, something’s strange, Mr. Thompson.”

Around that time, Thompson also felt a strange sensation.

Because the size of the ship that was getting closer and closer was much larger than expected.

Looking at the ship that was getting bigger and bigger, Thompson opened his mouth wide and asked.

“Samuel, what the hell is that?”

“It’s a big ship, Mr. Thompson.”

“I know that, but that ship—I’m sure I’ve heard of it somewhere.”

In an instant, Thompson’s eyes widened.

“Good heavens, a ship of the line! It’s a ship of the line!”

Ship of the line.

It was a time when steamships had just begun to be developed in New France.

Wooden ships roamed the seas, and at the pinnacle of that technology was the ship of the line, a three-decked warship with cannons.

The number of ships of the line a country possessed symbolized its national power.

The United States didn’t have a single ship of the line.

But suddenly, a ship of the line appeared off the coast of New York Harbor.

Deputy Customs Director Thompson hurriedly ordered his subordinates.

“Emergency! A ship of the line has come to the coast of New York! Call the patrol boats right away!”

“Ah, it’s better not to call them.”

“What nonsense are you talking about! That’s a warship!”

Swartwout, who would later become the customs director in the original history and cause an embezzlement incident, shook his head with an astonished look.

“I don’t think we can stop it with patrol boats.”

There was only one ship of the line.

But there were two frigates, and three sloops smaller than that.

If it were Europe, even the Danish fleet could be easily defeated, but it was different in the New World.

It was a powerful naval force that the United States had only seen during the Revolutionary War.

Thompson’s scream was proof of that.

“Fucking Britain! Damn Crazy George! Good God, are they trying to start another war now?”

The ship of the line, Royal Oak, silently cut through the sea and revealed its complete form.

-Shooaa!

The Halifax Fleet of British Canada appeared in front of New York Harbor.

***

In the 19th century, the Royal Navy of the so-called British Empire was actually more adept at displays of force than direct combat.

-Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

In front of New York Harbor, with all the merchant ships stopped inside the harbor, only the sound of the ship of the line moving was loud.

Of course, there were many admirals who won direct battles, such as Nelson and Sidney.

But there were more cases of suppressing the opponent with threats rather than combat.

New York Harbor, which generated more than $13 million in tariff revenue annually, had been shut down.

This alone would cause the U.S. federal government to lose 75 percent of its finances.

It was a serious situation.

So serious that the new President Hamilton called the viceroy of a foreign country to come to New York.

“As you can see, the British fleet is threatening us, Viceroy of New France.”

President Hamilton, an action-oriented man, turned to Eugene and said.

The sight of the ship of the line moving in the distance was certainly threatening.

If the British fleet, centered on the ship of the line, entered New York Harbor, it would be difficult for the U.S. naval power to stop it.

But the real problem was different.

If the other side made a show of force and this side responded with force, it would lead to war.

Eugene looked at the harbor with a nonchalant attitude and replied.

“That’s not a fleet. It’s a frigate squadron.”

“It’s the same thing. We don’t have a single ship of the line in the United States.”

“Was it eight frigates, fourteen sloops, and brigs?”

Hamilton shrugged with a troubled look.

“You know better than I do. How about you, as a participant in the Battle of Alexandria, evaluate it? Can we drive out the British Navy?”

In fact, the U.S. Navy fights surprisingly well.

Originally, even when the War of 1812 broke out in the original history, it temporarily drove out the British fleet.

Of course, there was also the fact that Britain could not concentrate its forces because of France.

The British fleet currently concentrated in Europe is close to 120 ships, but the fact that there is only one in North America is proof of that.

Of course, if you broaden your view to the entire New World, there is another place where the British fleet is located.

The Caribbean Fleet is cruising in Bermuda, Jamaica, and the West Indies.

Eugene weighed these power situations in his head and shrugged.

“It’s possible if you’re willing to risk war. But if you want to push them back with threats, it’s impossible.”

“Why? Is it because the British fleet is so powerful?”

“No. They are willing to die, but the U.S. Navy doesn’t have that much combat experience yet.”

Hamilton swallowed hard and asked.

“Then, won’t the French fleet help us? I want to avoid war.”

But if he did that, it would be obvious that France would be fighting England.

Eugene smiled as he glanced at Hamilton, who was talking utter nonsense.

