Champ dAsile

[bigscoop]

Champ d'Asile

Champ d’Asile
(Condensed Version)
First Published On 10/19/2011
By
Brad Andrews

Perhaps the real answer to the Beale mystery is a lot more complicated then we previously thought? Hunting parties, privateers, a missing confederate treasury, all of these possibilities actually provide relatively simple solutions to this 125 year old mystery (from the date the Beale Papers were published). But there is another very good possibility that very few people are aware of, and that possibility is Champ d’Asile, which was also located in Texas along the banks of the Trinity River. When we first examine this possibility it doesn’t appear that there was really that much going there, just three hundred settlers lead by an exiled General from the Bonaparte campaigns. But when we look deeper we start finding a lot of evidence of possible United States involvement with the expedition. And when we look even deeper we find missing money, a lot of money, and even signs of possible American financing. So who were these settlers and what were they really doing in the disputed territory?

This expedition was lead by a man named, General Charles Lallemand, and if the name sounds familiar to you history buffs it’s because this was the very same French general who was at Bonaparte’s side during his surrender. Obviously Lallemand wasn’t your typical leader of an expedition, in fact, here was a man who only a few years before walked hand in hand with one of the most powerful military figures on the planet. Much the same thing could be said of Lallemand’s second in command at Camp d’Asile, Baron Antoine Rigaud. These two men also arrived in this country under mysterious circumstances, Lallemand mysteriously managing to escape his captors and Rigaud was set free by his captors only to face charges of treason after his release. But it’s what took place after these two mysterious escapes that’s really questionable, and actually rather suspect, (this is also where you really have to start paying attention to the details and time frames.)

Lallemand arrived in Boston aboard the ship Triton in April, 1817. Shortly after, in Philadelphia, he became president of the French Emigrant Association, where he swiftly gained a grant of four townships in what is now Alabama for a Vine and Olive Colony. Soon afterwards these grants were sold to finance a new colony in Texas. On December 17, 1817, 150 would-be-settlers sailed from Philadelphia for Galveston Texas, where they arrived on January 14, 1817. However, Lallemand and his brother went directly to New Orleans arriving there on February 2, 1818, where they gathered new recruits and on March 10 left for Galveston with 120 volunteers. Once there they sailed up the Trinty River to Atascosito (present day Liberty, Texas) where they built two small forts. This new settlement was called Champ d’Asile, (Field of Asylum).

Did you notice anything unusual about the above information? I’m sure some of you did but for those of you who missed it I’ll point it out to you, and here it is: Lallemand arrives in Boston, relocates to Philadelphia and becomes president of the French Emigrant Association, swiftly obtains grants for four townships in Alabama for a Vine and Olive Colony, he immediately sells these grants, raises 150 settlers to start a new colony in Texas, goes to New Orleans to recruit another 120 volunteers, and finally arrives in Texas around the end of March, 1817. Wow! What a busy man! How in the world did he accomplish all of this in “exactly” one year from the date of his arrival into this country? Why did Lallemand go to New Orleans to get another 120 recruits after his original party of 150 had already left Philadelphia And why does this sequence, 1164, 1496, 1817, show up in C1? Is this possibly in reference to a date? In 1817 what Government offices were also in Philadelphia? Trust me, this is all leading somewhere. But first, let’s take a look at Antoine Rigaud.

We already know when and how Rigaud arrived in the United States, and supposedly why, but you’re simply going to love this next bit of information. With a group of French exiles and adventurers, he led a shipload of men and supplies to Texas in early 1818. Under the leadership of Gen. Charles Lallemand they moved up the Trinity River and established the military colony of Champ d'Asile. Wait a minute, Lallemand had made a public statement that while Champ d’Asile would have armed personal for protection, it was otherwise going to concentrate on agriculture. Now suddenly we see, “military colony”. And surely Lallemand was aware that Texas wasn’t exactly fantastic agriculture country. Boston to Phiadelphia to New Orleans, then directly into the heart of the disputed territory to establish a military colony. Not only had Lallemand managed to achieve all this in record, and perhaps precise time, but surely something like this would have cost a boatload of money to arrange, activate, and hopefully maintain. It’s obvious that he had fantastic contacts in the United States, and if I’m not mistaken, wasn’t Philadelphia also the home of the U.S. Mint? And wasn’t Beale’s party also described as being adventurers? Stick with me now because I’m just about to get to the really good stuff. But first, sounds to me like we need to take a look at what was going on in Texas during this period.

