An item reported that on 27 February the French transport Le Rhône (1) had left with on board soldiers belonging to the so-called Belgian-Mexican legion.(2) The ship was that day expected to arrive at Flushing where already one of the two ferries arrived to transport the Belgian volunteers to Antwerp if the Le Rhône was not allowed to enter the river Schelde. Another Dutch newspaper the Zierikzeesche Courant dated 6 March confirmed this item.
The edition of the Middelburgsche Courant dated 7 March reported that the Le Rhône entered the harbour of Cherbourg to repair some damage. It was not known if the Belgian troops returning from Mexico and commanded by colonel baron [Alfred] Van der Smissen would return to Belgium via sea or land. The Dutch newspaper Amsterdamsche Courant wrote that last Saturday at Flushing arrived coming from Brussels, Belgium director of navy Wissels, captain at the general staff/adjutant of the minister of war D’Hane, Sangveigney director of the railways and cavalry officer Goethals, son of a Belgian minister and further more an officer of the legion all to wait for the transport to arrive.
The edition of Tuesday the 12th earlier reported that the transport finally passed Flushing on Saturday afternoon . Despite the fact that military authorities and the earlier mentioned Belgian representatives were waiting on the mole to compliment the officers who were expected to land, passed the ship without saluting. The Belgian representatives went on board of a waiting steam yacht to follow her. The men were disembarked on the 10th at Antwerp received by large enthusiastic audience.
The edition dated 14 March reported that the transport passed the 13th Flushing coming from Antwerp.
The newpspaper Vlissings Weekblad dated 16 March wrote that the Belgian king gave the commanding officer of the transport captain Joubert the officers cross of the Leopolds order for bringing back the remaining part of the legion despite the fact that the Le Rhône was an aged and worn out vessel. Joubert was not allowed to accept a gift of 2,000 francs from the Belgian government.
Notes
1. Stephen Roberts supplied on his very interesting website shipscribe.com titled French Navy Ships, 1816-1859 the Rhone as part of the wood-built Jura-class with a displacement of 3,208 tons and as dimensions 80,53 (waterline)-12,92(ext)-5,530 (mean)-5,760 (maximum) and a depth of 5,23 metres or 264'2" x 42'5"x 18'2"-18'1" and 17'2". Her engines supplied in 1867 612 ihp allowing a speed of 8,83 knots although being unloaded. The crew numbered 265 men and the armament consisted in advance of 4-30 pdr shell guns later replaced by 4-12cm guns and 2-14cm guns or 4-14cm guns. The Rhone was laid down at Brest on 2 May 1856, launched on 18 April 1859 and commissioned on 1 October of the same year and stricken on 29 October 1874 becoming a hulk at Cherbourg until she was sold in 1899. So she wasn't a really old ship as suggested by the Dutch journalist when she transported the Belgian legion.
2. The Mexican Intervention also known as The Maximilian Affair or Franco-Mexican War 8 December 1861-21 June 1867. The Maximilian Affaire referred to the Mexican emperor Maximilian I (the former Austrian Archduke Maximilian Ferdinand) executed on 19 June 1867. He served in the Austrian navy and responsible for modernizing this navy. He asked in begin February 1864 the Belgian king Leopold I to lent him 1,000 soldiers to guard Leopolds daughter Charlotte his spouse. The legion was quite active for instance in the battle on 11 April 1865 for the city Tacámbare.
The edition of the Middelburgsche Courant dated 7 March reported that the Le Rhône entered the harbour of Cherbourg to repair some damage. It was not known if the Belgian troops returning from Mexico and commanded by colonel baron [Alfred] Van der Smissen would return to Belgium via sea or land. The Dutch newspaper Amsterdamsche Courant wrote that last Saturday at Flushing arrived coming from Brussels, Belgium director of navy Wissels, captain at the general staff/adjutant of the minister of war D’Hane, Sangveigney director of the railways and cavalry officer Goethals, son of a Belgian minister and further more an officer of the legion all to wait for the transport to arrive.
The edition of Tuesday the 12th earlier reported that the transport finally passed Flushing on Saturday afternoon . Despite the fact that military authorities and the earlier mentioned Belgian representatives were waiting on the mole to compliment the officers who were expected to land, passed the ship without saluting. The Belgian representatives went on board of a waiting steam yacht to follow her. The men were disembarked on the 10th at Antwerp received by large enthusiastic audience.
The edition dated 14 March reported that the transport passed the 13th Flushing coming from Antwerp.
The newpspaper Vlissings Weekblad dated 16 March wrote that the Belgian king gave the commanding officer of the transport captain Joubert the officers cross of the Leopolds order for bringing back the remaining part of the legion despite the fact that the Le Rhône was an aged and worn out vessel. Joubert was not allowed to accept a gift of 2,000 francs from the Belgian government.
Notes
1. Stephen Roberts supplied on his very interesting website shipscribe.com titled French Navy Ships, 1816-1859 the Rhone as part of the wood-built Jura-class with a displacement of 3,208 tons and as dimensions 80,53 (waterline)-12,92(ext)-5,530 (mean)-5,760 (maximum) and a depth of 5,23 metres or 264'2" x 42'5"x 18'2"-18'1" and 17'2". Her engines supplied in 1867 612 ihp allowing a speed of 8,83 knots although being unloaded. The crew numbered 265 men and the armament consisted in advance of 4-30 pdr shell guns later replaced by 4-12cm guns and 2-14cm guns or 4-14cm guns. The Rhone was laid down at Brest on 2 May 1856, launched on 18 April 1859 and commissioned on 1 October of the same year and stricken on 29 October 1874 becoming a hulk at Cherbourg until she was sold in 1899. So she wasn't a really old ship as suggested by the Dutch journalist when she transported the Belgian legion.
2. The Mexican Intervention also known as The Maximilian Affair or Franco-Mexican War 8 December 1861-21 June 1867. The Maximilian Affaire referred to the Mexican emperor Maximilian I (the former Austrian Archduke Maximilian Ferdinand) executed on 19 June 1867. He served in the Austrian navy and responsible for modernizing this navy. He asked in begin February 1864 the Belgian king Leopold I to lent him 1,000 soldiers to guard Leopolds daughter Charlotte his spouse. The legion was quite active for instance in the battle on 11 April 1865 for the city Tacámbare.
