Interception

The Free Trade and the newly repaired Constitution departed Port-au-Prince together, first rounding French Cape, but there they saw no United States warships—apparently they had been warned by Toussaint Louverture and had already evacuated.

The Free Trade " then took the " Constitution " for a short walk around French Cape before heading west.

More than a week ago, the United States in Saint-Domingue already knew about the capture of the Constitution. However, relaying the news back to United States from Saint-Domingue would take time, as Florida was still in Spain hands at the time, and that would also take time. According to Victor and Zola's calculations, the United States probably only just now finding out. At that time, if the United States Navy were located in Europe, it would be a weakling, with only six main warships. Although these six frigates were so-called "super frigates."

However, in the Americas, this naval force was quite formidable. These six super frigates could roam freely at sea as long as they didn't encounter battleships, and even if they did, they could make a hasty retreat. At that time, the naval powers were all in Europe, and everyone was watching each other closely, resulting in battleships and other valuable assets being largely kept for home defense. Therefore, the squadrons of the Europe powers in their various colonies were not actually that strong.

For example, in the original history, during the war launched by the United Kingdom to combat drug trafficking, it used what was arguably its strongest fleet outside of its homeland, stationed in India. However, this fleet consisted of only three third-rate battleships with seventy-four guns each. Compared to the hundreds of third-rate battleships in the Britain Home Fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar, it was far inferior.

However, without the unprecedented victory at Trafalgar, the Britain could not have sent more than ten battleships to North America at once and launched the Second Anglo-American War.

In the Americas, the flagships of various countries' squadrons were often only Tier 5 ships (frigates), while other ships were often Tier 6 ships with a displacement of less than 1,000 tons and only about 20 cannons, or even small mast-mounted gunboats that were not considered to be of any class.

It is precisely because these countries have such weak fleets in this region that piracy has always been rampant in the Caribbean. At one point, it was so rampant that the United States had to pay them protection money. The initial goal of the United States in establishing its navy was actually to avoid paying protection money to these pirates.

In another timeline, the United States Navy, which later roamed the world collecting protection money, started with just six such "super frigates." Interestingly, the navy of a certain country that was also collecting protection money around the world at that time had by then reduced to only six decent surface ships.

Victor estimated that the United States, upon learning this news, would certainly not be satisfied and would definitely try to concentrate their forces to attack and recapture the Constitution.

The Constitution actually suffered limited damage, but due to a lack of manpower, it was temporarily rendered combat ineffective. However, its sailing ability remained quite good. Once it reached New Orleans, the France could quickly recruit sailors and restore the Constitution to combat readiness. Therefore, the United States would certainly try to intercept and defeat the Constitution before it reached New Orleans, in order to recapture the Constitution and regain military superiority in the Caribbean Sea.

In fact, the United States reacted much faster than Victor and his team had anticipated. News about the "Free Trade" and the "Constitution" wasn't relayed by ships, but rather by carrier pigeons. It took the United States considerable time to gather the warships together.

It wasn't until the news of the departure of the "Free Trade" and "Constitution" from Saint-Domingue that the United States managed to assemble three warships: the super frigate "America," the super frigate "Congress," and the French Army warship "Grace," which had been captured by the "Constitution" not long before. However, by this time, this small gunboat with only 16 cannons had been renamed "Lafayette."

Considering that the Constitution, now in France hands, has not been fully repaired and the France have not been able to recruit many sailors in Saint-Domingue, it can be assumed that while the Constitution is capable of sailing, it is not combat-ready. Therefore, the current United States Navy force should be able to gain the upper hand in a battle against the France.

"Use two ships to entangle the steamship, then the remaining one can catch up with the Constitution and recapture Constitution," Captain Matthews, the commander of the America and the commander of the operation, told the other crew members.

However, this was only in theory. In reality, they had a major problem to solve: how to locate the two France warships as quickly as possible.

Without radio, once naval warships set sail, it's virtually impossible for them to communicate with each other if they disperse. If they gather together, the area they can control is much smaller, increasing the likelihood that the enemy can bypass their interception from other directions.

Of course, since they could easily determine the France's destination (where else could they go besides New Orleans?), they could simply block them outside the port of New Orleans and wait for them to come to them.

However, the France also had a squadron in New Orleans. Although this squadron was not strong, consisting of only one ordinary Tier 6 ship and three small gunboats, if a battle broke out with France steamships near New Orleans, its addition would become a force capable of changing the course of the war.

Therefore, from this perspective, the interception point must be set up at a location relatively far from New Orleans. However, if it is too far from New Orleans, the interception target may be missed.

Just as the United States were fretting over this, an unexpected ally suddenly appeared—a Britain fleet came knocking on their door.

Neither of the two Britain colonies in the Caribbean Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, was particularly prosperous, at least not compared to Saint-Domingue. However, Jamaica offered a unique commodity—slaves imported from Africa —making it a relatively important trading hub.

The Britain had a small detachment here, consisting of only two frigates and three gunboats. Furthermore, they reportedly had close ties with pirates in the Caribbean.

Lieutenant Commander Vane, commander of the Britain squadron, sent a messenger directly to the United States, expressing that the Britain were willing to join forces with the United States against the France. Of course, if a France steamship could be sunk or captured, that steamship would belong to Britain.

If they could capture a France steam-powered frigate, it would undoubtedly be the most valuable trophy. However, both the Britain and United States knew that the chances of capturing the ship in battle were slim. Furthermore, what made the ship most enticing was its various advanced technologies, but given the current level of United States science, even if they obtained these technologies, they would likely not understand them or be able to use them.

This is like in later times, when the Mao family held a brick exhibition and sale, and both the rabbit and the India went to support them. The Mao family stipulated: The India can look at and touch whatever is here, but the rabbit is not allowed to look at or touch anything! Why? Because even if the India looks at it, it won't get anything out of it. But if the rabbit is allowed to look at and touch anything, she will really get pregnant.

Since the United States wouldn't have much use for it, Colonel Matthews agreed. Thus, a temporary alliance was formed.

Soon after, a Combined Fleet consisting of four frigates and four gunboats appeared off the coast of New Orleans.

Because the Britain fleet had never fought alongside the United States fleet before, they were not mixed together, but maintained their own independent formations. However, at this time, the Britain fleets were all flying the United States flag on their masts.

According to the division of labor, the United States were responsible for intercepting and attacking the approaching France steam frigates and recapture the "Constitution"; while the Britain were responsible for containing the France squadron in the port of New Orleans.

"Wouldn't the Britain take this opportunity to bombard New Orleans, especially under our flag?" First mate Thomas of the America said to Matthews.

"The Britain might actually do that," Matthews said. "They're hoping we'll completely break with France, ideally by declaring war. That way, whatever the outcome, it'll be good for them."

"Then we'll..." Thomas said.

"We cannot allow the France to gain a foothold in the Americas, and besides, do the France really have the resources to wage war against us while simultaneously suppressing the rest of Europe? So, while we may have conflicts, war is unlikely. And right now, we do need their cooperation."

Just as they were talking, the lookout's shouts suddenly rang out, "Target spotted! Nine o'clock, target spotted!"

The two quickly looked up and headed towards the nine o'clock direction, where they saw a thick column of black smoke slowly rising from below the horizon.

"France steam warship!" the two immediately concluded.

From what they knew, the France steam warships also had sails and were mainly propelled by sails, not by steam engines. At this moment, the thick smoke indicated one thing: the France were ready for battle.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere aboard the Free Trade was not tense. The steam engines were already running, and they were not far from New Orleans. In fact, starting the steam engines was more of a precaution; the Free Trade was unaware that a fleet was waiting for it ahead.