Texas, what in the world was really going on in Texas during this period? Well, for one thing Jean Laffite had relocated his base of operations for his privateering fleet and smuggling empire to Galveston Island from New Orleans. In fact, and rather ironic, he had long aspired to create settlements for French exiles up the Trinity River, just as Lallemand was doing. So here we have a French privateer and his powerful fleet of ships in Galveston Bay and suddenly an influential exiled French general shows up on the scene and establishes a military colony in the mainland along the Trinity River. And all of this is taking place in the disputed territory, that area of land whose exact boundary was at the center of a dispute between the United States and Spain. For some strange reason the Spanish were really ticked off by this French presence, or encroachment, whereas the United States didn’t really seem to care all that much. Wonder why the United states didn’t seem to care? Well, for one thing Laffite wasn’t sacking U.S. commerce in the Gulf of Mexico, he was sacking Spanish commerce in the Gulf of Mexico. Yep, this is also the same Jean Laffite that helped the United States repel the failed British invasion of New Orleans only a couple of years before. Oh, and did I happen to mention that it was Laffite’s ships that carried Lallemand and Rigaud to Texas? And did I also forget to mention that Jean Laffite and his brother, Pierre, spent a great deal of time in Philadelphia? In his memoirs Laffite states that he had some of his documents sent to Philadelphia as he was preparing to leave Galveston for good in 1822. Are you seeing where this is all possibly going yet? Trust me, because if you guessed right, it is indeed going there.

So it appears that during the period in question there was a lot going on in Texas, and it also appears that there was a great deal of money in the region as well. We know Laffite had large sums of money at Galveston Island and it would have been a must that Lallemand would have had to maintain a healthy bank roll at Champ d’Asile. And we also know that this French presence was putting a great deal of pressure on Spain, a fading world empire that was losing most of it’s possessions to uprisings and rebellions, and also a fading world empire that was being financially crippled in such a way that it could hardly do anything to stop the bleeding. In fact, Spain was doing all it could to try to save Mexico, Texas, and Florida, it's only three remaining North America possessions. The Mexicans had been fighting for their independence for quite some time and it was certain they would continue the fight. Now the French were encroaching in the disputed territory and causing problems there. Lucky for the Spanish that except for those pesky Indians, Florida was still clearly theirs and in an unchallenged state, right? Wrong! General Andrew Jackson was already in Florida and applying the pressure there. Hmmmm,……now for some other interesting facts that you may not be aware of.

At the time of Jackson’s invasion of Florida the United States Secretary of State, John Adams, was already discussing terms of a possible peace treaty with Spain. While Jackson’s invasion was considered by many to be untimely, President Monroe publicly supported Jackson’s decision, citing Spain’s lack of control over the region as having presented a condition that had allowed U.S. threats to be established there. And as for John Adams, well he knew Spain couldn’t afford to address the issue with reprisal so while he never publicly supported the invasion, he was aware that it would most likely serve the United States best interest in his treaty talks with Spain. So now let’s go back to Texas and take a closer look at what may have really been going on there.

Perhaps John Adam’s and President Monroe were playing this same invasion card in Texas? While this may sound a little crazy at first I don’t think you’ll find it quite so crazy a notion once hear why I think this may have been the case. You see, Jackson was already applying the pressure in Spanish occupied Florida and the U.S. would have certainly benefited from this same pressure being applied in the disputed territory of Texas. However, since he was already in peace talks with Spain at the time of Jackson’s invasion it would have certainly strained those peace talks to introduce a U.S. military presence in Texas. On the other hand, since the territory was in dispute there would be little the U.S. could do about a French presence there until the ownership of the land the French were on had been clearly defined. The United States was really after Florida and what a better way of getting it then by applying enough pressure on both fronts to force Spain to make the trade, and that’s exactly what happened. With the signing of the Adams Onis Treaty the United States got Florida and they gave up Texas. So all of the previous information begs the question, “did the United States secretly finance the French presence in Texas and station them there with the help of Jean Laffite?” If you think this sounds too far fetched you may think twice once you read the rest of this little piece.