After all, Hamilton didn’t have many cards to offer Eugene.

That’s why he was driven to this situation.

“Remember that the bill is still outstanding, Mr. President.”

“Just call me Mr. President. So?”

“If our New French Navy moves, it means breaking the Treaty of Amiens [a peace treaty signed in 1802]. With me holding the bill, can you afford to incur a huge debt again?”

Hamilton frowned and stared at Eugene before replying.

“Then, conversely, I can’t take no action when the capital is threatened.”

It was a resolute attitude, but it was not a good attitude as a diplomat.

Of course, Hamilton had never built a career in diplomacy.

Eugene stroked his chin for a moment and nodded.

“All right. Let’s mobilize the fleet. Please issue a permit to move through the territorial waters.”

“Thank you. Then what will you charge?”

“Well.”

Suddenly, Eugene smiled.

“I’ll think about that after I drive out the enemy fleet.”

It was somehow unsettling, but Hamilton nodded and said.

“I will. If it’s something that can be done with the power of the president, I’ll do anything.”

If Hamilton had known Eugene, it was a promise he would never have made.

***

Sometimes, war can break out just by increasing the tension.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

Cannons fire in New York Harbor.

Of course, this shelling is not aimed at New York Harbor.

It’s a cannonball that the British Navy is firing into the open sea out of boredom.

But it’s quite fun to watch the emergency being called in New York Harbor every time they hear the sound.

Suddenly, the captain of the ship of the line Royal Oak, Philip Broke, asked Fleet Admiral Herbert Sawyer.

“This, war won’t break out, will it, Admiral?”

“It’s just a show of force. We’re sending a warning to those who dared to touch our traders.”

“Oh, the New Worlders used to burn tea in riots. Now they’re burning cotton ships.”

Then Sawyer snorted.

“At best, they’re only powerful on land. At sea, they don’t have the power to stand up to our Royal Navy. So, they’re holed up like mice.”

Furthermore, when there was enough intimidation, British Ambassador to the United States, Merry, would return from Canada.

Negotiations would proceed again in a completely overwhelming situation.

It was a kind of sweet revenge for the British who had been pushed out of the New World in the past.

Admiral Sawyer, who had experienced defeat in the American Revolutionary War, twisted his lips and was about to laugh.

-Wheee!

Far away, ships appeared on the southern horizon.

“What? Are they thinking of confronting us?”

“Didn’t the Americans once fight our Great Britain? I guess they remembered that time.”

“Heh, even then, the navy was entirely dependent on France. Do you think the navy is something that can be easily fostered? It’s different from the army.”

Admiral Sawyer frowned and grabbed his telescope, replying to Captain Broke.

“If you dare to fight our British fleet at sea, you must have at least the French fleet….”

That’s when it happened.

-Bang!

The Royal Oak was hit by shelling, and the ship staggered.

Sawyer was surprised by the much longer range than expected, and the sailors were in a panic.

The Stars and Stripes fluttering in the wind could be seen beyond the horizon.

The number was 10 in total, at least frigate class.

Admiral Sawyer’s eyes widened.

“Those crazy bastards, dare to attack us?”

“They brought 10 frigates. This is no ordinary matter. We must retreat first!”

“How dare the Yankees challenge our British Empire with the navy!”

Sawyer shouted and waved his baton.

“Counterattack, counterattack!”

But the shelling did not stop.

-Swoosh, bang!

The 10 frigates pushed in very familiarly and fired from all directions.

There were races that didn’t seem to be Americans, but there was no time to confirm that.

Because the hull was starting to tilt.

“What!”

“We were hit on the side. Half-destroyed, half-destroyed!”

“How is such firing possible with cannon fire!”

Clearly, in Admiral Sawyer’s common sense, cannonballs were weapons that broke with impact.

But the cannonballs of the ‘American fleet’ were strangely exploding the moment they hit.

It was reminiscent of the [explosive shells] that the French army had fired for testing in Europe.

But by the time he realized it, the ship was sinking.

“This is impossible! Raise the white flag first!”

But before Admiral Sawyer’s ship could raise the white flag, the frigate was already firing a barrage at the entire fleet.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

In 1805, the Royal Navy appeared and disappeared off the coast of New York.

After being attacked by a fleet flying an unidentified Stars and Stripes.

Eugene was the only one who knew that the fleet had departed from Miami.