The Adams Onis Treaty was signed in Washington on February 22nd, 1819. Lallemand and his colony withdrew from Champ d’Asile back to Galveston Island just a few months prior to the treaty’s signing, but this isn’t the best part. In August of 1818 George Graham arrived at Galveston Island and he remained there for about two weeks. History tells us that Graham was a banker and that he had been sent there by President Monroe to inspect the region, but a quick look into Graham’s credentials would give anyone fair reason to question the real purpose behind his trip to Galveston Island. When we do a quick study of George Graham’s background we find the following:

George Graham graduated from Columbia College in 1790 and practiced law in his native town. He represented his county in the Virginia General Assembly and raised and commanded the Fairfax Light Horse during the War of 1812. James Monroe appointed Graham chief clerk of the War Department in 1814, and he served as secretary of war ad interim from October 16, 1816, to December 9, 1817. He became known as a troubleshooter in the War Department. In 1815 he was appointed a member of a commission to treat with the British regarding the settlement of the War of 1812. Later he became a specialist in Indian problems. In 1818 he was commissioned a special agent and sent on a confidential mission to Texas to determine the status of the Napoleonic exiles who had attempted to establish the colony of Champ d’Asile on the Trinity River.

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see “Banker” appearing anywhere on the above resume. What I do see is a man who has had considerable experience in the War Department and I also see a man with considerable experience in treaty negotiations. And now this same man appears in Galveston Island to check on the status of the French exiles at Champ d’Asile just months before the treaty was signed and just weeks after these same Frenchmen withdrew from Champ d’Asile. “Banker” my rump! George Graham was interim Secretary of War from October 16, 1816 to December 9, 1817 and I’d be willing to bet boxes of doughnuts that he played a major role in Lallemand’s arrival in this country and also his armed excursion into the disputed territory. In his memoirs Laffite claims that Lallemand and Graham spent a great deal of time together. As a side note, written history tells us that Lallemand abandoned Champ d’Asile because the Mexican Governor had stationed 300 soldiers at San Marcos to guard against a possible attack from Champ d’Asile. But San Marcos was 200 miles away from Champ d’Asile and posing no immediate threat so why did Lallemand really abandon the settlement? While we may never know exactly what Lallemand and Graham discussed during Graham’s visit, it might very well have included money, and it may have been very big money.

You see, Lallemand’s retreat from the Trinty River would surely have been a Spanish demand that would had to be met as a condition of the treaty talks, call it a good faith gesture on the part of the United States. There’s no way Spain would have signed that treaty with this threat still in place, not a chance. So Lallemand is ordered to retreat in order to meet the Spanish terms. From here Graham has to go to Galveston Island to make arrangements to remove the French from the region, which most likely included the enlisting of Laffite’s ships once again. With this done Graham returns via New Orleans to make arrangements there as well. But what none of them counted on was the huge hurricane that struck Galveston Island just a couple of weeks after Graham’s departure. This hurricane virtually wiped out Laffite’s ships and commune, leaving it in tatters. So with no means of bringing the 300 settlers back many of them ended up walking the distance back to New Orleans. Lallemand did eventually make it back to New Orleans, but not with the colony’s money, as planned, because there was simply no way to bring it. Think this couldn’t have happened? Think again, because after the fall of Champ d’Asile Antoine Rigaud was critical of Lallemand because he had failed to distribute the funds to the survivors of Champ d’Asile. What funds, exactly, is Rigaud talking about?

In Laffite’s memoirs he states, “Between the months of November 1818 and December 1819 my commune had 476’000 put away.” So let’s do some math real quick to see what we can come up with. Lallemand had 300 settlers, give or take a few, so multiply 300 x $1000, which comes to $300’000. Now let’s toss in another $176’000 for the officers and general colony expenses. Sure, it’s creative math, but is this where the $476’000 at Laffite’s commune came from? Take a close look at the dates that Laffite offered us, especially the first date, "November, 1818” because this would have been just a few weeks after the hurricane, and just about a month or so after Lallemand’s retreat from Champ d’Asile. Did the two deposits represent the funds Rigaud was making reference of? Did Lallemand or Graham enturst Thomas Beale and his men to the task of transferring this money? In his letter to Morriss dated May 9, 1822, Beale writes, “….the game is worth the candle and we will play it to the end”. What game was Beale referring to? Was the candle, perhaps, a wax seal? Was the ten-year term in the Beale Papers also a requirement of the Adam’s Onis Treaty? One of the requirements of the treaty made the U.S. responsible for paying 5’000’000 in spoilage claims after the treaty was ratified, a condition that could have taken up to ten years to complete.

What I like about this possibility:

There are several things I like about this possibility. First, it would have required big money, and with Laffite also in the region and taking an active part in the whole affair then you can multiply that big money many times over. Second, the codes used in the ciphers suggest a military background and Galveston Island & Champ d’Asile were overrun with military backgrounds. Third, if you were going to smuggle big money back to the east then you couldn’t ask for a better system in place to achieve that goal. Smuggling is what Laffite and his brothers did, they were profession smugglers of the highest order. Forth, the presence of George Graham in the equation. If anyone was capable of arranging the entire affair then it was certainly the “banker”, non-banker, George Graham. In fact, arranging a military filibuster into the disputed territory would have been right at the heart of George Graham’s background, you probably couldn’t have selected a better man for the job. Five, and then there’s General Charles Lallemand, he comes to this country under unusual and mysterious circumstances, fulfills his required duties at Champ d’Asile, and then he leaves this country soon afterwards to become the Governor of Corsica. Six, we have Baron Antoine Rigaud publicly criticizing Lallemand for his failure to distribute unknown funds to the survivors of Champ d’Asile. What funds? And where did those funds end up? But the biggest thing I like about this theory is that it contains the possible inner-workers of a powerful government during a time of important treaty objectives, the kind of situation that required big money, secrecy, and a lot of experienced and capable people. Laffite departed Galvestion Island in March of 1822 and was never heard from again until his memoirs surfaced in the 1940’s. During that time several rumors persisted as to what had happened to the man, but for all practical purposes he had all but vanished. Who could help him achieve that mysterious vanishing act? Laffite was on the front lines at New Orleans and he was on the front lines at Galveston Island. And, the U.S. certainly extended him privileges beyond that of other smugglers and privateers. Who knows what the true story really might be?

What I don’t like about the possibility:

Actually, there’s not a whole lot that I don’t like about this theory other then the absence of proof. On the other hand, it’s the absence of proof that has allowed the Beale mystery to morph into a thousand other possibilities, and often, even in spite of the facts we do know. Do I believe this theory is accurate? The only answer I can provide to this question is to say that I don’t disbelieve it. The truth is out there somewhere and who knows, with what we have at hand the Beale deposits could just as easily have originated from the Galveston & Champ d’Asile area. But one thing is for certain, sooner or later the truth will be found, we just have to keep uncovering and investigating all of the best possibilities.

In the end:

In the end this is a pretty fascinating candidate to dive into. There’s a lot of possibilities here and a lot of “trinket” discovers to be encountered along the way that just might lead you to that final place we’re all searching for, that being the real truth behind the source of the Beale Papers.

 

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[bigscoop]

Re: Champ d'Asile

Here's a bit more that might be of interest to you:

In 1816 - 1817 (Graham's term as Sec. of War) his job duties included, and I quote, "organizing military operations". So, his job would also have included re-signing experienced military personnel for "a special" tour of duty in the disputed territory. From here it's not difficult to imagine the connection of dots that lead to Captain Thomas Beale and his sharp shooters. Beale would have been fresh out of the Battle of New Orleans with high accolades which would have made him a perfect candidate for any secret mission into the Spanish west. But it gets better because Beale also knew, and recieved high accolades from Jackson, the very man who envaded Florida. All of these military men knew each other and they had served closely together before, and also with Laffite. A great many connections here, some fantastic possibilities, to say the least.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Re: Champ d'Asile

Good reading.

 

[bigscoop]

Re: Champ d'Asile

Good reading.

Thanks KK.
I have more info/details that I may post here from time to time that you might find interesting.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Re: Champ d'Asile

Good reading.

Thanks KK.
I have more info/details that I may post here from time to time that you might find interesting.

I'm sure I'll find it intersting. Post away.

 

[qkslvr]

Re: Champ d'Asile

I've been trying to find Champ D' Asile east of Houston. I've found an old map of the settlement, but not the actual location. It would be an interesting location to detect.

 

[bigscoop]

Re: Champ d'Asile

I've been trying to find Champ D' Asile east of Houston. I've found an old map of the settlement, but not the actual location. It would be an interesting location to detect.

The area of "Liberty" Texas is probably what you're looking for. I can't remember the guy's name who resettled the location in the 1830's, but the location was already called "Liberty" when he arrived there. Probably just a coincidence that Bedford Virginia was also called "Liberty" during the time of the Beale deposits.

 

[bigscoop]

Re: Champ d'Asile

http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/frenchexlamar.htm

Just a bit of math in case you missed it....
"By an act of Congress in 1817"....with a "14 year term".....(or payable in 1831.)
Last Beale deposit was in 1821 + the 10 year term = 1831.

This is your Beale source, without question. And there is more, much more.

 

[bigscoop]

Re: Champ d'Asile

Here’s a bit more on the Champ d’Asile possibility:

First let me say that many of the accounts I’ve been discovering and researching appear to be contradictory and that some of them even appear to have been written with questionable motives. Having said this, in recent months I have to admit that the Champ d’Asile possibility is rising rapidly on my list of suspected Beale Pamphlet suspects. While I can’t point out all of the reason for my feeling this way, I will mention some of the more notable considerations so you can maul them over for yourself.

Perhaps the most interesting of these considerations is big money, or rather the absence of the big money that was apparently pouring into this somewhat, “covert cause”. I say covert cause because it appears that while the outward activities of this enterprise was well followed, it’s inner workings and activities were possibly confined to just a select a few and entirely different then what the newspapers and general settlers believed. For the most part, the settlers of this enterprise had no knowledge of the large amount of funds that were being collected even after it appeared that the Texas enterprise had failed. For the longest time I had always been curious of Rigaud’s criticism concerning Lallemand’s failure to distribute the funds to the survivors of Champ d’Asile. It’s only been in recent weeks that I now realize exactly what funds Rigaud was making reference of. You see, many French were so excited about the possibility of forming a new homeland in the American west that a national subscription was eventually embarked upon in support of this very possibility and the settlers who were forging this new independent French state. And it appears that there were also private investors as well. What is really interesting here is that it appears that the participating settlers were completely oblivious to these funds, even long after the Texas enterprise had failed. So where did all this money go?

The obvious first candidate in this scandalous affair would be General Charles Lallemand, the recognized leader of the Texas enterprise. However, when we attempt to chase down Lallemand’s financial possession after the failed Texas enterprise we discover that upon his death, in 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte’s will left Lallemand 100,000 francs to cover his debts, so clearly Charles Lallemand didn’t have the missing Champ d’Asile funds, or, if he did have them, he had yet to access them and apply them to his personal use at the time of Bonaparte’s death in 1821. (Keep in mind that the last Beale deposit was made in 1821.) With this dead end in mind perhaps we might want to consider what the Champ d’Asile enterprise may have really been all about before we continue our attempt to discover exactly what happened to these missing Champ d’Asile funds.

The Possible Bigger Picture?

What has become apparent to me over the last several months is that there was likely two clear “objectives” in the Champ d’Asile enterprise. The first of these objectives was that of the general settlers, and that objective was simply to establish a new beginning for their French countrymen in the disputed territory between Spain and the United States. At this time the future of France was largely uncertain because with the capture of Bonaparte, Great Britain was once again threatening entire control over the region. However, there was also a very real second objective in this Champ A’Sile enterprise and that objective was far more complicated then just the simple settling of a new French territory in the disputed land.

From it’s very beginning it was rumored that the Champ d’Asile enterprise was actually a military buildup with a plan of establishing a new and separate French “possession” in the disputed territory with the ultimate goal being the eventual rescue of Napoleon Bonaparte followed by his placement at the throne of this new French possession in the disputed territory. Certainly this rumor carried a lot of weight with so many ex-Bonaparte military figures leading the way and with so many armed French military personnel taking part. Add to this the fact that in his memoirs Jean Laffite even makes reference to this same plan of rescuing Bonaparte from his captors and you develop a very strong sense that this may have been the actual plan. At the time of its planning Laffite had a sizeable fleet of armed ships at his disposal but he lacked any real means of ground forces, which Lallemand and his Champ d’Asile enterprise was likely trying to establish. So let us consider this possibility, a new French possession in the disputed territory, a strong military sea presence and a strong military ground presence within the new French possession. Is this what the Champ d’Asile enterprise was really all about? Was this enterprise really a planned attempt to establish a new French possession in the disputed territory with Napoleon Bonaparte eventually being placed as its leader? From everything I have been reading and researching it certain appears that this may have been the actual plan. And if so, this would also explain the absence of knowledge about the missing “secret funds” among the general population. But wait, because it even gets better.

“The cession of the Floridas naturally leads me to speak of the famous Champ d’Asile which at one time created so much interest in France.” This statement is extracted from the papers of Mirabeau Lamar concerning the Champ d’Asile enterprise, with Louis Pierre Anquetil being an 1819 reference.

When I first read the above introduction my first thought was, “What, exactly, did the cession of the Floridas have to do with the famous failed Champ d'Asile enterprise?” Or more to the point, why did the cession of the Floridas cause him to naturally speak of the famous Champ d’Asile? Was there even a much larger plan on the table that we have no knowledge of? Or, did the cession of the Floridas put the effective end to the grand plan that these exiled French Generals and statesman had been working towards? And if so, what happened to the secret funds that we know existed? Clearly, they were never paid out to the survivors of the failed enterprise, as Rigaud suggest they should have been. And who, exactly, controlled these funds? According to Rigaud it was Lallemand who was suppose to have seen to the distributions, and yet this apparently never took place, and we also know that Lallemand didn’t have them, or apply them towards his personnel use as late as 1821. So if not Lallemand, then who had control of these funds and what eventually came to them?

It’s interesting to note that everything seems to come to big wreck in 1821, the same year of the last Beale deposit. In 1821 the Adam’s Onis Treaty was ratified, which ultimately granted the sites of the Champ d”Asile and Laffite’s stronghold to the Spanish in exchange for Florida. On top of this, Napoleon Bonaparte died in captivity in 1821, effectively putting an end to his possible rescue and possible leadership of a new French possession in any territory. And when we think of the eventual whereabouts of secret funds, we have to consider that if it really existed, which it appears that it did, that it could not have gone into American banks without certain risk of exposure and likely seizure, not to mention possible bank failure, and yet this money was sent to this cause and someone was certainly in control of it, but who, exactly? And what eventually became of it?

It is known, and also an absolute certainty, that someone had indeed investigated the proposed site of the Champ d’Asile long before Lallemand ever set foot on U.S. soil. It’s also interesting to note that the original land grants of the Olive and Vine colony are said to have been sold to speculators at a considerable profit in order to finance the Texas enterprise, however, it might interest you to learn that these said speculators were actually more French exiles, largely military exiles loyal to Bonaparte.

And let’s not forget this; in the very beginning of the Beale Pamphlet it is suggested to us that the author hopes someone will be able to make the “connexions,” a French usage of the word that is never used again throughout the entire pamphlet, though “connections” is used again in it’s proper American spelling. Very curious indeed.

The original Olive and Vine colony land grant was granted in 1817 with a 14-year term on the payment, or payable 1831. The last Beale deposit was made in 1821 with a 10-year term attached to it, or ending in 1831. Again, another very curious detail indeed.

In the Beale Pamphlet we are told that Beale and his adventuring companions departed Virginia in April, 1817. Lallemand arrived in Boston aboard the ship Triton in April, 1817. And when we read about Riguad, who accompanied Lallemand, we find, “….and came to the United States in 1817. With a group of French exiles and adventurers, he led a shipload of men and supplies to Texas in early 1818.” So looking at C1, and the codes 1164, 1496, 1817…what do they mean? Are they in reference to name, or date? If we apply the ship name Triton to the codes immediately in front of these three four digit codes we find that the codes 119 match the “t’s” in the ship name Triton. Curious indeed, but just a simple curiosity.

But what happens when we attempt to apply this possible Champ d’Asile history and a very suspect coding system to C1? Well, it actually produces something extremely interesting, a clear text with zero errors, zero substitutions or replacement values, and a clear text that is presented much in the same way as C2, in a very direct and proper language. While I will not give you all of it, as there are still a few segments that, because of a lack of repeated values, could go one way or the other, but starting at the beginning, it reads:

“The (Vault 1700) is in (Bedford 1629) county, east, about four (miles 1120) from (Buford’s 2018)………”

Skipping down to, say, 1431, after this it reads, “reran it in a 1300, 1706 sun burnt under a tent trusting a friend to 1065 refugees 2906 we did not defend a cause with.”

What’s interesting here is that Morriss was eventually suppose to decode the ciphers and contact the names in C3, to which each of the named were to receive an equal share. If we take a good look at the above displayed clear text from C1, and starting after 1431, it could very easily read something like, “ran it in a military column sun burnt under a tent trusting a friend to distribute refugees gold we did not defend a cause with.” Again, very curious indeed.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Re: Champ d'Asile

bigscoop, I think you're on the right track. It's amazing what can be found when time and effort are put into a subject.

 

[bigscoop]

Re: Champ d'Asile

bigscoop, I think you're on the right track. It's amazing what can be found when time and effort are put into a subject.

Very interesting history to study, that's for sure. Not certain if it's the right course just yet but I'll keep after it to see where it all goes as long as there's something to follow.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Re: Champ d'Asile

bigscoop, I think you're on the right track. It's amazing what can be found when time and effort are put into a subject.

Very interesting history to study, that's for sure. Not certain if it's the right course just yet but I'll keep after it to see where it all goes as long as there's something to follow.

A lot of coincidences if not true.

 

[bigscoop]

Re: Champ d'Asile

bigscoop, I think you're on the right track. It's amazing what can be found when time and effort are put into a subject.

Very interesting history to study, that's for sure. Not certain if it's the right course just yet but I'll keep after it to see where it all goes as long as there's something to follow.

A lot of coincidences if not true.

"coincidences" is what's holding me back and keeping me uncertain and reserved. Seems like no matter what you choose to believe in this Beale thing it will be loaded with coincidences. After a while you start to feel like the little boy who cried wolf. So until something conclusive comes along.......

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Re: Champ d'Asile

bigscoop, I think you're on the right track. It's amazing what can be found when time and effort are put into a subject.

Very interesting history to study, that's for sure. Not certain if it's the right course just yet but I'll keep after it to see where it all goes as long as there's something to follow.

A lot of coincidences if not true.

"coincidences" is what's holding me back and keeping me uncertain and reserved. Seems like no matter what you choose to believe in this Beale thing it will be loaded with coincidences. After a while you start to feel like the little boy who cried wolf. So until something conclusive comes along.......

Yeah, I know what you mean...been there with other stories. It takes a lot for me to use the word "sure."

 

[bigscoop]

Re: Champ d'Asile

......The Generals worked at our head, and General Rigaud, although in advanced years, gave way in nothing to the young men: He was to be seen with pick and spade in hand, never a moment idle.......We thought ourselves safe from all reverses of Fortune, from all the blows of Fate. We were now inhabitants of a country whose concession had been made to us by a friendly people, who, like us, had passed through every hardship, whose cradle of liberty had been encompassed with misfortune, and who each day saw its wealth and power increase, thanks to that cherished liberty, wise and tempered, whose fountain-head was in their laws and their strict observance. We could but believe that under the same sky, in the same climate, in taking as a model in everything the people who gave us hospitality, the same blessing would attend us....

......The provisions were giving out.....Not a murmur, not a complaint was heard. Even the women displayed a courage and spirit which astonished us and evoked our admiration......we are forced to admit that the so-called weaker sex possessed a strength which at times abandoned us.....still relief did not come. Anxiety was written on every face, which now bore traces of hunger.....But not a word was heard voicing the least discouragement....A canteen was established which still sold us certain poor supplies for gold.....Are there then no countries on earth, no place of refuge for the unfortunate, where kind and compassionate men are to be found? The vices of civilization penetrate everywhere; in the heart of cities, in the midst of deserts, and in Texas; as well as on the banks of the Seine, one meets with degraded beings, who, to accumulate a little gold, will speculate on the misfortunes of their fellows.

......Finally the sea burst its confines and inundated the island, rushing into camp and dwellings, submerging everything. Before long we found ourselves surrounded by water four feet deep. Consternation reigned: the cries of distress and pain could be heard amid this frightful chaos, soon to be drowned in the roaring of the waves and the screaming of the wind.....Of all the houses in Galveston six alone withstood the fury of the waves......throwing ourselves into the water carried the helpless to higher ground, to the house of M. Lafitte, and it was well we did so, for in a short while the sea would have become their grave.

......We had to leave Galveston Island or die of hunger and misery; we chose the former.....neither could M. Lafitte, a resident of Galveston Island, fitter-out of independent Mexican corsairs, who up to that time had rendered us the greatest services, continue his help, despite his kind desires.....New Orleans was named as the general meeting-place.

 

[bigscoop]

Re: Champ d'Asile

The above is in reference to the untimely hurricane that pretty much wiped out Laffite's resident ships.

In referring to their extended wait for supplies that never arrived, some of this is also in reference to “after the hurricane” and the extended absence of Lallemand, who after the hurricane had departed for New Orleans in the company of George Graham under the promise that he would return with supplies, but he never did. George Graham didn’t arrive at Galveston Island until after the hurricane and he remained there for about two weeks, spending a great deal of time with Lallemand and Laffite. At the time of Graham's visit Laffite claims that his commune had, "$476,000.00 put away." Add to this that according to Riguad, Lallemand never did distribute the funds to the survivors of Champ d'Asile. Now according to Laffite the $476,000.00 that he mentions was only "put away" between November 1818 and February 1819, or just shortly after Lallemand and Graham's departure, so evidentally these funds were moved at some point, or points, between these two dates. Also, in 1821, as he was preparing to depart Galveston Island for good, Laffite gave the order, "to keep our promise and distribute the gold to the indicated places." One of the people in charge of this promised distribution was a Mr. Sherman, the same last name as the editor of the Virginia Book and Job Print, and most of Laffite's personal belongings and documents were sent to Charleston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia....i.e., "the cities of the eastern seaboard." (Would anyone like to guess what the "editor Sherman's" father did for a living?)

The last line in the above post I put in bold for a reason, actually a few obvious reasons and perhaps one less obvious reason, and that being........we know a Thomas Beale with a legal history/connection was familiar with that city and these people as well. But what might it all mean in regards to the Beale Pamphlet and a connection to Bedford County............

 

[bigscoop]

Re: Champ d'Asile

I've had a lot of free time latley, so if you don't mind, I'm going to just keep putting it out here while I can.

"to keep our promise and distribute the gold to the indicated places."

If you were "the Beale parties" or another wealthy source behind it all, even with the best laid plan, would you really risk putting all of your secret eggs in one basket? Could be the Beale deposits were just one of these, "indicated places?"

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Re: Champ d'Asile

I've had a lot of free time latley, so if you don't mind, I'm going to just keep putting it out here while I can.

"to keep our promise and distribute the gold to the indicated places."

If you were "the Beale parties" or another wealthy source behind it all, even with the best laid plan, would you really risk putting all of your secret eggs in one basket? Could be the Beale deposits were just one of these, "indicated places?"

You don't think "China" could be one, do you?

 

[bigscoop]

Re: Champ d'Asile

I've had a lot of free time latley, so if you don't mind, I'm going to just keep putting it out here while I can.

"to keep our promise and distribute the gold to the indicated places."

If you were "the Beale parties" or another wealthy source behind it all, even with the best laid plan, would you really risk putting all of your secret eggs in one basket? Could be the Beale deposits were just one of these, "indicated places?"

You don't think "China" could be one, do you?

At ths point......... ........but it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Re: Champ d'Asile

I've had a lot of free time latley, so if you don't mind, I'm going to just keep putting it out here while I can.

"to keep our promise and distribute the gold to the indicated places."

If you were "the Beale parties" or another wealthy source behind it all, even with the best laid plan, would you really risk putting all of your secret eggs in one basket? Could be the Beale deposits were just one of these, "indicated places?"

You don't think "China" could be one, do you?

At ths point......... ........but it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

So, my thread about the possibility of the wagon train taking the north branch of the Wilderness Road is not so silly? When you think about it, the southern rout through Tennessee had a major water course running almost the entire length of that state. Now that would be a great reason for taking that route, right? And not just for Beale, but for everyone. Therefore, if you were trying to secretly transport a wagon train of treasure, would you take the path with the most traffic, or the least? Both trails were established at the time of the Beale expedition.